Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
School nurse salary
Average school nurse salary
$54,998
Understanding School Nurse Salaries
As of October 2025, the average school nurse salary is approximately $54,998 per year. This figure represents a critical aspect of a school nurse's career, which often includes providing healthcare services to students, managing health records, and promoting health education.
Factors Influencing Salary
Several factors influence a school nurse's earnings:
- Location: Salaries can vary widely by state. For example, states like California and New York typically offer higher wages compared to others.
- Experience: Entry-level positions may start lower, but nurses with more years of service often see salary increases.
- Type of Employment: School nurses employed in larger districts or specialized schools may earn more than those in smaller settings.
Opportunities for Advancement
School nurses can explore various roles such as health coordinators or administrators, which often come with increased responsibilities and higher salaries. Continuous education and specialization in areas like pediatric nursing can also enhance earning potential.
Let Zippia find your next school nurse job
Let Zippia find your next school nurse job
Where can a School Nurse earn more?
School nurse salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level school nurse | $43,600 | $20.97 |
| Mid-level school nurse | $54,900 | $26.37 |
| Senior-level school nurse | $75,200 | $36.17 |
School nurse salary estimates from across the web
Average school nurse salary by state
The average school nurse salary in Rhode Island, Oregon, and Washington are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average school nurse salary states are North Carolina, Mississippi, and Arizona.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for school nurses
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $77,072 | $37.05 |
| 2 | Alaska | $72,819 | $35.01 |
| 3 | Washington | $78,838 | $37.90 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $65,289 | $31.39 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $63,169 | $30.37 |
| 6 | Oregon | $83,135 | $39.97 |
| 7 | Delaware | $69,463 | $33.40 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $84,613 | $40.68 |
| 9 | New York | $68,009 | $32.70 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $66,472 | $31.96 |
| 11 | Vermont | $59,202 | $28.46 |
| 12 | Maine | $58,339 | $28.05 |
| 13 | Michigan | $62,625 | $30.11 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $57,575 | $27.68 |
| 15 | Wyoming | $62,146 | $29.88 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $68,875 | $33.11 |
| 17 | Indiana | $56,209 | $27.02 |
| 18 | Montana | $55,040 | $26.46 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $62,070 | $29.84 |
| 20 | South Dakota | $51,710 | $24.86 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $54,951 | $26.42 |
| 22 | California | $67,286 | $32.35 |
| 23 | District of Columbia | $67,885 | $32.64 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $51,727 | $24.87 |
| 25 | Oklahoma | $52,134 | $25.06 |
| 26 | Maryland | $57,802 | $27.79 |
| 27 | Idaho | $56,857 | $27.34 |
| 28 | Illinois | $57,031 | $27.42 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $51,996 | $25.00 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $57,005 | $27.41 |
| 31 | Utah | $55,267 | $26.57 |
| 32 | Texas | $49,195 | $23.65 |
| 33 | Nevada | $53,557 | $25.75 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $52,316 | $25.15 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $48,430 | $23.28 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $49,700 | $23.89 |
| 37 | Ohio | $47,222 | $22.70 |
| 38 | Colorado | $54,200 | $26.06 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $59,193 | $28.46 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $48,761 | $23.44 |
| 41 | Florida | $47,220 | $22.70 |
| 42 | Georgia | $49,362 | $23.73 |
| 43 | Virginia | $49,510 | $23.80 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $48,192 | $23.17 |
| 45 | Alabama | $48,405 | $23.27 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $46,478 | $22.35 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $46,391 | $22.30 |
| 48 | Arizona | $46,167 | $22.20 |
| 49 | Iowa | $45,065 | $21.67 |
| 50 | Kansas | $42,640 | $20.50 |
| 51 | Missouri | $43,631 | $20.98 |
Highest paying cities for school nurses
The highest-paying cities for school nurses are Providence, RI, Salem, OR, and Federal Way, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Providence, RI | $84,734 | $40.74 |
| 2 | Salem, OR | $83,340 | $40.07 |
| 3 | Federal Way, WA | $79,445 | $38.19 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $77,185 | $37.11 |
| 5 | Fairfield, CA | $70,416 | $33.85 |
| 6 | Dover, DE | $69,298 | $33.32 |
| 7 | Hackensack, NJ | $69,232 | $33.28 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $68,040 | $32.71 |
| 9 | Hartford, CT | $66,742 | $32.09 |
| 10 | Manchester, NH | $65,286 | $31.39 |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $63,396 | $30.48 |
| 12 | Bangor, ME | $58,170 | $27.97 |
| 13 | Palatine, IL | $57,290 | $27.54 |
| 14 | Roseville, MN | $57,068 | $27.44 |
| 15 | Mishawaka, IN | $56,967 | $27.39 |
| 16 | Denver, CO | $54,285 | $26.10 |
| 17 | Atlanta, GA | $49,464 | $23.78 |
| 18 | Austin, TX | $49,133 | $23.62 |
| 19 | Wilmington, NC | $46,401 | $22.31 |
| 20 | Tucson, AZ | $46,056 | $22.14 |
School nurse salary details
A school nurse's salary ranges from $39,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $77,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a school nurse's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $77,000 | $6,417 | $37 |
| 75th Percentile | $65,000 | $5,417 | $31 |
| Average | $54,998 | $4,583 | $26 |
| 25th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
| 10th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
Highest paying school nurse jobs
The highest paying types of school nurses are certified registered nurse anesthetist, head nurse, and nurse coordinator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist | $152,996 | $12,750 | $73.56 | 189,889 |
| Registered Nurse Charge Nurse | $71,342 | $5,945 | $34.30 | 645,134 |
| Nurse Coordinator | $79,040 | $6,587 | $38.00 | 428,775 |
| Nurse Clinician | $65,159 | $5,430 | $31.33 | 596,073 |
| Nurse Educator | $67,983 | $5,665 | $32.68 | 537,803 |
| Utilization Review Nurse | $65,425 | $5,452 | $31.45 | 29,776 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for school nurses, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Sophia Thomas
President, American Association of Nurse Practitioners
-Starting salaries for NPs are exceptional, and usually hover between $80,000-100,000, but that can vary significantly based on geographic location, work setting, and certification/specialty. Some salaries are higher.
