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Job outlook for nursing directors in the United States
Nursing director job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected nursing director job growth rate is 28% from 2018-2028.
About 136,200 new jobs for nursing directors are projected over the next decade.
Nursing director salaries have increased 8% for nursing directors in the last 5 years.
There are over 71,331 nursing directors currently employed in the United States.
There are 76,956 active nursing director job openings in the US.
The average nursing director salary is $87,643.
Are nursing director jobs in demand?
Nursing director job and salary trends over time
Nursing director jobs over time
Nursing director job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 71,331 | 0.02% |
| 2020 | 65,781 | 0.02% |
| 2019 | 64,546 | 0.02% |
| 2018 | 60,943 | 0.02% |
| 2017 | 56,777 | 0.02% |
Average nursing director salary over time
Nursing director salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $87,643 | $42.14 | +3.3% |
| 2025 | $84,870 | $40.80 | +1.3% |
| 2024 | $83,819 | $40.30 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $82,659 | $39.74 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $81,138 | $39.01 | +2.2% |
Nursing director jobs by state
Most common states for nursing directors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 275 | 32% |
| 2 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 1,192 | 24% |
| 3 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 138 | 20% |
| 4 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 913 | 19% |
| 5 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 144 | 19% |
| 6 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,109 | 18% |
| 7 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 982 | 18% |
| 8 | Louisiana | 4,684,333 | 828 | 18% |
| 9 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 695 | 18% |
| 10 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 618 | 17% |
| 11 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 550 | 17% |
| 12 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 313 | 17% |
| 13 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 328 | 16% |
| 14 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,259 | 15% |
| 15 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 249 | 15% |
| 16 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 608 | 14% |
| 17 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 593 | 14% |
| 18 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 263 | 14% |
| 19 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 1,536 | 13% |
| 20 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 134 | 13% |
Most common cities for nursing directors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newton | 8 | 9% | $90,330 |
| 2 | Boca Raton | 7 | 7% | $62,775 |
| 3 | Oakland | 16 | 4% | $110,303 |
| 4 | Providence | 7 | 4% | $98,328 |
| 5 | Boston | 20 | 3% | $90,301 |
| 6 | Fort Wayne | 8 | 3% | $83,543 |
| 7 | Indianapolis | 16 | 2% | $82,382 |
| 8 | Atlanta | 9 | 2% | $90,030 |
| 9 | Miami | 8 | 2% | $62,627 |
| 10 | Minneapolis | 8 | 2% | $80,756 |
| 11 | Cincinnati | 7 | 2% | $82,958 |
| 12 | Cleveland | 7 | 2% | $84,997 |
| 13 | New Orleans | 7 | 2% | $71,087 |
| 14 | Los Angeles | 29 | 1% | $99,819 |
| 15 | Chicago | 25 | 1% | $76,738 |
| 16 | Philadelphia | 16 | 1% | $92,244 |
| 17 | San Jose | 9 | 1% | $109,987 |
| 18 | Houston | 10 | 0% | $78,170 |
| 19 | New York | 10 | 0% | $97,924 |
| 20 | Phoenix | 7 | 0% | $87,200 |
Nursing Director job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of nursing director experts
Texas A&M University - Central Texas
Aurora University
Morgan State University
Molloy College
The University of Alabama
Saginaw Valley State University
Angelo State University
Idaho State University
California State University
Cedar Crest College
The University of Texas at Austin
Illinois Wesleyan University
Eastern Michigan University
Dawn Riess Ph.D., RN, ACUE
Assistant ProfessorTexas A&M University - Central Texas
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research And Clinical Nursing
What general advice would you give to a Nursing Director?
Dawn Riess Ph.D., RN, ACUE: Nursing is difficult both physically and emotionally, but it is rewarding. Entry nurses may feel overwhelmed when they first enter the nursing field. I recommend you seek out a mentor and follow up with that person often. Texas Nursing Association (TNA) offers a mentoring program, I recommend you join that organization to help support you as you enter the nursing field. You will have good and bad days when you first begin your career. Having support in the unit you work in is important and usually, the organization has an internship program. You will have a direct impact on people's lives at the worst time in their lives. If someone is stressed, they may take that out on you but do not take it personally.
