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Associate director of nursing salary
Average associate director of nursing salary
$80,029
Understanding the Associate Director of Nursing Salary
The Associate Director of Nursing is essential in healthcare facilities, managing nursing operations and ensuring compliance with medical standards. As of October 2025, the average salary for this role is $80,029 annually, translating to approximately $38 per hour. Factors influencing salary include years of experience, geographical location, and the type of healthcare institution.
Salary by Experience Level
Nurses with diverse experience levels can expect varying salaries. Entry-level Associate Directors may start around $70,000, while those with extensive experience can earn upwards of $95,000 annually. This pay range highlights the potential for salary growth in this career path.
Top Paying States
States such as California, New York, and Massachusetts offer the highest salaries for Associate Directors of Nursing, often exceeding the national average. Researching local job markets can provide insights into potential earnings and job opportunities.
Conclusion
For nursing professionals seeking advancement, becoming an Associate Director of Nursing not only offers a rewarding career but also competitive compensation. Consider your options and pursue opportunities that align with your career goals.
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Where can an Associate Director Of Nursing earn more?
Associate director of nursing salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level associate director of nursing | $63,500 | $30.51 |
| Mid-level associate director of nursing | $79,800 | $38.37 |
| Senior-level associate director of nursing | $109,000 | $52.63 |
Associate director of nursing salary estimates from across the web
Average associate director of nursing salary by state
The highest-paying states for associate directors of nursing are California, New York, and Massachusetts. The lowest average associate director of nursing salary states are Colorado, Mississippi, and Nebraska.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for associate directors of nursing
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $105,633 | $50.79 |
| 2 | California | $116,175 | $55.85 |
| 3 | Nevada | $98,054 | $47.14 |
| 4 | Maryland | $95,090 | $45.72 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $113,607 | $54.62 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $95,007 | $45.68 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $100,534 | $48.33 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $105,020 | $50.49 |
| 9 | Oregon | $88,969 | $42.77 |
| 10 | Ohio | $91,201 | $43.85 |
| 11 | Delaware | $98,353 | $47.29 |
| 12 | Alaska | $92,207 | $44.33 |
| 13 | Idaho | $82,103 | $39.47 |
| 14 | Kentucky | $78,629 | $37.80 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $85,307 | $41.01 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $84,033 | $40.40 |
| 17 | Washington | $93,877 | $45.13 |
| 18 | Georgia | $80,483 | $38.69 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | $89,016 | $42.80 |
| 20 | Louisiana | $74,650 | $35.89 |
| 21 | Illinois | $82,222 | $39.53 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $86,094 | $41.39 |
| 23 | Michigan | $75,366 | $36.23 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $77,663 | $37.34 |
| 25 | Arizona | $79,774 | $38.35 |
| 26 | Kansas | $71,706 | $34.47 |
| 27 | Minnesota | $83,567 | $40.18 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $68,192 | $32.78 |
| 29 | Hawaii | $81,008 | $38.95 |
| 30 | Alabama | $66,413 | $31.93 |
| 31 | New Hampshire | $76,359 | $36.71 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $73,242 | $35.21 |
| 33 | Texas | $72,207 | $34.71 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $76,882 | $36.96 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $67,328 | $32.37 |
| 36 | Virginia | $72,304 | $34.76 |
| 37 | Vermont | $78,234 | $37.61 |
| 38 | Mississippi | $64,143 | $30.84 |
| 39 | Montana | $69,080 | $33.21 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $66,654 | $32.05 |
| 41 | Missouri | $66,659 | $32.05 |
| 42 | Maine | $70,097 | $33.70 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $58,263 | $28.01 |
| 44 | Colorado | $64,880 | $31.19 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $62,039 | $29.83 |
| 46 | Indiana | $65,726 | $31.60 |
| 47 | Iowa | $58,427 | $28.09 |
| 48 | Utah | $64,951 | $31.23 |
| 49 | Florida | $65,924 | $31.69 |
| 50 | North Dakota | $65,487 | $31.48 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $60,199 | $28.94 |
Highest paying cities for associate directors of nursing
The highest-paying cities for associate directors of nursing are San Francisco, CA, Attleboro, MA, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $126,782 | $60.95 |
| 2 | Attleboro, MA | $106,523 | $51.21 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $106,146 | $51.03 |
| 4 | Carson City, NV | $102,207 | $49.14 |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | $101,282 | $48.69 |
| 6 | Baltimore, MD | $95,368 | $45.85 |
| 7 | Trenton, NJ | $95,102 | $45.72 |
