Nurse Educator Salary Guide

Nurse educators teach in different settings, such as colleges and universities, healthcare facilities, public health organizations, and within the community. If you find teaching and mentoring rewarding and prefer a set schedule with limited physical demand, becoming a nurse educator can be an excellent career choice.

A nurse educator’s salary depends on the subject taught, your teaching schedule, and other job responsibilities. The median annual nurse educator salary varies little from the median annual registered nurse (RN) salary of $75,330, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

The states that offer the highest nurse educator salaries both have high costs of living and high demand for nurses. For example, in New York, the projected employment growth for nurses between 2018 and 2028 is 24.6%, more than twice the 12.1% projected for the U.S. overall.

In Florida, demand for nurses is greater because of the high median population ages in most Florida counties, especially Charlotte County, with a median age of 59.1. This drives demand for both nurses and nurse educators.

While the typical nurse educator salary is higher than the salary for RNs in general, it is lower than the typical salary for advanced practice registered nurses (APRN), such as nurse practitioners (NPs) and nurse midwives. Many nurse educators hold a master of science in nursing (MSN), a doctor of nursing practice (DNP), or other advanced degree or certification.

You can take several steps to improve your nurse educator salary, such as increasing your qualifications or changing employers. With the rise of virtual education, you may be able to change employers without having to move to a new location.

Certification demonstrates your commitment to nursing education and increasing your advanced knowledge. To become a CNE, you need an RN license; an MSN or a DNP; a nurse education major, a nurse education certificate, at least nine hours of graduate-level courses in nurse education, or two years experience teaching nursing in an academic setting; and a passing grade on the certification examination.

The DNP is the highest possible degree in practical nursing, so earning one puts you in a position to earn a higher nurse educator salary. It takes time and effort, but most DNPs find it is an excellent investment. The demand for DNPs is rising, especially as so many nursing schools face a nursing faculty shortage.

General medical and surgical hospitals offer the highest nurse educator salaries, an average annual $119,050. Most of these hospitals require a DNP. By comparison, junior colleges offer an average nurse educator salary of $75,190, though these schools are far less likely to require a DNP or CNE certification.