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Clinical nursing instructor salary
Average clinical nursing instructor salary
$67,228
Understanding the Clinical Nursing Instructor Salary
A Clinical Nursing Instructor plays a vital role in nursing education, guiding students in theoretical and practical aspects of nursing. As of October 2025, the average salary for this role is $67,228 annually, translating to approximately $32 per hour. Salaries can vary based on geographical location, years of experience, and the specific institution.
In states like California and New York, Clinical Nursing Instructors tend to earn higher salaries due to the demand for nursing education and the higher cost of living. For instance, instructors in metropolitan areas may see salaries exceeding $75,000 per year. Understanding the average salary by state can help prospective instructors make informed career choices.
Job Opportunities
Clinical Nursing Instructors are in demand at community colleges, universities, and vocational schools. Those interested in this career can explore various job listings on platforms like Zippia.
As nursing continues to evolve, the need for skilled educators is paramount. This role not only offers a stable income but also a chance to contribute to the future of healthcare.
Let Zippia find your next clinical nursing instructor job
Let Zippia find your next clinical nursing instructor job
Where can a Clinical Nursing Instructor earn more?
Clinical nursing instructor salary estimates from across the web
Average clinical nursing instructor salary by state
The highest-paying states for clinical nursing instructors are California, North Dakota, and West Virginia. The lowest average clinical nursing instructor salary states are Oklahoma, Illinois, and Minnesota.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for clinical nursing instructors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $91,528 | $44.00 |
| 2 | California | $98,872 | $47.53 |
| 3 | Michigan | $82,415 | $39.62 |
| 4 | Delaware | $83,668 | $40.23 |
| 5 | Oregon | $79,456 | $38.20 |
| 6 | Colorado | $79,756 | $38.34 |
| 7 | Nevada | $82,864 | $39.84 |
| 8 | Indiana | $75,980 | $36.53 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $79,442 | $38.19 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $95,115 | $45.73 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $79,178 | $38.07 |
| 12 | Alaska | $81,922 | $39.39 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $84,199 | $40.48 |
| 14 | Utah | $78,885 | $37.93 |
| 15 | Idaho | $75,628 | $36.36 |
| 16 | New York | $74,609 | $35.87 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $77,006 | $37.02 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $75,741 | $36.41 |
| 19 | Maryland | $74,295 | $35.72 |
| 20 | Massachusetts | $81,256 | $39.07 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $69,619 | $33.47 |
| 22 | South Dakota | $64,156 | $30.84 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $67,105 | $32.26 |
| 24 | Iowa | $68,066 | $32.72 |
| 25 | Montana | $66,111 | $31.78 |
| 26 | Kansas | $64,686 | $31.10 |
| 27 | Vermont | $74,982 | $36.05 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $67,960 | $32.67 |
| 29 | Florida | $70,617 | $33.95 |
| 30 | Louisiana | $66,169 | $31.81 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $70,190 | $33.75 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $67,082 | $32.25 |
| 33 | Ohio | $68,229 | $32.80 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $69,252 | $33.29 |
| 35 | Georgia | $62,955 | $30.27 |
| 36 | Washington | $72,694 | $34.95 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $65,288 | $31.39 |
| 38 | New Hampshire | $68,859 | $33.11 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $56,692 | $27.26 |
| 40 | Missouri | $63,532 | $30.54 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $63,200 | $30.38 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $59,169 | $28.45 |
| 43 | Virginia | $60,252 | $28.97 |
| 44 | Texas | $61,392 | $29.52 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $55,596 | $26.73 |
| 46 | Maine | $57,967 | $27.87 |
| 47 | Arizona | $53,801 | $25.87 |
| 48 | Illinois | $54,648 | $26.27 |
| 49 | Alabama | $52,267 | $25.13 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $52,876 | $25.42 |
| 51 | Minnesota | $54,507 | $26.21 |
Highest paying cities for clinical nursing instructors
