Do RNs make more than OTs after years of experience?

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Ok this thread is going to be *strictly* about money. I know that money isn't everything, but I just want to make sure that I know what I'm getting myself into. I am currently taking the pre-reqs for nursing and I'm torn between nursing & OT. I know that new grad salary is definitely higher for OT's than RN's, but it seems like the RN's get a pay raise every year as long as they keep working as to OT's salary leveling off after about 10 years of experience. (Correct me if I'm wrong) For example, I've seen many RN's with 20+ years of experience that started with 50K/yr as a new grad who now earn 110~120K/yr, but I have NOT seen any OT's with 20+ years of experience that earn more than 100K. If anything, it seems like 100K is pretty much the dead end for their salary. Is this true? If so, why? In the end, OTs DID get a higher education than RNs, and they DO build their "experience" just like RNs! Btw, I live in southern California.

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Don't forget that not everyone works in hospitals or clinics. I have colleagues who earn >$450K annually as independent consultants.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Bedside nursing has been characterized by salary compression for a long time now - tops out after about 5 years unless you advance through the ranks to higher levels of practice/responsibility. I don't believe that this is the same for OT. It is not unusual for new grads to receive the same starting salary as their far more experienced colleagues because employers have limited annual increases to

GrnTea is correct - there are 'some' nurses who achieve very high salaries but this will require hard work, distinguished credentials and (let's be honest) some luck along the way. This is not unique to nursing... I recently read that only 5% of actors earn > $50k per year. In the long run, the way we feel about the work we do is probably just as important for most of us.

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Specializes in Hospice.

Our starting salary is higher for RNs than OT's at my hospital. its all about area market value.....

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

The other thing to continue is that as an RN- you can be practicing after two years of school, OT is MS entry to practice (minimum 6 years of school).

AND an OT will never, ever be able to work overtime- and more than likely be salaried as opposed to hourly. Whereas a nurse can frequently increase their income by picking up extra shifts.

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Specializes in Oncology.

An OT's base salary is similar to mine (I have 5 years of experience), maybe even a little higher, but I take home more since I make extra for weekends, holidays, night shifts, and overtime. OTs are salaried and make none of that at my facility, so even when they do work late it's for free.

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GrnTea, what type of independent consultant are you speaking of? That Salary sounds outrageous! I would like to know more please :) would any of your colleagues be interested in starting a group for nurse consultants? I am interested in this field, I just don't know much about it.

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At least once a month, I toy with the thought of using my GI Bill to get a JD when I retire from the USAF and then spend my retirement doing consultant work. Any accredited JD will do; doesn't have to be a fancy school, just the letters behind my name (because I have absolutely no desire to get an MBA, mostly) with a passing score on the bar exam. I'll not even be 50 when I retire (if I do straight 20 years, I'll be 48!); I'll have plenty of time.

No dealing with patients, family members, or hospital bureaucrats. Ah, bliss!

(LOL)

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Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.

New grads start at approx 24/hr base rate, more than 50k/yr if you consider holiday pay, shift and weekend differentials. At the same hospital, OTs start off with approximately 52k/yr. So really, they are about equal in terms of pay. I would even say that new grad RNs have the potential to make even more than the salaried OT's.

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GrnTea, what type of independent consultant are you speaking of? That Salary sounds outrageous! I would like to know more please :) would any of your colleagues be interested in starting a group for nurse consultants? I am interested in this field, I just don't know much about it.

Legal nurse consultants, certified nurse life care planners. Not work for rookies, but it's a great way to go for some folks. I hasten to add that I am not earning that much. :)

I don't know what you mean for "starting a group for nurse consultants"-- do you mean here at AN?

Check the AANLCP, AANLCP | American Assocation of Nurse Life Care Planners for nurse life care planners

AALNC, American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants (AALNC) for legal nurse consultants

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