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Salary comparison

Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary vs. Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education: Who Earns More?

Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary out-earn Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education by $16K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary land at $80,250 and Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education at $63,970. The education gap is real: nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary programs typically require bachelor's degree, while elementary school teachers, except special education programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary is Hawaii ($129,530); for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education it's Washington ($102,350).

Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
Median salary
$80,250
$63,970
Hourly rate
$null/hr
$null/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$48,800
$47,960
Senior level (90th %)
$129,500
$104,340
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
77,960
1,388,390
Job growth (10-year)
16.8%
-2%
Category
Education
Education
Top-paying state
Hawaii
Washington

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary median pay.

State
Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
District of Columbia
$107,770
$96,580
Delaware
$98,170
$75,920
Connecticut
$95,500
$80,600
Alaska
$85,650
$79,260
Massachusetts
$85,130
$94,000
Maryland
$84,050
$77,680
New York
$82,950
$85,760
California
$81,960
$99,650
Washington
$81,630
$102,350
Minnesota
$81,280
$76,350
Pennsylvania
$78,460
$77,060
Rhode Island
$78,340
$90,930
Oregon
$78,050
$77,130
New Jersey
$76,980
$78,200
Ohio
$76,700
$77,370

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary or Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education?

Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary earn more nationally. The median is $80,250 for Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary versus $63,970 for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, a difference of $16K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary or Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education?

Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary has the better 10-year outlook at 16.8% projected growth, compared to -2% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary or Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education?

Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary typically requires bachelor's degree. Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education requires bachelor's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary get paid the most?

Hawaii is the top-paying state for Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary at $129,530/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary vs. Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In District of Columbia, Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary earn $107,770 vs. $96,580 for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary salary breakdownView →Full Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salary breakdownView →Best cities for Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education by take-home payExplore →How to become a nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondaryGuide →How to become a elementary school teachers, except special educationGuide →