There are so many different avenues for entry-level nurses. If you don't want to work in the hospital setting, you can go into community health, clinics, outpatient rehab, home health, school nursing, informatics, and more. The flexibility offered in nursing is phenomenal. Your patients may not remember your name, but they will remember how you made them feel. Your impact on patient's lives is limitless. Nurses are present from birth to death and everything in between.
What Nursing Director skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dawn Riess Ph.D., RN, ACUE: Soft skills are extremely important in healthcare and employers are requiring a nurse force that can meet these expectations. The ability to talk to your patients and show empathy is vitally important. Working on nonverbal communication and making someone feel heard is extremely important. You will never know everything, but if you talk to your patients and convey a caring attitude, then you will be an effective nurse.
The ability to use electronic devices is important in the nursing field and may be a specialty available to experienced nurses (Informatic Nursing). Most areas in healthcare have electronic documentation and use multiple devices for patient care from a handheld device to a computer. The ability to set up devices that link to electronic health records is part of nursing care today.
What will help Nursing Directors increase their earning potential?
Dawn Riess Ph.D., RN, ACUE: The nursing shortage is an ongoing issue. As the number of nurses decreases, the pay scale increases. Having a varied background in nursing care makes you more marketable. Know your worth by researching what nurses make in different fields and then voice your pay expectations. Advancement is possible in many areas of nursing care. The hospital setting is usually the highest paying employer, as that is where a large percentage of nurses are needed. Having a minimum of a bachelor's degree is required for ongoing advancement. Choosing a specialty (ICU, OR, ED, Cath lab, etc.) area in nursing will also increase your salary potential. Taking advantage of any certifications will also increase your salary and marketability.
Christina Cicero
BSN Program Chair & Assistant Professor of NursingAurora University
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research And Clinical Nursing
What general advice would you give to a Nursing Director?
Christina Cicero: Utilize your resources and ask for help. The seasoned nurses, managers and educators are there to support you, but you need to be willing to accept the feedback.
What Nursing Director skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Christina Cicero: Communication skills and the willingness to be a life-long learner because we are continuing to see the advancements and changes in healthcare and in nursing education.
What will help Nursing Directors increase their earning potential?
Christina Cicero: Find a place of employment with a clinical ladder system and continue to take advantage of all professional development opportunities.
Samantha Hickson
Professor of Practice, Morgan State University Department of NursingMorgan State University
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research And Clinical Nursing
What general advice would you give to a Nursing Director?
Samantha Hickson: You can maximize your salary as a new nurse through continuing education. Whether
pursuing continuing nursing education credits, attending educational conferences, or
acquiring certifications, there are always ways to grow our knowledge base and
demonstrate to hiring managers just how valuable we are and what we can bring to the
position or organization. Hiring managers are more willing to pay you more when you
come to the table with more than the baseline qualifications. Plus, continuing your
education demonstrates your desire to grow professionally as a nurse and stay up-to-date
with the latest research for evidence-based practice.
What Nursing Director skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Samantha Hickson: Be open to the endless possibilities and always remain look for opportunities to learn.
Learning does not end with nursing school. In fact, nursing school is only the beginning
of a career of lifelong learning. Therefore, as a new graduate nurse it is easy to quickly
feel like you do not know enough. Be willing to ask for help, learn, research, take your
time, and lean on others for support. The world of nursing has no boundaries and there
will always be something new to learn and add to your repertoire.
What will help Nursing Directors increase their earning potential?