The highest-paying cities for clinical nursing instructors are Oakland, CA, Washington, DC, and Reno, NV.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $106,594 | $51.25 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $95,355 | $45.84 |
| 3 | Reno, NV | $87,804 | $42.21 |
| 4 | Springfield, MA | $84,128 | $40.45 |
| 5 | Port Huron, MI | $80,995 | $38.94 |
| 6 | Fort Collins, CO | $80,270 | $38.59 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $75,085 | $36.10 |
| 8 | Baltimore, MD | $74,150 | $35.65 |
| 9 | Knoxville, TN | $71,594 | $34.42 |
| 10 | Clearwater, FL | $71,466 | $34.36 |
| 11 | Goldsboro, NC | $64,232 | $30.88 |
| 12 | Houston, TX | $62,460 | $30.03 |
| 13 | Charlottesville, VA | $59,895 | $28.80 |
| 14 | Oklahoma City, OK | $55,697 | $26.78 |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $54,809 | $26.35 |
Clinical nursing instructor salary details
A clinical nursing instructor's salary ranges from $41,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $109,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a clinical nursing instructor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $109,000 | $9,083 | $52 |
| 75th Percentile | $86,000 | $7,167 | $41 |
| Average | $67,228 | $5,602 | $32 |
| 25th Percentile | $52,000 | $4,333 | $25 |
| 10th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
Highest paying clinical nursing instructor jobs
The highest paying types of clinical nursing instructors are advanced nursing professor, registered nursing professor, and clinical instructor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing Faculty | $63,552 | $5,296 | $30.55 | 64,292 |
| Nursing Program Coordinator | $64,285 | $5,357 | $30.91 | 113,614 |
| Instructor Nurse | $68,098 | $5,675 | $32.74 | 50,341 |
| Adjunct Nursing Faculty | $63,831 | $5,319 | $30.69 | 66,092 |
| Instructor | $53,426 | $4,452 | $25.69 | 39,273 |
| Adjunct Clinical Instructor | $67,696 | $5,641 | $32.55 | 88,235 |
Top companies hiring clinical nursing instructors now:
Which companies pay clinical nursing instructors the most?
Clinical nursing instructor salaries at Cook Children's Medical Center and University of Maryland Medical System are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average clinical nursing instructor salary at companies like The University of Kansas Health System and Northwestern Medicine are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cook Children's Medical Center | $179,184 | $86.15 |
| 2 | University of Maryland Medical System | $174,144 | $83.72 |
| 3 | The University of Kansas Health System | $158,333 | $76.12 |
| 4 | Northwestern Medicine | $154,451 | $74.26 |
| 5 | The Moses H Cone Memorial Hospital | $151,280 | $72.73 |
| 6 | Saint Francis Health System | $144,590 | $69.51 |
| 7 | Covenant Health System | $140,357 | $67.48 |
| 8 | Loma Linda University Health | $137,658 | $66.18 |
| 9 | Cedars-Sinai | $137,167 | $65.95 |
| 10 | BayCare Health System | $134,450 | $64.64 |
| 11 | Medical University of South Carolina | $131,885 | $63.41 |
| 12 | Hospital for Special Surgery | $124,276 | $59.75 |
| 13 | Swedish Hospital | $123,105 | $59.19 |
| 14 | Sinai Chicago | $118,937 | $57.18 |
| 15 | NorthBay Healthcare | $118,057 | $56.76 |
| 16 | Health First | $115,267 | $55.42 |
| 17 | Kern Community College District | $108,412 | $52.12 |
| 18 | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center | $105,496 | $50.72 |
| 19 | Grayson College | $103,813 | $49.91 |
| 20 | Stanford Health Care | $102,155 | $49.11 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Clinical nursing instructor salary trends
The average clinical nursing instructor salary has risen by $10,307 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average clinical nursing instructor earned $56,921 annually, but today, they earn $67,228 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for clinical nursing instructors over the last decade.
Compare clinical nursing instructor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average clinical nursing instructor salary over time
Compare clinical nursing instructor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Clinical nursing instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $67,200 | $32.32 | +1.2% |
| 2024 | $66,500 | $31.95 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | $65,500 | $31.47 | +3.0% |
| 2022 | $63,500 | $30.52 | +3.0% |
| 2021 | $61,600 | $29.61 | +2.4% |
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