Nurse Educator Salary: What to Expect
One of the key considerations when choosing a career is salary. While this usually shouldn't be the only concern, it definitely matters. After all, salary is the prime determinant of whether or not you can afford your desired lifestyle.
Nurse Educator Salary by Degree Type
Sources like the Bureau of Labor Statistics do not break out expected nurse educator salaries by degree type. The BLS considers this to require “postsecondary” education, while Payscale.com assumes you have a master’s degree.
With that in mind, the projected wages are pretty high, with the BLS giving just under $81,000 as the median wage. The lowest 10% make around $49,000, while the highest 10% make over $130,000.
Meanwhile, Payscale.com is a bit more optimistic for the average nurse educator, putting the median wage at around $84,000. Yet, the site considers $115,000 to be on the high side. This site also goes into more detail on other factors that go into determining pay, such as those described below.
Despite the lack of specific details, it’s almost certain that you’ll get a higher salary – possibly much higher – with a doctorate.
Some employers, especially universities, even require a doctorate to get a job there. In that case, you can expect most of them will make it worthwhile. However, the size and endowment of the university will still play a significant role in salary potential.
What Other Factors Determine Nurse Educator Salaries?
Experience level is a huge determining factor in nurse educator salaries. According to Payscale.com, someone with just one year of experience will make an average of $71,000 annually, which is still suitable for anyone just starting at anything. Meanwhile, someone with 20+ years of experience is projected to be able to make $89,000 per year.
Geographic location is another critical factor when it comes to pay. As local demands rise and fall, so do the salaries that can be attained. The demand level is constantly changing, so it is unlikely that one city will always hold the lead in this category. Moving to a new area to improve salary possibilities is not unheard of.
The type of employer is another factor involved, but the specific company is even more critical. For example, among hospitals, Jersey City Medical Center is reported to pay over $95,000 per year, while Carter Healthcare pays only about $55,000. Therefore, if your goal is to maximize salary potential, looking at what specific companies pay is more important than confining your search to a particular facility type.
Any specialties or certifications will also influence your salary, assuming the one(s) you hold are in higher demand than general nurse educators. In some cases, you might be able to make substantially more than you would with only a plain nurse educator credential.
Nurse Educator Salary Table by State and Metro Area
To learn more about nurse educator salaries in your local region, click on your state below. We have compiled the latest salary data in the major metro areas of each state.
Table data taken from BLS (http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes251072.htm)
