How much does a nursing instructor and teacher make?
The median nursing instructor and teacher in the United States earns $80,250 per year. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all nursing instructors and teachers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 25-1072.
Nursing instructor and teacher salary range
Pay for nursing instructors and teachers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $48,800 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $129,500. The average (mean) wage of $86,410 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $48,800 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $63,510 | |
| Median (50th) | $80,250 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $101,090 | |
| 90th percentile | $129,500 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary (SOC 25-1072), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Nursing instructor and teacher salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Nursing instructors and teachers earn the most in Hawaii at $129,530 a year, and the least in West Virginia at $62,210. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $129,530 | 1,890 |
| District of Columbia | $107,770 | 110 |
| Delaware | $98,170 | 240 |
| Nevada | $96,500 | 870 |
| Connecticut | $95,500 | 1,380 |
| Idaho | $90,890 | 430 |
| Alaska | $85,650 | N/A |
| Massachusetts | $85,130 | 2,280 |
| Texas | $84,930 | 6,830 |
| Wisconsin | $84,700 | 1,760 |
| Maryland | $84,050 | 840 |
| New York | $82,950 | 6,340 |
| Nebraska | $82,720 | 300 |
| Virginia | $82,550 | 1,670 |
| Colorado | $82,530 | 1,350 |
| Florida | $82,410 | 4,320 |
| Utah | $82,320 | 580 |
| California | $81,960 | 5,610 |
| Washington | $81,630 | 1,300 |
| Minnesota | $81,280 | 1,340 |
| North Dakota | $80,710 | 150 |
| North Carolina | $80,400 | 2,560 |
| Tennessee | $80,050 | 1,150 |
| Louisiana | $79,960 | 440 |
| Alabama | $79,690 | 1,460 |
| Maine | $79,600 | 420 |
| South Carolina | $79,540 | 1,150 |
| New Mexico | $79,380 | 320 |
| Illinois | $79,150 | 4,940 |
| Arizona | $78,980 | 1,930 |
| Michigan | $78,870 | 1,740 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,460 | 4,290 |
| Rhode Island | $78,340 | 260 |
| New Hampshire | $78,310 | 320 |
| Oregon | $78,050 | 450 |
| Montana | $77,980 | 240 |
| Georgia | $77,720 | 1,590 |
| Iowa | $77,360 | 770 |
| New Jersey | $76,980 | 2,000 |
| Ohio | $76,700 | 4,290 |
| Missouri | $76,340 | 1,040 |
| Indiana | $76,080 | 1,520 |
| Mississippi | $75,060 | 1,050 |
| Wyoming | $72,590 | 150 |
| Kentucky | $71,920 | 1,130 |
| Oklahoma | $67,840 | 640 |
| Vermont | $66,660 | N/A |
| South Dakota | $66,630 | 250 |
| Arkansas | $63,090 | 830 |
| Kansas | $62,870 | 470 |
| West Virginia | $62,210 | 400 |
State median wages for nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary (SOC 25-1072), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for nursing instructors and teachers
The BLS projects employment of nursing instructors and teachers to grow 17.1% from 2025 to 2035. That is much faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 96,100 jobs in 2025 moving toward 112,600 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 8,500 openings a year for nursing instructors and teachers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a nursing instructor and teacher
The typical entry-level education for nursing instructors and teachers is a doctoral or professional degree, according to the BLS. Most roles also expect less than 5 years of work experience in a related occupation.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a nursing instructor and teacher earns
District budget, level taught, degree, and region drive pay, along with years of service on a step-and-lane salary schedule. High cost metros and senior educators land near the top.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Hawaii, $129,530) and the lowest (West Virginia, $62,210) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 77,960 people work as nursing instructors and teachers in the United States. At $80,250 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Nursing instructor and teacher salary FAQ
How much does a nursing instructor and teacher make an hour?
Nursing instructors and teachers are generally salaried rather than paid by the hour, so the BLS does not publish an hourly wage for this job. The median annual salary is $80,250.
What is the highest nursing instructor and teacher salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of nursing instructors and teachers earn more than $129,500 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a nursing instructor and teacher make a year?
The median annual salary for a nursing instructor and teacher is $80,250. The average (mean) wage of $86,410 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a nursing instructor and teacher a well paid job?
At $80,250 a year, a nursing instructor and teacher earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 77,960 people work as nursing instructors and teachers in the United States.
Which state pays nursing instructors and teachers the most?
Hawaii has the highest median salary for nursing instructors and teachers at $129,530 a year. District of Columbia ($107,770) and Delaware ($98,170) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a nursing instructor and teacher a good career?
Employment of nursing instructors and teachers is projected to grow 17.1% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 8,500 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a nursing instructor and teacher?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for nursing instructors and teachers as a doctoral or professional degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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