Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary: Career Overview
Demonstrate and teach patient care in classroom and clinical units to nursing students. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
What Do Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary Perform?
Typical responsibilities of nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary include:
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory and clinic work, assignments, and papers.
- Supervise students' laboratory and clinical work.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Assess clinical education needs and patient and client teaching needs using a variety of methods.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as pharmacology, mental health nursing, and community health care practices.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Demonstrate patient care in clinical units of hospitals.
What Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary Need to Know
Successful nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Other Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Adjunct Clinical Nursing Instructor
- Adjunct Instructor
- Adjunct Nursing Instructor
- Advanced Nursing Professor
- Assistant Professor
- Associate Professor
- CPR Instructor (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Instructor)
- Clinical Instructor
How Many Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary Are There?
The U.S. employs around 748,139 nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +5.7% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $69,718 |
| Hourly median | $33.52 |
| 10th percentile | $47,452 |
| 25th percentile | $58,585 |
| 75th percentile | $80,852 |
| 90th percentile | $91,985 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $103,780 |
| Hawaii | $102,180 |
| New Jersey | $102,090 |
| Oregon | $101,640 |
| California | $99,010 |
| Texas | $97,610 |
| New York | $93,640 |
| Alaska | $92,050 |
| Nevada | $84,660 |
| Montana | $84,550 |
| Florida | $83,940 |
| Delaware | $83,420 |
| North Dakota | $83,130 |
| Connecticut | $81,490 |
| New Hampshire | $81,260 |
| Maryland | $80,990 |
| Michigan | $80,740 |
| Colorado | $80,440 |
| Massachusetts | $80,140 |
| Pennsylvania | $79,920 |
| South Carolina | $79,900 |
| Wisconsin | $79,810 |
| Nebraska | $79,120 |
| Illinois | $78,870 |
| Virginia | $78,850 |
| Vermont | $78,800 |
| Maine | $78,770 |
| North Carolina | $78,740 |
| Minnesota | $78,110 |
| Washington | $78,000 |
| New Mexico | $77,850 |
| Indiana | $77,270 |
| Alabama | $77,270 |
| Tennessee | $76,620 |
| Georgia | $75,950 |
| West Virginia | $75,550 |
| Idaho | $75,420 |
| Utah | $75,380 |
| Wyoming | $75,280 |
| Kentucky | $74,850 |
| Rhode Island | $74,720 |
| Ohio | $74,570 |
| Missouri | $74,000 |
| Puerto Rico | $73,500 |
| Mississippi | $73,160 |
| Louisiana | $72,990 |
| Iowa | $71,910 |
| Kansas | $70,960 |
| Arizona | $68,360 |
| Oklahoma | $65,100 |
| Arkansas | $64,330 |
| South Dakota | $63,940 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Compensation for nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $94,810 | 12.7% | 0.79 |
| Middle Atlantic | $88,587 | 17.4% | 1.27 |
| Southwest | $88,224 | 11.8% | 0.96 |
| New England | $80,155 | 7.0% | 1.53 |
| Rocky Mountains | $78,414 | 3.5% | 0.88 |
| Southeast | $78,323 | 25.0% | 1.07 |
| Great Lakes | $77,475 | 15.4% | 1.17 |
| Plains States | $74,723 | 6.4% | 0.95 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waco, TX | TX | $196,540 | 70 |
| Visalia, CA | CA | $139,610 | 50 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $120,840 | 210 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | TX | $119,320 | 120 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | CA | $112,480 | 670 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | AL | $110,360 | 120 |
| Binghamton, NY | NY | $108,430 | 100 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | OR | $108,320 | 510 |
Top Industries Employing Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary
The largest employers of nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 70,830 | n/a |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 3,220 | n/a |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 40 | n/a |
Below are examples of industries where nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary work:
Tech Stack
- Word processing software: Google Docs (hot technology)
- Medical software: MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Computer based training software: Learning management system LMS (in demand)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Contact With Others
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
Getting Started in This Career
Most nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary positions require a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Medical and Health Services Managers (Supplemental)
- Health Informatics Specialists (Primary-Short)
- Health Education Specialists (Primary-Short)
- Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary (Primary-Short)
- Education Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten (Supplemental)
- Special Education Teachers, Elementary School (Supplemental)
Degree Programs
Future nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary often complete programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
23 programs across 2 majors
About the Data
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 25-1072.00 (Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary).