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Higher Education
Chamberlain University, Walden University, Capella University
Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary
Nursing instructors teach future nurses in classrooms, labs, and clinical simulations, but many also keep a small clinical practice so their lessons stay grounded in real patient care. The job stands out because it mixes teaching, advising, and hands-on clinical judgment; the tradeoff is that you need deep nursing experience and a graduate degree, yet much of your day is spent grading, planning, and supporting students instead of doing bedside care.
Also known as Nurse EducatorNursing FacultyNursing InstructorClinical Nursing InstructorAssistant Professor of Nursing
Median Salary
$79,940
Mean $87,090
U.S. Workforce
~74K
8.6K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+16.8%
91.6K to 106.9K
Entry Education
Doctoral or professional degree
+ Less than 5 years experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary sits in the Education category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~74K workers, with a median annual pay of $79,940 and roughly 8.6K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 91.6 K in 2024 to 106.9K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Master's Degree in Nursing Education or a related field, and employers typically expect less than 5 years of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Registered Nurse and can progress toward Senior Faculty / Program Director. High-value skills usually include Curriculum Design, Syllabus Writing & Lecture Planning, Canvas, Blackboard & Moodle LMS, and ATI Nursing Education, NCLEX Prep & Assessment Tools, paired with soft skills such as Instructing, Learning Strategies, and Speaking.
Core Responsibilities
- Help students choose classes, clinical rotations, and career paths.
- Teach nursing concepts in lectures, labs, and simulation exercises.
- Check whether students are ready for clinical work by giving tests and grading assignments.
- Lead classroom discussions and hands-on practice sessions.
Keep exploring: more Education careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Help students choose classes, clinical rotations, and career paths.
02 Teach nursing concepts in lectures, labs, and simulation exercises.
03 Check whether students are ready for clinical work by giving tests and grading assignments.
04 Lead classroom discussions and hands-on practice sessions.
05 Work with other faculty on course changes, teaching problems, and research.
06 Stay current in nursing, keep some clinical practice, and meet with students during office hours.
Industries That Hire
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Community Colleges
Miami Dade College, Austin Community College, Cuyahoga Community College
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Hospital Systems
Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins Medicine
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Online University Programs
Western Governors University, Grand Canyon University, Purdue Global
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay is solid for an education role, with a median annual wage of $79,940 and a mean of $87,090.
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Employment is projected to grow 16.8% by 2034, adding about 15.3K jobs and roughly 8.6K openings per year.
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You get to teach and mentor future nurses instead of spending every day in direct patient care.
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Typical entry does not require on-the-job training, so experienced nurses can move into teaching without a long apprenticeship.
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The job keeps you connected to current nursing practice through literature, conferences, and clinical work.
Challenges
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The education barrier is high: the typical entry requirement is a doctoral or professional degree, and most workers have at least a master's or doctorate.
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A lot of openings are likely to be adjunct or contract-based, which can mean less schedule stability than a full-time clinical nursing job.
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You split your time between teaching, advising, grading, and staying clinically current, so the work can spill into evenings and weekends.
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Pay can plateau unless you move into program leadership or administration, which is a structural ceiling for many teaching roles.
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You have to keep up with changing nursing standards and evidence, so the learning never really stops and can be hard to sustain long-term.
Career Progression
Registered Nurse
0-4 years
$60K-$74K
Builds the bedside experience, credibility, and clinical judgment that later support a move into teaching.
Adjunct Nursing Instructor
4-8 years
$75K-$78K
Teaches one or two courses or labs at a time, often while still working clinically or balancing another job.
Nursing Instructor, Postsecondary THIS ROLE
8-15 years
$79K-$95K
Handles the core teaching load, student advising, grading, and clinical evaluation for a nursing program.
Senior Faculty / Program Director
15+ years
$96K-$125K
Oversees curriculum, mentors other instructors, and helps manage program standards, accreditation, and staffing.
Education Paths
Master's Degree in Nursing Education or a related field
The most common path, held by 50.08% of workers in this role.
Doctoral Degree (PhD, DNP, or EdD)
A major pathway, held by 36.11% of workers, and often preferred for full-time faculty or leadership roles.
Post-Master's Certificate in Nursing Education
A smaller path, held by 2.03% of workers, usually paired with a nursing master's and teaching experience.
Nursing Education Certificate plus strong clinical experience
An alternative route for experienced nurses moving into teaching, often used alongside a graduate degree and faculty mentoring.
Key Skills
Technical
Curriculum Design, Syllabus Writing & Lecture Planning 85%
Canvas, Blackboard & Moodle LMS 82%
ATI Nursing Education, NCLEX Prep & Assessment Tools 80%
Clinical Simulation Labs, Manikins & Skills Checkoffs 78%
PubMed, CINAHL & Evidence-Based Practice Research 76%
Soft Skills
InstructingLearning StrategiesSpeakingActive ListeningWritingCritical Thinking Job Outlook and Trends
+16.8%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
8.6K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 91.6K to 106.9 K over the next decade, representing 16.8% growth. Around 8.6 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Limited. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.