Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary salary in California
Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary in California earn a median of $81,960 a year, based on BLS data for 5,610 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $164,450 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $80,250. California ranks 18th of 51 states for nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary pay. There are 0.31 nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.61). The average (mean) salary is $96,830, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary in California
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,840 |
| 25th percentile | $62,530 |
| Median | $81,960 |
| 75th percentile | $116,460 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $164,450 |
| Average (mean) | $96,830 |
Half of nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,830 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,415 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,152.31 |
| Weekly | $1,576.15 |
BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary are usually paid a salary and may not work a full 2,080-hour year. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $150,400 | 140 |
| Fresno, CA | $135,080 | 110 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $103,900 | 360 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $98,360 | 70 |
| Visalia, CA | $97,360 | 80 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $87,010 | 270 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $84,730 | 700 |
| Modesto, CA | $81,260 | 50 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $79,680 | 2,350 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $79,640 | 100 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $78,540 | 880 |
Highest-paying states for nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $129,530 |
| District of Columbia | $107,770 |
| Delaware | $98,170 |
| Nevada | $96,500 |
| Connecticut | $95,500 |
| Idaho | $90,890 |
| Alaska | $85,650 |
| Massachusetts | $85,130 |
| Texas | $84,930 |
| Wisconsin | $84,700 |
See Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary pay in every state.
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $100,690 | — |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $165,110 | — |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $76,630 | $36.84 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $99,410 | — |
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | $119,540 | — |
| English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $130,490 | — |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $128,470 | — |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | $107,340 | — |
| Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $130,680 | — |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $129,150 | — |
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | $135,000 | — |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $111,850 | — |
| Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other | $132,920 | — |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $137,280 | — |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 25-1072. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary make in California?
The median salary for nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary in California is $81,960 a year. Pay ranges from $47,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $164,450 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary make in California?
The top 10% of nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary in California earn at least $164,450 a year. The top 25% earn $116,460 or more.
What is the starting pay for nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,840 a year, and a quarter of nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary earn $62,530 or less.
How many nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary work in California?
About 5,610 nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.