Perfusionist vs Registered Nurse
Measured from each occupation's own live postings: mostly different jobs wearing similar names. Posted pay favors the perfusionist by about $64k at the midpoint.
The short answer
On pay, perfusionists come out ahead by about $64k a year at the midpoint of posted bands: $99k–$215k against $67k–$119k for registered nurses. These are advertised figures from postings that state a salary, not estimates.
On skills, they are mostly different jobs that happen to share a name or a hallway. The overlap is thin, which is often exactly why people search this pair. The readiness numbers further down say how far a typical profile on each side already reaches into the other, and which direction is the easier move.
Perfusionist
perfusionist jobs · perfusionist salary · perfusionist career guide · careers for perfusionists
Registered Nurse
registered nurse jobs · registered nurse salary · registered nurse career guide · careers for registered nurses
The overlap, measured
Switching, both directions
Perfusionist → Registered Nurse
State RN license (NCLEX) required
Transition estimate: 2+ yr incl. license.
What registered nurse postings ask for that perfusionist profiles usually lack: Brewing, Training & Facilitation, Case Management, Rehabilitation.
Registered Nurse → Perfusionist
Transition estimate: 12–24 mo.
What perfusionist postings ask for that registered nurse profiles usually lack: Perfusion.
Open perfusionist roles
- Staff Perfusionist - Full-time (with on-call rotation) - Jeff. Hwy. - New Orleans at Direct employerNew Orleans - New Orleans Region - Louisiana6d agoUnlock
- Senior Cardiopulmonary Perfusionist (Multiple Openings) at Direct employerNashville, TNAug 24Unlock
- Clinical Perfusionist at Veterans Health AdministrationRichmond, Virginia$142k–$185kJul 23Apply
- Perfusionist at Direct employerGRANT MEDICAL CENTERJul 22Unlock
Open registered nurse roles
- Dipl. Expertin / Experte Intensivpflege NDS 80-100% in Leuggern gesucht – Deine Fachkompetenz rettet Leben! at MediPersonalLeuggern, Aargau, SwitzerlandTodayApply
- Dipl. Expertin / Experte NDS Notfallpflege 80-100% für Bischofszell gesucht – Dein Fachwissen für eine schnelle und prof at MediPersonalBischofszell, Thurgau, SwitzerlandTodayApply
- Dipl. Expertin / Experte NDS Notfallpflege 80-100% für Horw gesucht – Dein Fachwissen für eine schnelle und professionel at MediPersonalHorw, Luzern, SwitzerlandTodayApply
- Dipl. Expertin/Experte Anästhesiepflege NDS 80-100% in Laupen gesucht at MediPersonalLaupen, Bern, SwitzerlandTodayApply
See the whole board for both
12,262 open roles across the two.
Related comparisons
- Physician vs Registered Nurse84% peak overlap
- Medical Assistant vs Registered Nurse73% peak overlap
- Nurse Practitioner vs Registered Nurse69% peak overlap
- Physical Therapist vs Registered Nurse60% peak overlap
- Occupational Therapist vs Registered Nurse53% peak overlap
- Pharmacist vs Registered Nurse48% peak overlap
Which one do your skills favor?
Run the instrument with your own skills and both numbers recompute for you. Free.
Quick answers
Which pays more, perfusionist or registered nurse?
On pay, perfusionists come out ahead by about $64k a year at the midpoint of posted bands: $99k–$215k against $67k–$119k for registered nurses. These are advertised figures from postings that state a salary, not estimates. By seniority and country: perfusionist salary and registered nurse salary.
Are perfusionist and registered nurse the same job?
On skills, they are mostly different jobs that happen to share a name or a hallway. The overlap is thin, which is often exactly why people search this pair. The skills both sets of postings want most are Patient Care, Clinical Skills, CPR / BLS, Teaching, Scheduling.
Can a perfusionist become a registered nurse?
Yes, and the numbers say how far along you already are: a typical perfusionist profile covers 37% of what registered nurse postings ask for. One thing to settle first: state rn license (nclex) required. Skill overlap does not shorten a credential. Our estimate for the move is 2+ yr incl. license. The instrument lists the exact skills that make up the rest.
Can a registered nurse become a perfusionist?
Going the other way, a typical registered nurse profile covers 30% of what perfusionist postings ask for. Our estimate for the move is 12–24 mo.
How many perfusionist and registered nurse jobs are open right now?
Right now our board has 4 perfusionist openings and 12,258 registered nurse openings, each linking to the original posting. The board refreshes every night, so the counts move with the market. Hiring the most perfusionists at the moment: Direct employer (3), Veterans Health Administration (1). For registered nurses: MediPersonal (8610), Direct employer (863), Veterans Health Administration (508).
Pay is the posted middle half; readiness is how much of the other role’s skill demand a typical profile covers. Refreshed nightly.