Samantha Hickson: Critical thinking is probably the most important skill that has become more prevalent in
nursing and will continue to be important in the next 3-5 years. Being a nurse requires
you to think about things in ways that you never would have before. Nothing about
nursing is task oriented, and as we shift more into a health care system that is more about
preventative care, health care professionals are relying heavily on nurses and the skillsets
we bring as we remain at the forefront of patient care. You have to be confident in your
knowledge and able to critically think through situations as nursing is coming with more
and more autonomy. Steadily, clinicians and other health care providers are seeing
exactly how valuable our wealth of knowledge is, and as nurses, we have a responsibility
to bring our voices to the table in a way that places our expertise at the forefront.
Rose Schecter PhD, RN
Associate Dean: Undergraduate Nursing & Nursing Administrative AffairsMolloy College
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research And Clinical Nursing
What general advice would you give to a Nursing Director?
Rose Schecter PhD, RN: New graduates should be open to the opportunities that present that are sought after AND those that just present themselves. Graduates should welcome offers of interviews in areas of nursing that perhaps were not first choices. New graduates should take part in continuing education courses if available to increase their skill set even before starting their first professional job. For example EKG testing and phlebotomy are skills one can learn prior to first positions. They will enhance the new graduate's resume.
What Nursing Director skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Rose Schecter PhD, RN: New graduate will definitely be expected to have skill and comfort using computers and other technology. New graduates will also be expected to work collaboratively with other professionals. The graduates' interpersonal skills are also critical. The future is evolving and being prepared to work collaboratively, with other professionals, to care for and educate patients is where the future lies. Use of AI for diagnostic as well as treatment is likely to accelerate. Being able to utilize as well as critically evaluate will also be important.
What will help Nursing Directors increase their earning potential?
Rose Schecter PhD, RN: Salaries for new graduates is fairly consistent across health care systems in a geographic region. Being willing to travel may result in a salary differential as will as working off shift. Increasing salary potential will most likely be a result of further education. Seeking a master's or DNP degree is likely the most important way to maximize salary potential.
Pawn Johnson-Hunter MS, RN, AGPCNP-BC, GERO- BC, CM/DN
Nurse Educator, Nclex Mentor/CoachWhat general advice would you give to a Nursing Director?
Pawn Johnson-Hunter MS, RN, AGPCNP-BC, GERO- BC, CM/DN: A few ways to maximize earning potential as a new graduate nurse is through skillful negotiations and previous experience in healthcare, such as degree level, nurse externships, phlebotomy skills, or certifications. Many, if not all, employers appreciate that new graduates are equipped with clinical skills that are strongly recommended for the practice area. While many nurse certifications require experience, some are for entry-level, such as advanced life support (ACLS and PALS) and IV insertion. There are also some specialty practice certifications that new grads can obtain without years of experience; although they may recommend the experience at times, this is optional. All of this demonstrates the applicant's commitment to the profession and interest. Other ways are to work overtime hours, learn about clinical career ladders, or continue formal education.
What Nursing Director skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Pawn Johnson-Hunter MS, RN, AGPCNP-BC, GERO- BC, CM/DN: The most beneficial advice for a new graduate nurse is to seek mentorship. Identifying an individual in the profession who has achieved what you are aspiring toward is essential. Network:
Seek individuals who are known as experts in their area of specialty and develop professional relationships.
Ask questions, never assume you're more capable than your current level of clinical experience, and never feel too embarrassed to report an error.
Utilize and seek out your organization's resources: unit-based preceptors, clinical nurse educators, and other experienced co-workers are an asset to professional development.
Practice the art of self-care; nursing is rewarding but can be emotionally taxing. Self-care can help to reduce exhaustion and burnout.
Lastly, when things get tough, always remember your why.
What will help Nursing Directors increase their earning potential?
Pawn Johnson-Hunter MS, RN, AGPCNP-BC, GERO- BC, CM/DN: Changes to healthcare and its delivery are unfolding more vastly. Along with a solid clinical background, nurses will need to continue the development of soft skills, including communication, critical thinking, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and leadership, to name a few. Nurses must also maintain their spirit of inquiry through knowledge acquisition. With the shift toward increasing nurse community health services and an increase in the complexities of patient physical and mental health, nurses must continue to educate themselves beyond an employer-required competency level. Nurses are at the forefront of clinical practice, leading the workforce as integral members engaged in the overall health and wellness of the community.