-The bureau of labor statistics (BLS) offers an excellent breakdown of salaries by region and state as well: link
-(Note: some stats on the BLS website are reflective of the Mean or Average salary and others represent the Median or midpoint. AANP data are all reported in Median)
-As NPs advance in their careers, there is a clear and positive relationship between number of years' experience and salary growth.
Which companies pay school nurses the most?
School nurse salaries at Preston High School and Legacy Health are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average school nurse salary at companies like Poly Prep Country Day School and Sycamore School are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Preston High School | $81,337 | $39.10 |
| 2 | Legacy Health | $73,231 | $35.21 |
| 3 | Poly Prep Country Day School | $68,610 | $32.99 |
| 4 | Sycamore School | $66,145 | $31.80 |
| 5 | Esf, Inc. | $65,866 | $31.67 |
| 6 | Excel Academy Charter Schools | $65,656 | $31.57 |
| 7 | Boston Public Schools | $65,125 | $31.31 |
| 8 | Fallbrook Union High School District | $64,498 | $31.01 |
| 9 | Elizabeth Seton Children's | $61,820 | $29.72 |
| 10 | Contra Costa College | $61,651 | $29.64 |
| 11 | Rowland Unified School District | $61,540 | $29.59 |
| 12 | Great Hearts Academies | $61,520 | $29.58 |
| 13 | St. Clare Catholic School | $61,359 | $29.50 |
| 14 | The Bear Creek School | $61,279 | $29.46 |
| 15 | Memorial Health | $61,197 | $29.42 |
| 16 | Milton Hershey School | $61,083 | $29.37 |
| 17 | Santa Rosa City Schools | $61,051 | $29.35 |
| 18 | LCMC Health | $61,032 | $29.34 |
| 19 | Miriam Hospital | $61,016 | $29.33 |
| 20 | CAI | $60,995 | $29.32 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
School nurse salary trends
The average school nurse salary has risen by $7,699 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average school nurse earned $47,299 annually, but today, they earn $54,998 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for school nurses over the last decade.
Compare school nurse salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average school nurse salary over time
Compare school nurse salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
School nurse salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $55,000 | $26.44 | +2.7% |
| 2025 | $53,500 | $25.73 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $52,400 | $25.18 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $51,100 | $24.57 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $50,000 | $24.03 | +1.4% |
Recently added school nurse salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hingham Public School | School Nurse-Extended School Year | Hingham, MA | 06/30/2025 | $85,764 |
| ATC Healthcare | School Nurse (PER Diem) | Lynbrook, NY | 06/29/2025 | $91,828 |
| Searhc | School Nurse (RN) MT. Edgecumbe High School-10K ! | Sitka, AK | 06/29/2025 | $71,271 |
| Pennsylvania Homecare Association | School Nurse (RN or LPN) | Chadds Ford, PA | 06/29/2025 | $68,871 |
| Hope | RN-School Nurse | | Springfield, IL | 06/28/2025 | $53,000 |
| Kvc Health Systems | School Nurse (LPN) | Columbia, MO | 06/28/2025 | $54,262 |
| Maxim Healthcare | RN-School Nurse (Private Duty) | Parma, OH | 06/28/2025 | $62,610 |
| Marple Newtown | Certified School Nurse | Kane, PA | 06/28/2025 | $55,500 |
| Greenfield Public Schools | School Nurse (at) | Greenfield Town, MA | 06/28/2025 | $51,282 |
| Archway Programs | School Nurse-Ls | Downe, NJ | 06/28/2025 | $62,000 |
School nurse salary FAQs
Search for school nurse jobs