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Nursing director salary
Average nursing director salary
$87,643
Nursing Director Salary Overview
The average salary for a Nursing Director is approximately $87,643 per year, translating to about $42 per hour. Salaries vary significantly based on factors such as geographical location, years of experience, and specific healthcare settings. For instance, Nursing Directors in metropolitan areas often earn higher salaries compared to those in rural settings.
Top-Paying States
Some of the highest-paying states for Nursing Directors include California, New York, and Texas. In these regions, the demand for skilled nursing leadership is strong, leading to competitive compensation packages. Additionally, states with a higher cost of living typically offer better salaries to attract and retain qualified professionals.
Career Advancement Opportunities
Nursing Directors not only enjoy attractive salaries but also various avenues for career advancement. Positions such as Chief Nursing Officer or hospital administration roles may become accessible with experience and further education. Continuous professional development is crucial in this field, as healthcare regulations and technologies evolve.
Conclusion
Overall, pursuing a career as a Nursing Director presents both financial rewards and professional growth opportunities. With a clear understanding of salary expectations and career paths, aspiring Nursing Directors can make informed decisions about their futures in healthcare.
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Where can a Nursing Director earn more?
Nursing director salary estimates from across the web
Average nursing director salary by state
The highest-paying states for nursing directors are California, Rhode Island, and Washington. The lowest average nursing director salary states are Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Nebraska.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for nursing directors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $97,730 | $46.99 |
| 2 | California | $102,123 | $49.10 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $90,778 | $43.64 |
| 4 | Wyoming | $91,540 | $44.01 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $98,368 | $47.29 |
| 6 | New Mexico | $86,184 | $41.43 |
| 7 | Washington | $98,043 | $47.14 |
| 8 | Idaho | $86,303 | $41.49 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $91,756 | $44.11 |
| 10 | Nevada | $91,876 | $44.17 |
| 11 | Ohio | $84,237 | $40.50 |
| 12 | Maryland | $90,816 | $43.66 |
| 13 | Arizona | $86,917 | $41.79 |
| 14 | Georgia | $89,849 | $43.20 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $90,350 | $43.44 |
| 16 | Oregon | $86,917 | $41.79 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $79,367 | $38.16 |
| 18 | North Dakota | $81,700 | $39.28 |
| 19 | Virginia | $87,956 | $42.29 |
| 20 | Vermont | $89,408 | $42.98 |
| 21 | Montana | $83,937 | $40.35 |
| 22 | Indiana | $82,477 | $39.65 |
| 23 | Colorado | $81,616 | $39.24 |
| 24 | Delaware | $86,295 | $41.49 |
| 25 | South Carolina | $76,000 | $36.54 |
| 26 | Hawaii | $89,141 | $42.86 |
| 27 | New Jersey | $82,732 | $39.77 |
| 28 | District of Columbia | $89,713 | $43.13 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $74,822 | $35.97 |
| 30 | Mississippi | $77,709 | $37.36 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $81,843 | $39.35 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $80,279 | $38.60 |
| 33 | Texas | $78,220 | $37.61 |
| 34 | Alabama | $72,943 | $35.07 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $73,159 | $35.17 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $72,154 | $34.69 |
| 37 | Missouri | $75,933 | $36.51 |
| 38 | Utah | $77,201 | $37.12 |
| 39 | Illinois | $76,508 | $36.78 |
| 40 | Maine | $77,676 | $37.34 |
| 41 | Minnesota | $80,726 | $38.81 |
| 42 | Alaska | $78,454 | $37.72 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $71,270 | $34.26 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $73,485 | $35.33 |
| 45 | Iowa | $72,359 | $34.79 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $68,178 | $32.78 |
| 47 | Michigan | $74,209 | $35.68 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $69,533 | $33.43 |
| 49 | Kansas | $73,099 | $35.14 |
| 50 | Florida | $63,514 | $30.54 |
| 51 | North Carolina | $69,425 | $33.38 |
Highest paying cities for nursing directors
The highest-paying cities for nursing directors are San Francisco, CA, Seattle, WA, and Providence, RI.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $110,426 | $53.09 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $98,618 | $47.41 |
| 3 | Providence, RI | $98,328 | $47.27 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $97,924 | $47.08 |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | $92,244 | $44.35 |
| 6 | Las Vegas, NV | $91,943 | $44.20 |
| 7 | Stratford, CT | $91,196 | $43.84 |
