Nurse educator salary
The national median annual wage for nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary (SOC 25-1072) was $80,250 in May 2025, according to BLS OEWS via O*NET.
Updated August 2026 · Verified August 13, 2026 · Next review November 13, 2026 · SOC 25-1072 · Inputs stay in your browser
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Enter your nurse educator base pay to see an annual estimate and the SOC 25-1072 percentile range. Inputs stay in your browser.
Place educator pay against the right SOC. Then browse roles.
After you compare a 25-1072 wage with the RN staff median, look at openings that match faculty, clinical instructor, or hospital educator titles.
The national picture
Nurse educator salary range (SOC 25-1072)
May 2025 BLS percentiles for postsecondary nursing instructors. Hospital educators classified as RNs belong on the RN salary calculator.
| Percentile | Hourly wage | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $23.46 | $48,800 |
| 25th | $30.53 | $63,510 |
| 50th | $38.58 | $80,250 |
| 75th | $48.60 | $101,090 |
| 90th | $62.26 | $129,500 |
O*NET published annual wages for SOC 25-1072. The hourly column is annual divided by 2,080 hours (BLS full-time year).
Do not blend these series
Nurse educator vs staff RN pay
Postsecondary nurse educators (25-1072) and staff RNs (29-1141) are different BLS occupations. The $80,250 educator median is not an RN specialty premium.
| Topic | Postsecondary nurse educator | Registered nurse (staff) |
|---|---|---|
| BLS occupation | Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary (25-1072) | Registered Nurses (29-1141) |
| National median pay (May 2025) | $80,250 | $97,550 |
| Who this series covers | Nursing instructors and teachers at postsecondary institutions. Not hospital staff-development RN roles. | Cross-industry registered nurses, including hospital educators classified as RNs. |
Pay by geography
Highest-paying nurse educator states
Highest published May 2025 state medians for SOC 25-1072 via O*NET local wages. Hawaii leads this set at $129,530.
| State | Median annual | 10th | 90th | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $129,530 | $103,160 | $129,640 | +61.4% vs national |
| District of Columbia | $107,770 | $65,250 | $173,600 | +34.3% vs national |
| Delaware | $98,170 | $61,800 | $137,820 | +22.3% vs national |
| Nevada | $96,500 | $57,670 | $121,190 | +20.2% vs national |
| Connecticut | $95,500 | $60,790 | $130,380 | +19% vs national |
| Idaho | $90,890 | $46,940 | $145,940 | +13.3% vs national |
| Alaska | $85,650 | $60,530 | $133,090 | +6.7% vs national |
| Massachusetts | $85,130 | $62,200 | $138,240 | +6.1% vs national |
| Texas | $84,930 | $50,760 | $137,530 | +5.8% vs national |
| Wisconsin | $84,700 | $53,760 | $114,440 | +5.5% vs national |
Primary sources
BLS OEWS and O*NET
91,600 employees in 2024. Verified August 13, 2026.
- BLS OEWS SOC 25-1072 — May 2025, retrieved 2026-08-13
- O*NET local wages 25-1072.00 — National percentiles and state medians
- BLS OEWS registered nurses 29-1141 — Hospital educator comparison only
Common questions
Nurse educator salary FAQ
How much do nurse educators make?
The national median annual wage for nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary (SOC 25-1072) was $80,250 in May 2025, according to BLS OEWS via O*NET. Hawaii’s published state median in this table is $129,530.
Is a hospital nurse educator the same occupation?
No. Postsecondary nursing instructors are SOC 25-1072. Hospital staff-development educators who are practicing registered nurses stay on SOC 29-1141, where the May 2025 national median is $97,550. This page does not blend those medians.
Why is hourly pay derived?
O*NET published annual wages for SOC 25-1072. Hourly figures on this page are annual divided by 2,080 hours, the BLS full-time year. They are labeled conversions, not a separate O*NET hourly table.
How many nurse educators are there?
O*NET reports 91,600 employees in 2024 for this occupation.
Does the calculator use hospital RN wages?
No. The calculator places your base pay on the SOC 25-1072 percentile table. Use the RN salary calculator if your role is classified as a registered nurse.
Are ZipRecruiter or Salary.com figures used?
No. Every wage on this page comes from BLS OEWS via O*NET or BLS occupation pages.
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