| 8 | New Britain, CT | $84,790 | $40.76 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $82,598 | $39.71 |
| 10 | Chamblee, GA | $81,058 | $38.97 |
| 11 | Phoenix, AZ | $80,021 | $38.47 |
| 12 | Cheyenne, WY | $76,657 | $36.85 |
| 13 | Alexandria, LA | $75,049 | $36.08 |
| 14 | Austin, TX | $72,650 | $34.93 |
| 15 | Hampton, VA | $72,541 | $34.88 |
| 16 | Kansas City, KS | $71,981 | $34.61 |
| 17 | Kansas City, MO | $66,010 | $31.74 |
| 18 | Montgomery, AL | $65,805 | $31.64 |
| 19 | Bismarck, ND | $64,916 | $31.21 |
| 20 | Omaha, NE | $62,314 | $29.96 |
Associate director of nursing salary details
An associate director of nursing's salary ranges from $56,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $113,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an associate director of nursing's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $113,000 | $9,417 | $54 |
| 75th Percentile | $96,000 | $8,000 | $46 |
| Average | $80,029 | $6,669 | $38 |
| 25th Percentile | $66,000 | $5,500 | $32 |
| 10th Percentile | $56,000 | $4,667 | $27 |
Highest paying associate director of nursing jobs
The highest paying types of associate directors of nursing are director of case management, chief nursing officer, and director of pharmacist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student/Clinical Rotation | $88,697 | $7,391 | $42.64 | 87,950 |
| Nurse | $57,564 | $4,797 | $27.67 | 696,124 |
| Nurse Extern | $37,156 | $3,096 | $17.86 | 569,180 |
| Clinical Research Nurse | $60,347 | $5,029 | $29.01 | 703,983 |
| Staff Nurse | $68,342 | $5,695 | $32.86 | 699,636 |
| Ambulatory Care Coordinator | $40,458 | $3,371 | $19.45 | 85,837 |
Top companies hiring associate directors of nursing now:
Which companies pay associate directors of nursing the most?
Associate director of nursing salaries at CVS Health and Hospital for Special Care are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average associate director of nursing salary at companies like Evergreen Systems and Baptist Health Care are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CVS Health | $121,036 | $58.19 |
| 2 | Hospital for Special Care | $97,083 | $46.67 |
| 3 | Evergreen Systems | $95,329 | $45.83 |
| 4 | Baptist Health Care | $94,669 | $45.51 |
| 5 | One Brooklyn Health | $92,048 | $44.25 |
| 6 | Integrated Resources | $90,239 | $43.38 |
| 7 | Mount Sinai Health System | $89,559 | $43.06 |
| 8 | St. Peter's Health Partners | $89,448 | $43.00 |
| 9 | Humana | $89,237 | $42.90 |
| 10 | West Coast University | $89,113 | $42.84 |
| 11 | Cooper University Health Care | $88,196 | $42.40 |
| 12 | Covenant Health System | $84,472 | $40.61 |
| 13 | Lahey Health Behavioral Services | $84,298 | $40.53 |
| 14 | Guidehouse | $83,628 | $40.21 |
| 15 | National Council Licensure Examination | $82,984 | $39.90 |
| 16 | Lakeview Neurorehabilitation | $81,433 | $39.15 |
| 17 | Beth Israel Lahey Health | $80,377 | $38.64 |
| 18 | Univ. Of Texas Cancer Ctr. | $80,336 | $38.62 |
| 19 | Johns Hopkins Medicine | $77,624 | $37.32 |
| 20 | Long Island Cares | $76,542 | $36.80 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Associate director of nursing salary trends
The average associate director of nursing salary has risen by $11,203 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average associate director of nursing earned $68,826 annually, but today, they earn $80,029 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for associate directors of nursing over the last decade.
Compare associate director of nursing salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average associate director of nursing salary over time
Compare associate director of nursing salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Associate director of nursing salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $80,000 | $38.48 | +2.7% |
| 2025 | $77,900 | $37.44 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $76,200 | $36.64 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $74,400 | $35.75 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $72,700 | $34.96 | +1.4% |
Recently added associate director of nursing salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New London Hospital | Associate Nursing Director-Ambulatory | New London, NH | 06/28/2025 | $100,197 |
| Novartis AG | Associate Director, NPS Experience Design | East Hanover, NJ | 06/27/2025 | $132,300 |
| West Coast University | Campus Associate Director Nursing, Academics (VN) | Ontario, CA | 06/27/2025 | $110,256 |
| Neheadstart | Associate Director of Nursing/Unit Manager | Bellevue, NE | 06/27/2025 | $87,174 |
| Dartmouth Health | Associate Nursing Director-Ambulatory | New London, NH | 06/27/2025 | $100,197 |
| Nazareth Area School District | Vacancies Associate Nurse | Kane, PA | 06/26/2025 | $60,648 |
| Humana Insurance Company | Associate Director, UM Nursing | Hope, IN | 06/19/2025 | $115,200 |
| Humana | Associate Director, UM Nursing | Indianapolis, IN | 06/18/2025 | $115,200 |
| Ccg Business Solutions | Associate Director of Nursing | New York, NY | 06/10/2025 | $95,000 |
| Banner Health | Associate Director, RN Medical Management Services | Phoenix, AZ | 06/08/2025 | $97,755 |
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