Education and libraries
Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
Demonstrate and teach patient care in classroom and clinical units to nursing students. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Median pay
$80,250
Growth to 2035
+17%
much faster than average
Openings a year
8,500
Time to qualify*
7 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- Less than 5 years
Calculate your switch to nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Hazardous conditions
Exposure to disease
Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary: 78% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory and clinic work, assignments, and papers.
- Supervise students' laboratory and clinical work.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Assess clinical education needs and patient and client teaching needs using a variety of methods.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as pharmacology, mental health nursing, and community health care practices.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Demonstrate patient care in clinical units of hospitals.
Also called: Assistant Professor · Associate Professor · Clinical Nursing Instructor · Faculty Member · Instructor · Lecturer · Nurse Educator · Nursing Instructor
Outlook and AI
Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary held 96,100 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 112,600 by 2035 (+17%, much faster than average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Demand change - share increases as demand for nursing degrees is expected to increase.
Compare with
- Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary vs. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
- Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary vs. Registered nurse
- Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary vs. Health education specialist
- Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary vs. Computer systems analyst
- Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary vs. Nurse practitioner
- Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary vs. Licensed practical nurse (LPN)