Do Charge Nurses or Nurse Managers earn more?

Nurse Managers earn more, with a national median of about $121,680 a year vs $100,150 for Charge Nurses — a gap of roughly $21,530 per year.

How big is the pay gap between Charge Nurses and Nurse Managers?

The difference is about $21,530 a year, or roughly 21% more for Nurse Managers. It varies by state, experience, setting, and shift — use the calculator to compare both for your own situation.

Why do Nurse Managers earn more than Charge Nurses?

Both roles are paid on the same registered-nurse base, so the gap comes down to certification, shift differentials, unit acuity, and the local market rather than a separate official wage.

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.

Charge Nurse vs Nurse Manager Salary

Nurse Managers earn more — a national median of $121,680 vs $100,150, a gap of about $21,530 per year.

Charge Nurse

Specialty estimate

$100,150 / yr median

Median $100,150

$70,650Middle 50%: $81,310–$107,830$144,790

Nurse Manager

Specialty estimate

$121,680 / yr median

Median $121,680

$85,840Middle 50%: $98,790–$131,010$175,920

Annual pay, side by side

Charge NurseSpecialty estimate$100,150$48.15/hr
Nurse ManagerSpecialty estimate$121,680$58.50/hr

What the difference comes down to

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. Scope of practice, required education, and autonomy are the biggest drivers of the gap. Use the calculator to personalize either path by your state, experience, and work setting.

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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 specialty estimate

Charge Nurse is not broken out by BLS. Figures are modeled from the SOC 29-1141 median using a specialty differential of 1.07×, reflecting commonly reported pay differences. Treat as directional, not precise.

Source year 2024. Last reviewed June 1, 2025. Full methodology

Last reviewed June 1, 2025.