Dr. Michelle Cheshire
Associate Dean Undergraduate ProgramsThe University of Alabama
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research And Clinical Nursing
What general advice would you give to a Nursing Director?
Dr. Michelle Cheshire: Nurses are in high demand and I do not see that changing in the next 10 years. Nursing salaries are at an all time high. To optimize you salary potential, being able to articulate your worth to an agency is critical. Salaries differ depending on what shift you are willing to work. If you are willing to work evenings or nights in high demand areas you will find that the salaries reflect that need.
What Nursing Director skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Michelle Cheshire: As nursing education transitions to competency based education I believe that students will graduate from programs more "practice ready". I believe that in the next 3-5 years having strong leadership and delegation skills will be critical for nurses to optimize patient care outcomes. The healthcare team is interdisciplinary so delegation and leadership for fellow nurses is not the only skill you will need. You will need to be able to lead a healthcare team with members from other disciplines within the healthcare arena.
What will help Nursing Directors increase their earning potential?
Dr. Michelle Cheshire: As nursing education transitions to competency based education I believe that students will graduate from programs more "practice ready". I believe that in the next 3-5 years having strong leadership and delegation skills will be critical for nurses to optimize patient care outcomes. The healthcare team is interdisciplinary so delegation and leadership for fellow nurses is not the only skill you will need. You will need to be able to lead a healthcare team with members from other disciplines within the healthcare arena.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Nursing Director job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Karen Brown-Fackler: Nurses are in even greater demand than they were before. Job security, pay, and variety of positions have never been better.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Nursing Directors to find work opportunities?
Dr. Karen Brown-Fackler: There are nursing jobs everywhere. Truthfully, new graduates don't need help finding them. They are everywhere.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Nursing Director job market given the pandemic?
Wrennah Gabbert Ph.D.: Major trends affecting the nursing profession are the presence of a recurring nursing "shortage" and the impending loss of experienced registered nurses (primarily in the baby boomer generation) due to retirement or death. The coronavirus pandemic has magnified the current shortage. It has also created a climate of ongoing change and an increasingly urgent need for nurses. The new graduate needs to be aware that very active recruitment activities have been put into place in order to answer the current, and impending, nursing shortage. Self-awareness and identification of their personal comfort levels and health (physical, mental, ethically and morally) are behaviors and strategies that have become survival issues in today's health care world. Resources are available, with more being developed and offered by national organizations and employers on a daily basis.
What skills stand out on Nursing Director resumes?
Susan Belliston Ph.D.: The best skills for a stand out resume:
-Evidence of critical thinking skills - the ability to solve complex problems.
-Customer service skills - experience working with the public and dealing with difficult people.
Helpful on a resume or in interviews:
-Enthusiasm - Evidence of interest in the job and in the company for which the person is applying.
-Humility - Even if you are the best student, you do not know everything. As a new graduate, you are just entering a new profession. You have a good foundation, but you look forward to improving by gaining experience and working with other professionals.
-Evidence of stability or a plan for stability - No one wants to hear that you only plan to work here for a year or two.
Cinthya Sotelo
Director of NP Programs, FNP Option CoordinatorCalifornia State University
Patricia A. Chin School of Nursing
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Nursing Director job market given the pandemic?
Cinthya Sotelo: I believe that there will be an increased demand for nurses in the workforce. We don't know where this pandemic is going to lead us or how it is going to affect us all in the future. Nurses will continue to be needed to take care of patients who are ill with chronic conditions as well as more acute conditions, including Covid-19.
What skills stand out on Nursing Director resumes?
