Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $80,250 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 17.1% through 2035, with about 8,500 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree.
- SOC 25-1072
- Educational Instruction and Library
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary in four numbers
- Median pay
- $80,250a yearBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $49KTop 10% $130K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +17.1%Much faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+17.1%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +17.1% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 8,50096,100 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202596.1K
- Projected 2035112.6K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 96.1K Projected 2035 112.6K - Typical education
- Doctorateneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Bachelor's5.1%
- Master's50.1%
- Post-master’s certificate2%
- Doctorate36.1%
- Post-doctoral training6.7%
Highest education held by nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary Segment Value Bachelor's 5.1% Master's 50.1% Post-master’s certificate 2% Doctorate 36.1% Post-doctoral training 6.7%
Also advertised as: Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Clinical Nursing Instructor, Faculty Member, Instructor, Lecturer.
Pay
How much do Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary make?
Every nursing instructor and teacher, postsecondary in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$80,250
Middle half earn $63,510 to $101,090
- 10th
- $48,800
- 25th
- $63,510
- 75th
- $101,090
- 90th
- $129,500
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $48,800 |
| 25th | $63,510 |
| Median | $80,250 |
| 75th | $101,090 |
| 90th | $129,500 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $80,250
- Median hourly wage
- N/A
- Mean annual wage
- $86,410
- People employed
- 77,960
Versus all US occupations
At $80,250, Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary earn 57% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $29,270 a year.
Versus educational instruction and library occupations
Inside the Educational Instruction and Library group, where the middle occupation pays $68,270, this is 18% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $129,500 or more while the bottom 10% earn $48,800, a gap of 2.7×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 60% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Hawaii pays the most at $129,530, and still leads at $117,807 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Hawaii | $129,530 | $117,807 | 1,890 |
| 2District of Columbia | $107,770 | $98,061 | 110 |
| 3Delaware | $98,170 | $98,359 | 240 |
| 4Nevada | $96,500 | $96,520 | 870 |
| 5Connecticut | $95,500 | $92,173 | 1,380 |
| 6Idaho | $90,890 | $95,179 | 430 |
| 7Alaska | $85,650 | $83,676 | N/A |
| 8Massachusetts | $85,130 | $80,496 | 2,280 |
| 9Texas | $84,930 | $87,505 | 6,830 |
| 10Wisconsin | $84,700 | $90,015 | 1,760 |
Job outlook
Is Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Much faster than average. +17.1% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary | +17.1% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary to change 17.1% over 2025–2035, roughly 4.9× the 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 16,500 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 8,500 openings are projected each year, 8.8% of the 96,100 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of postsecondary teachers is projected to grow 7 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of postsecondary teachers varies by occupation (see table). Both part-time and full-time postsecondary teachers are included in these projections.
The number of people attending postsecondary institutions is expected to grow over the projections decade. Students will continue to seek higher education to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to meet their career goals. As more people enter colleges and universities, more postsecondary teachers will be needed to serve these additional students. Colleges and universities are likely to hire more part-time teachers to meet this demand. In all disciplines, there is expected to be a limited number of full-time nontenure and full-time tenure positions.
Getting in
How to become a Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary
Educational requirements vary with the subject taught and the type of educational institution. Typically, postsecondary teachers must have a Ph.D. or other doctoral degree in their field. However, a master's degree may be enough for some postsecondary teachers at community colleges. Other postsecondary teachers may need work experience in their field of expertise.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Doctoral or professional degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
Less than 5 years
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary.
- Master's Degree50.1%
- Doctoral Degree36.1%
- Post-Doctoral Training6.7%
- Bachelor's Degree5.1%
- Post-Master's Certificate2%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | 50.1% |
| Doctoral Degree | 36.1% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 6.7% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 5.1% |
| Post-Master's Certificate | 2% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary do?
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.
Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a variety of academic subjects beyond the high school level. They may also conduct research and publish scholarly papers and books.
Day-to-day tasks
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory and clinic work, assignments, and papers.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.
- Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
- Participate in campus and community events.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most postsecondary teachers work full time, although part-time work is common. Postsecondary teachers who work part time may offer instruction at several colleges or universities. Some have a full-time job in their field of expertise in addition to a part-time teaching position. For example, an active lawyer or judge might teach an evening course at a law school.
College and university courses are generally during the day, although some are offered in the evenings or on weekends to accommodate students who have jobs or other obligations.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Speaking4.1
- Learning Strategies4.1
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Writing4.0
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Active Learning3.9
- Monitoring3.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Speaking | 4.1 |
| Learning Strategies | 4.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Writing | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 |
| Active Learning | 3.9 |
| Monitoring | 3.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Instructing4.3
- Judgment and Decision Making3.9
- Social Perceptiveness3.8
- Coordination3.8
- Complex Problem Solving3.6
- Service Orientation3.3
- Time Management3.3
- Persuasion3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Instructing | 4.3 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.9 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.8 |
| Coordination | 3.8 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.6 |
| Service Orientation | 3.3 |
| Time Management | 3.3 |
| Persuasion | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Medical software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Computer based training software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Information retrieval or search software
- Internet browser software
- Multi-media educational software
- Optical character reader OCR or scanning software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 3 |
| Investigative | 5 |
| Artistic | 3 |
| Social | 7 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around teaching, helping and working directly with other people, combined with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data.
- Social7.0
- Investigative4.9
- Artistic3.3
- Conventional3.1
- Realistic2.9
- Enterprising2.1
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary
O*NET related occupations
- Educational Instruction and Library
Health Specialties Teacher, Postsecondary
$107,310median a year
Most earn $59K to $322K
+17.9%Doctorate - Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Community and Social Service
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Computer and Mathematical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
More educational instruction and library careers
Median annual pay, with nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary highlighted
- Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary$80,250
- Instructional Coordinator$77,440
- Special Education Teacher, Secondary School$74,260
- Librarian$68,270
- Career/Technical Education Teacher, Secondary School$66,270
- Kindergarten Teacher$62,680
- Library Technician$44,580
- Tutor$43,350
- Preschool Teacher, Except Special Education$38,140
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary | $80,250 |
| Instructional Coordinator | $77,440 |
| Special Education Teacher, Secondary School | $74,260 |
| Librarian | $68,270 |
| Career/Technical Education Teacher, Secondary School | $66,270 |
| Kindergarten Teacher | $62,680 |
| Library Technician | $44,580 |
| Tutor | $43,350 |
| Preschool Teacher, Except Special Education | $38,140 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary appears on
Questions
Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary: frequently asked questions
How much do Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary make?
Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $80,250 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 57% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. The middle half earn between $63,510 and $101,090. The top 10% earn $129,500 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary?
Yes, and beyond a bachelor's: BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry requirement for Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary. Employers typically expect less than 5 years of related work experience first. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 50.1% hold master's degree.
Is Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 17.1% over 2025–2035, more than double the 3.5% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 8,500 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary do?
Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a variety of academic subjects beyond the high school level. A core O*NET task: evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory and clinic work, assignments, and papers. Employers most often ask for Electronic mail software, Medical software, Office suite software.
Which states pay Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary the most?
The highest state medians for Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary are Hawaii ($129,530), District of Columbia ($107,770), Delaware ($98,170) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary?
O*NET scores Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary highest on the Social, Investigative and Artistic interest areas, so the work mixes teaching, helping and working directly with other people with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are INFJ, INFP, ENFP. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.