| 8 | Baltimore, MD | $90,972 | $43.74 |
| 9 | Newton, MA | $90,330 | $43.43 |
| 10 | Atlanta, GA | $90,030 | $43.28 |
| 11 | Washington, DC | $89,809 | $43.18 |
| 12 | Burlington, VT | $89,019 | $42.80 |
| 13 | Richmond, VA | $87,855 | $42.24 |
| 14 | Phoenix, AZ | $87,200 | $41.92 |
| 15 | Portland, OR | $86,778 | $41.72 |
| 16 | Albuquerque, NM | $86,425 | $41.55 |
| 17 | Cleveland, OH | $84,997 | $40.86 |
| 18 | Richmond, IN | $83,058 | $39.93 |
| 19 | Trenton, NJ | $82,586 | $39.70 |
| 20 | Denver, CO | $81,532 | $39.20 |
Nursing director salary details
A nursing director's salary ranges from $64,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $118,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a nursing director's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $118,000 | $9,833 | $57 |
| 75th Percentile | $102,000 | $8,500 | $49 |
| Average | $87,643 | $7,304 | $42 |
| 25th Percentile | $74,000 | $6,167 | $36 |
| 10th Percentile | $64,000 | $5,333 | $31 |
Highest paying nursing director jobs
The highest paying types of nursing directors are medical director, director of professional services, and director, network operations.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director Of Professional Services | $140,429 | $11,702 | $67.51 | 125,635 |
| Director Of Clinical Operations | $130,421 | $10,868 | $62.70 | 151,054 |
| Director Of Staff Development | $74,316 | $6,193 | $35.73 | 126,875 |
| Director, Network Operations | $140,236 | $11,686 | $67.42 | 103,623 |
| Director Of Health Services | $80,298 | $6,691 | $38.60 | 137,115 |
| Clinical Services Director | $90,816 | $7,568 | $43.66 | 127,948 |
Top companies hiring nursing directors now:
Which companies pay nursing directors the most?
Nursing director salaries at Oculus and Waters are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average nursing director salary at companies like Mercy Corps and Maine Health/maine Mental Health Partners are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oculus | $124,986 | $60.09 |
| 2 | Waters | $116,415 | $55.97 |
| 3 | Mercy Corps | $115,555 | $55.56 |
| 4 | Maine Health/maine Mental Health Partners | $113,230 | $54.44 |
| 5 | Fairview Health Services | $110,195 | $52.98 |
| 6 | Tenet Healthcare | $108,108 | $51.98 |
| 7 | Solera | $107,753 | $51.80 |
| 8 | Senior Living Properties | $104,029 | $50.01 |
| 9 | Kaiser Permanente | $103,930 | $49.97 |
| 10 | Novant Health | $103,748 | $49.88 |
| 11 | Chesterfields Ltd | $103,317 | $49.67 |
| 12 | MACKINAC STRAITS HEALTH SYSTEM | $103,220 | $49.63 |
| 13 | CHRISTUS Health | $101,550 | $48.82 |
| 14 | Harris Health System | $101,363 | $48.73 |
| 15 | Private Practice | $101,352 | $48.73 |
| 16 | Triad Adult and Pediatric Medicine | $101,233 | $48.67 |
| 17 | Acadia Healthcare | $101,205 | $48.66 |
| 18 | University of Maryland Medical System | $100,835 | $48.48 |
| 19 | Terros Health | $100,763 | $48.44 |
| 20 | Community Health Systems | $100,422 | $48.28 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Nursing director salary trends
The average nursing director salary has risen by $15,027 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average nursing director earned $72,616 annually, but today, they earn $87,643 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for nursing directors over the last decade.
Compare nursing director salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average nursing director salary over time
Compare nursing director salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Nursing director salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $87,600 | $42.14 | +3.2% |
| 2025 | $84,900 | $40.80 | +1.2% |
| 2024 | $83,800 | $40.30 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $82,700 | $39.74 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $81,100 | $39.01 | +2.1% |
Recently added nursing director salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centerstone | Director of Nursing | Bradenton, FL | 06/30/2025 | $99,000 |
| Trinity Health | Nurse Director-Labor & Delivery | Silver Spring, MD | 06/30/2025 | $114,660 |
| Williamsburg Landing | Director of Nursing (RN) | Williamsburg, VA | 06/30/2025 | $99,870 |
| Easter Seals New Hampshire | Director of Nursing-Substance USE Treatment Services | Manchester, NH | 06/30/2025 | $87,654 |
| Care Options for Kids | Director of Nursing | Absecon, NJ | 06/30/2025 | $80,000 |
| Corizon Health | Director of Nursing (DON) | Clio, AL | 06/29/2025 | $98,970 |
| Newyork-Presbyterian | Patient Care Director-RN-Perioperative Services-Days | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $150,000 |
| Brockton Area Multi Services Inc. | Director of Nursing | Brockton, MA | 06/29/2025 | $100,000 |
| Oakviewwaverlyhall | Director of Nursing | Lyons, GA | 06/29/2025 | $115,000 |
| Sunrise Senior Living | Nursing Director | Bloomfield Hills, MI | 06/28/2025 | $56,485 |
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