Cinthya Sotelo: Prior experience with patients, such as nursing assistant, EMT, etc. It is important for new graduate nurses to place the number of clinical hours on their resume to show what experiences they had during nursing school. Being bilingual will also stand out on a resume.
Wendy Robb Ph.D.
Dean & Professor, School of Nursing, Hazel and Walter May Nursing Endowed Chair for Excellence in NursingCedar Crest College
School of Nursing
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Nursing Directors?
Wendy Robb Ph.D.: A resounding, YES, there will be an enduring impact on the coronavirus pandemic on new nursing graduates! Many graduates likely missed out on components of their nursing education, whether it was experiences in the simulation labs, unit restrictions in the hospitals, or specific experiences that were eliminated as a result of the pandemic. Their nursing education was changed forever and they will not make up that lost time. They will grow and develop from it in different ways building collateral knowledge from experiences that are not often taught in nursing school. But they most certainly will be inexplicably changed by their pandemic entrance into the profession of nursing!
New graduates may have been denied the traditional period of transition from expert student nurse to novice registered nurse. This phase of adaptation is complex and difficult during the best of times. New nurses who are entering the profession during a pandemic are faced with stressful conditions, feelings of unpreparedness, absent or minimalized preceptorship, and general chaos. As new nurses enter the profession they are typically consumed with becoming acclimated to the responsibilities of the role. With the pandemic, these new nurses are experiencing the constant flux of treatment protocols, fear of contamination, long hours and physical fatigue, all while managing high patient morbidity and mortality as surrogate family member and professional nurse.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Nursing Directors to find work opportunities?
Dr. Cara Young Ph.D.: Family nurse practitioners are highly qualified primary care providers. States where NPs have full practice authority afford much more opportunities than states (such as Texas) where NP practice is restricted. The WHO designated 2020 as 'the International Year of the Nurse," and they have recently announced extending this into 2021. The WHO Director-General stated, "Nurses and midwives are the backbones of every health system: in 2020, we're calling on all counties to invest in nurses and midwives ". Nurses can always find a job; I think the major issue impacting the public's access to quality primary health care services is the unhelpful NP practice restrictions in many states across the nation.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Nursing Directors?
Dr. Brenda S. Lessen Knoll PhD, RN: Yes, of course. However, the enduring impact falls in both the positive and negative categories. The negative impact will certainly be a risk for disillusionment in entering the workforce under these crisis conditions that include understaffing, high patient loads, mandatory overtime, etc. New graduates who may have had their clinical experiences cut short in Spring when COVID first ramped up feel a lack of confidence in their hands-on skills, despite still receiving all the theory and virtual training possible. Agencies hiring the nation's "COVID grads" will need to plan more orientation and skills evaluations when onboarding. And that takes more time, so right now, we are caught in a catch 22 with needing more nurses immediately, yet getting more nurses who may not feel prepared to jump in that fast to this environment.
New grads may be asked to shift to ICU training faster than they planned as well. And the experienced ICU Nurses who will be training them are already pushed to their limits. The challenges are endless. However, on the positive side, this PandemicPandemic is providing a historic opportunity to teach pandemic science, epidemiology, and how to follow constantly evolving data in the science of a novel disease. Nursing Schools use the actual data as clinical case studies and developing learning modules on the impact of coronavirus-19 on each field of study; obstetrics, intensive care, neurology, pediatrics, etc. It has provided us with the best "real world" learning while preparing them to launch their careers in the middle of it. One new graduate shared with me that the newer nurses may have an advantage over the more seasoned staff because new grads entering the field during COVID have never known different. I found this very interesting as we watch old and new nurses showing signs of PTSD, not unlike soldiers in a war who watch those responsible for dying alone in their arms.
What experience really stands out on Nursing Director resumes?
Frank Schaller DNP, APRN, FNP-C: A resume should include unique experiences and other leadership/professional development items in order to stand out. It is key to include items that all of the other applicants might not have, such as internships, externships, healthcare-related experience outside of clinical rotations, and membership to and participation in organizations.