How Much Do Directors of Nursing Make?
Several factors can influence director of nursing salaries, including experience, workplace, education level, and geographic location. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), directors of nursing earn a higher salary than other registered nurses (RNs). This guide will walk any prospective director of nursing (DON) through the details of pay across all variables and offer advice on how to maximize earning potential in this field.
Just the Highlights: Director of Nursing Salaries
Directors of nursing can earn the highest average annual salaries in these roles and locations:
New York
$179,160
Trenton, NJ
$193,730
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
$145,390
How Much Do Directors of Nursing Make?
In the U.S., directors of nursing make an average of $64.63 per hour, according to the BLS. This rate equals approximately $134,440 per year, which puts DON salaries well above average.
Director of nursing compensation depends on several variables, which will be detailed below.
Director of nursing average annual salary
$134,440
Director of nursing average hourly wage
$64.63
According to the BLS, directors of nursing can make an average of $67,900 in the lower salary range, while the higher-end averages closer to $216,750.
Source: BLS
How Education Affects Director of Nursing Salaries
All directors of nursing must first become registered nurses (RNs) by earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, which takes four years. Some nursing programs can be completed in as little as 12 months through an accelerated option, which requires previously earned prerequisites. With either education path, nurses must pass their National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), after which they become RNs.
After obtaining an RN license and gaining some experience as a nurse, hopeful directors of nursing may choose a higher education path, although this is not always required. Directors of nursing can choose to earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), which takes about two years to complete. Others graduate with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), which takes longer but may offer higher salaries.
| Degree | Annual Average Salary |
| DNP | $225,000 |
| MSN | $124,680 |
| BSN | $92,000 |
Source: Nursing World
How Specialty Certification Affects Director of Nursing Salaries
Directors of nursing can earn specialty certifications through the American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing (AAPACN), the National Association of Directors of Nursing Administration in Long-Term Care (NADONA/LTC), or the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Any nursing certification proves expertise in that specialty and can lead to higher compensation.
Location and Director of Nursing Salaries
As with most professional salaries, cost-of-living differences can make employment location a major factor in pay expectations.
Top-Paying Director of Nursing Salaries by State
In general, the coasts offer the highest pay for directors of nursing, while the Southeastern states offer the lowest.
| New York | $179,160 |
| Washington, D.C. | $170,710 |
| Delaware | $164,190 |
| New Jersey | $162,430 |
| Massachusetts | $158,540 |
| California | $156,140 |
| Washington | $152,880 |
| Maryland | $150,590 |
| New Hampshire | $150,090 |
| Oregon | $149,450 |
| Alaska | $148,550 |
| Wisconsin | $148,460 |
| Connecticut | $148,370 |
| Georgia | $146,700 |
| Montana | $144,990 |
| Colorado | $143,120 |
| Hawaii | $137,740 |
| Virginia | $136,370 |
| Arizona | $135,310 |
| Rhode Island | $134,620 |
| North Dakota | $132,940 |
| Illinois | $131,980 |
| South Dakota | $131,910 |
| West Virginia | $130,850 |
| New Mexico | $130,790 |
| Vermont | $130,510 |
| Minnesota | $129,350 |
| North Carolina | $127,620 |
| South Carolina | $126,830 |
| Pennsylvania | $125,860 |
| Utah | $125,550 |
| Idaho | $124,500 |
| Tennessee | $124,190 |
| Florida | $124,070 |
| Nevada | $120,770 |
| Texas | $120,200 |
| Ohio | $118,940 |
| Michigan | $118,870 |
| Maine | $118,410 |
| Missouri | $116,370 |
| Kansas | $115,480 |
| Nebraska | $115,090 |
| Oklahoma | $113,940 |
| Louisiana | $113,400 |
| Indiana | $112,690 |
| Iowa | $109,880 |
| Kentucky | $109,640 |
| Wyoming | $107,750 |
| Alabama | $99,270 |
| Arkansas | $97,250 |
| Mississippi | $95,140 |
Source: BLS
Top-Paying Director of Nursing Salaries by City
The cost of living doesn’t just differ by state but by population density. More people populate cities than rural areas, and their cost of living and salaries are typically higher. For example, if directors of nursing work for a large teaching hospital in a city of millions, they will probably earn more than those who work with a small skilled rehab in a rural area.
| Metropolitan area | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Trenton, NJ | $93.14 | $193,730 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $89.69 | $186,560 |
| New York-Newark, Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $86.22 | $179,330 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $84.92 | $176,640 |
| Napa, CA | $83.04 | $172,730 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $79.78 | $165,940 |
| Danbury, CT | $79.78 | $165,940 |
| Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA | $79.76 | $165,910 |
| Pine Bluff, AR | $79.32 | $164,990 |
| California-Lexington Park, MD | $78.49 | $163,250 |
Source: BLS
Workplace Type and Director of Nursing Salaries
Compensation for directors of nursing can also vary based on the work environment. For many DONs, medical and diagnostic laboratories and hospital positions pay the highest.
| Industry | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $69.90 | $145,390 |
| Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | $68.40 | $142,280 |
| Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories | $65.30 | $135,830 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $62.26 | $129,500 |
| Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | $52.33 | $108,840 |
| Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) | $51.21 | $106,520 |
Source: BLS
How to Increase Your Earnings as a Director of Nursing
Directors of nursing can increase their salaries in many ways. As discussed above, compensation directly correlates to location, workplace type, and level of education, and these factors pave the way to a higher salary.
1. Earn a Higher Degree
Directors of nursing with a BSN can pursue higher degrees, like an MSN or DNP, for even higher salaries.
2. Try a New Location
Compensation for directors of nursing often depends on location, and a move to a new city can come with a higher salary. Keep in mind, though, that with a higher salary may also come a higher cost of living.
3. Earn Certification
By earning a specialty certification, directors of nursing can prove their worth and become even more valuable to their employers, allowing nurses to leverage their expertise for higher pay.
4. Transfer to a New Work Setting
If a current work setting cannot increase a director of nursing’s salary to their satisfaction, a new workplace might offer higher pay.
Director of Nursing Salaries FAQs
1. What role offers the highest pay for directors of nursing?
The highest-paid directors of nursing are those working in General Medical and Surgical Hospitals, who make an average of $145,390 a year, or $69.90 per hour.
2. What do directors of nursing make per hour?
Directors of nursing make an average of $64.63 an hour. This can increase or decrease based on experience, location, role, and education.
3. Which state and city pay directors of nursing the best?
According to the BLS, New York offers the highest pay for all RNs at $86.13 per hour, or $179,160 a year. Trenton, NJ, boasts the highest salaries at $93.14 per hour ($193,730 per year).
4. How can directors of nursing get paid more?
Directors of nursing can earn higher degrees, try a new location, earn specialty certification, or transfer to a new work environment, all of which could potentially increase pay.
5. Which degree gives directors of nursing the highest pay?
To become a director of nursing, candidates must earn a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. However, the highest-paying degree in most nursing fields is the DNP, or Doctor of Nursing Practice.
