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

The estimated gap in Virginia is about $28,680 a year, or roughly 30% 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

Registered Nurse vs Nurse Manager salary in Virginia

In Virginia, nurse managers earn more — an estimated $124,280 a year versus $95,600 for registered nurses, a gap of about $28,680 (roughly 30% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Virginia.

Registered Nurse — Virginia

Estimated

Median annual pay

$95,600

Near national

Hourly

$45.96/hr

Median $95,600

$67,560Middle 50%: $78,720–$110,100$134,720

Typical range: $78,720–$110,100; What most nurses earn
High end: $134,720; Top earners
Entry level: $67,560; 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 out-earn staff registered nurses, reflecting a salaried leadership role with responsibility for a unit's staffing, budget, and outcomes. The trade-off is fewer bedside hours, on-call administrative duties, and less overtime — so total pay depends on how much a staff RN picks up in shifts and differentials. 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 Registered Nurse vs Nurse Manager comparison or personalize the calculator.

Registered Nurse vs Nurse Manager in Virginia — FAQ

Do registered nurses or nurse managers earn more in Virginia?: In Virginia, nurse managers earn more — an estimated $124,280 a year versus $95,600 for registered nurses, a gap of about $28,680 (roughly 30% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Virginia's local pay level.
How much is the registered nurse vs nurse manager pay gap in Virginia?: The estimated gap in Virginia is about $28,680 a year, or roughly 30% 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 based on national nurse pay and local cost of living. 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.