How much is the charge nurse vs nurse manager pay gap in Virginia?

The estimated gap in Virginia is about $21,990 a year, or roughly 21% more for nurse managers. Your actual pay depends on experience, specialty, shift, and employer — use the calculator to compare both for your situation.

Are these Virginia figures exact?

No — they're modeled estimates, not verified Virginia wages. They start from each role's national pay and adjust for Virginia's cost of labor, and they update to verified numbers when official state data is loaded.

Why are some figures verified and others estimates?

National pay for the main nursing roles — registered nurses, LPNs/LVNs, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, nurse midwives, and nursing assistants — comes from verified public wage data. State, city, and specialty figures that aren't reported on their own start from that national pay and are labeled "Estimated" or "Specialty estimate." We never show an estimate as a verified figure.

Virginia · VA

Charge Nurse vs Nurse Manager salary in Virginia

In Virginia, nurse managers earn more — an estimated $124,280 a year versus $102,290 for charge nurses, a gap of about $21,990 (roughly 21% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Virginia.

Charge Nurse — Virginia

Specialty estimate

Median annual pay

$102,290

Near national

Hourly

$49.18/hr

Median $102,290

$72,290Middle 50%: $84,230–$117,810$144,150

Typical range: $84,230–$117,810; What most nurses earn
High end: $144,150; Top earners
Entry level: $72,290; Newer nurses

Nurse Manager — Virginia

Specialty estimate

Median annual pay

$124,280

Near national

Hourly

$59.75/hr

Median $124,280

$87,830Middle 50%: $102,340–$143,130$175,140

Typical range: $102,340–$143,130; What most nurses earn
High end: $175,140; Top earners
Entry level: $87,830; Newer nurses

Why the gap in Virginia

Nurse managers generally earn more than charge nurses because the manager holds a salaried leadership position with responsibility for a unit's budget, staffing, and performance. Charge nurse pay is typically a staff RN wage plus a per-shift lead differential rather than a separate salaried role. The Virginia figures apply the same local pay adjustment to both roles, so the gap here mirrors the national picture, shifted for Virginia's cost of labor. Actual pay varies with experience, specialty, shift, and employer — compare the national Charge Nurse vs Nurse Manager comparison or personalize the calculator.

Charge Nurse vs Nurse Manager in Virginia — FAQ

Do charge nurses or nurse managers earn more in Virginia?: In Virginia, nurse managers earn more — an estimated $124,280 a year versus $102,290 for charge nurses, a gap of about $21,990 (roughly 21% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Virginia's local pay level.
How much is the charge nurse vs nurse manager pay gap in Virginia?: The estimated gap in Virginia is about $21,990 a year, or roughly 21% more for nurse managers. Your actual pay depends on experience, specialty, shift, and employer — use the calculator to compare both for your situation.
Are these Virginia figures exact?: No — they're modeled estimates, not verified Virginia wages. They start from each role's national pay and adjust for Virginia's cost of labor, and they update to verified numbers when official state data is loaded.
Why are some figures verified and others estimates?: National pay for the main nursing roles — registered nurses, LPNs/LVNs, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, nurse midwives, and nursing assistants — comes from verified public wage data. State, city, and specialty figures that aren't reported on their own start from that national pay and are labeled "Estimated" or "Specialty estimate." We never show an estimate as a verified figure.

Source & confidence— An estimate for a specialty that public pay data does not list on its own. A ballpark to start from, not an exact figure.

Modeled estimate (BLS national × state wage index)

Virginia figures are estimated by adjusting the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS national median for local pay levels (a state adjustment of 0.98×).

Source year 2025. Last reviewed July 3, 2026. Full methodology

Estimated figures for Virginia. Last reviewed July 3, 2026.