How Much Do Nurse Educators Make?
Several factors can influence nurse educator salaries, including experience, workplace, education level, and geographic location. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), nurse educators can earn more (or less) than other nursing roles, depending on geographic location. This guide will walk any prospective nurse educator through the details of pay across all variables and offer advice on how to maximize earning potential in this field.
Just the Highlights: Nurse Educator Salaries
Nurse educators can earn the highest average annual salaries in these roles and locations:
Washington, D.C.
$111,130
Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI
$144,100
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
$106,620
How Much Do Nurse Educators Make?
In the U.S., nurse educators make an average of $41.60 per hour, according to the BLS. This rate equals approximately $86,530 per year, which puts nurse educator salaries well above the national average.
Nurse educator compensation depends on several variables, which will be detailed below.
Nurse educator average annual salary
$86,530
Nurse educator average hourly wage
$41.60
According to the BLS, nurse educators can make an average of $49,120 in the lower salary range, while the higher-end averages are closer to $130,320.
Source: BLS
How Education Affects Nurse Educator Salaries
All nurse educators must first become registered nurses (RNs) by earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), 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 the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), after which they become RNs.
After obtaining an RN license and gaining some experience as a nurse, hopeful nurse educators must choose a higher education path. Nurse educators 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 |
| ADN | $0 |
How Specialty Certification Affects Nurse Educator Salaries
Nurse educators can earn specialty certifications through the National League for Nursing (NLN) or the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC):
Any nursing certification proves expertise in that specialty and can lead to higher pay.
Location and Nurse Educator Salaries
As with most professional salaries, differences in cost of living can make employment location a major factor in pay expectations.
Top-Paying Nurse Educator Salaries by State
The East and West coasts, Washington, D.C., Oregon, and Nevada pay nurse educators the highest, while the Midwestern states pay the lowest.
| Washington, D.C. | $111,130 |
| Massachusetts | $106,690 |
| Nevada | $105,610 |
| California | $104,150 |
| New York | $100,200 |
| Connecticut | $99,850 |
| New Jersey | $95,010 |
| Oregon | $93,270 |
| Pennsylvania | $88,960 |
| Rhode Island | $87,910 |
| Indiana | $87,740 |
| Delaware | $85,790 |
| Alaska | $85,780 |
| Utah | $83,090 |
| Ohio | $82,840 |
| Montana | $81,940 |
| Washington | $81,940 |
| Wisconsin | $81,930 |
| Alabama | $81,530 |
| Louisiana | $81,430 |
| Texas | $81,270 |
| New Hampshire | $81,070 |
| Maryland | $80,990 |
| Virginia | $80,780 |
| Florida | $80,160 |
| Arizona | $79,780 |
| Tennessee | $78,850 |
| Colorado | $78,480 |
| South Carolina | $77,590 |
| Minnesota | $77,040 |
| Michigan | $77,020 |
| Illinois | $76,620 |
| Iowa | $76,030 |
| West Virginia | $75,200 |
| North Dakota | $74,050 |
| Kentucky | $73,980 |
| New Mexico | $73,800 |
| Maine | $73,680 |
| Idaho | $73,320 |
| Nebraska | $73,270 |
| North Carolina | $71,700 |
| Kansas | $70,770 |
| Missouri | $70,770 |
| Hawaii | $70,500 |
| Mississippi | $68,380 |
| Georgia | $67,230 |
| South Dakota | $66,860 |
| Oklahoma | $63,640 |
| Wyoming | $63,550 |
| Arkansas | $60,890 |
Source: BLS
Top-Paying Nurse Educator 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 nurse educators work for a large university in a city of millions, they will likely earn more than those who work for a small community college in a rural area.
| Metropolitan area | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI | $69.28 | $144,100 |
| Visalia-Porterville, CA | $61.69 | $128,320 |
| Hew Haven, CT | $58.93 | $122,570 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $56.85 | $118,250 |
| Riverside-San Bernadino-Ontario, CA | $55.39 | $115,220 |
| Birmingham-Hoover, AL | $54.25 | $112,850 |
| New York-Newark, Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $54.12 | $112,570 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $53.95 | $112,210 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $53.44 | $111,160 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | $50.92 | $105,920 |
Source: BLS
Workplace Type and Nurse Educator Salaries
Nurse educator compensation can also vary depending on the work environment. According to the BLS, general medical and surgical hospitals and educational support services pay the best.
| Industry | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $51.26 | $106,620 |
| Educational Support Services | $44.76 | $93,100 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $41.78 | $86,900 |
| Technical and Trade Schools | $41.14 | $85,580 |
| Junior Colleges | $39.38 | $81,900 |
Source: BLS
How to Increase Your Earnings as a Nurse Educator
Nurse educators can increase their salary in many ways. As discussed above, compensation directly correlates to location, workplace type, and level of education, and these factors contribute to a higher nursing educator salary.
1. Earn a Higher Degree
Nurse educators with an MSN may pursue a DNP for higher salaries.
2. Try a New Location
Compensation for nurse educators 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, nurse educators can prove their worth and become even more valuable to their employers, allowing them to leverage their expertise for higher pay.
4. Transfer to a New Work Setting
If a current work setting cannot increase a nurse educator’s salary to their satisfaction, a new workplace might offer higher pay.
Nurse Educator Salaries FAQs
1. What role offers the highest pay for nurse educators?
The highest-paid nurse educators are those working in General Medical and Surgical Hospitals, who make an average of $106,620 a year, or $51.26 per hour.
2. What do nurse educators make per hour?
Nurse educators make an average of $41.60 an hour. This can increase or decrease based on experience, location, role, and education.
3. Which state and city pay nurse educators the best?
According to the BLS, Washington, D.C. offers the highest pay for all RNs at $53.43 per hour, or $111,130 a year. Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI, boasts the highest salaries at $69.28 per hour ($144,100 per year).
