Nurse Educator Salary and Job Growth

The BLS median annual wage for nurse educators is $79,940. That covers roles spanning clinical instruction, classroom teaching at community colleges and universities, and executive oversight of nursing programs.

If you are weighing this career, the timing is good. A nurse educator shortage is driving projected job growth of 16.8% from 2024 to 2034, well above the 3% projected for all occupations.

The BLS classifies nurse educators who teach at colleges, hospitals, and technical, trade, and business schools as "postsecondary nursing instructors and teachers," and there are not enough of them. In a recent NLN survey, 74% of nursing schools reported trouble filling faculty positions, and many stayed vacant. AACN's October 2023 survey of 922 schools counted nearly 2,000 unfilled fulltime faculty positions.

The shortage shows up on the student side too. AACN reports U.S. nursing schools turned away 65,766 qualified applications to baccalaureate and graduate programs in 2023, with faculty shortages cited as a top reason. If you want to teach, the odds are in your favor.

Median Salary

The BLS median annual wage is $79,940, with most nurse educators earning between $47,950 and $130,040. Pay swings on a few factors:

• Your education
• Your experience
• Where you live
• Where you work

A dean at a well-regarded university in a major metro, likely holding a doctorate, sits near the top of the scale. A community college instructor earns less.

What Is Driving Demand

Faculty retirements. AACN reports that about a third of the current nursing faculty workforce is expected to retire by the mid-2020s, which will open even more vacancies at colleges and universities.

The nursing shortage. The U.S. continues to face shortages across the board, from entry-level RNs to senior specialists. Filling those roles takes more nurses, and training more nurses takes more educators.

Competition for Jobs

Demand is high, but employers still want the strongest candidates. A few ways to stand out:

• On an educator track, stay in clinical nursing so you graduate with current clinical knowledge.
• To build teaching experience, take every chance to work with students. Accept a student when you are the primary nurse, or precept seniors in their final practicum or new hires.
• To gain policy experience, join the professional organization for your specialty and help shape policy that improves patient care.

The common thread: schools want educators who light up at the prospect of working with students. Strong content delivery matters, but it is not enough on its own.

Average Salary by Setting

Pay varies by workplace. Approximate BLS average annual wages and employment by setting:

• Colleges, universities, professional schools: about 47,930 employed, average $86,900
• Junior colleges: about 18,860 employed, average $81,900
• General medical and surgical hospitals: about 2,840 employed, average $106,620
• Technical and trade schools: about 2,060 employed, average $85,580
• Educational support services: about 320 employed, average $93,100

Location Matters

Geography affects both job availability and pay. If you can relocate, cities with more openings improve your odds of landing a strong position and can raise your salary.

Advancing Your Career

There is real room to grow. With the right education and experience, you can move from instructor or professor to dean. Other paths include:

• Research: publishing in peer-reviewed journals
• Consulting: building education programs for organizations
• Public policy: helping organizations develop policy and serving as a spokesperson on nursing issues