How much does a Dean of Nursing make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Dean of Nursing in the United States is $177,593 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $85.

However, a Dean of Nursing's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $207,621
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $156,448 to $193,311
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $137,197

Key Factors That Influence Dean of Nursing Salaries

A Dean of Nursing's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Dean of Nursing Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Dean of Nursing's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $164,654
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $166,547
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $169,703
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $172,859
  • Expert (over 8 years): $178,062
Levels Salary
Entry Level Dean of Nursing$164,654
Intermediate Level Dean of Nursing$166,547
Senior Level Dean of Nursing$169,703
Specialist Level Dean of Nursing$172,859
Expert Level Dean of Nursing$178,062

Top Paying Cities for Dean of Nursing

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $223,998
  • San Francisco: $221,545
  • Oakland: $216,877

What Skills Can Increase a Dean of Nursing's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 25.64% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Program Design (Mentioned in 1.03% Job Postings): Program design includes planning for the learning environment and experience. through conceptualizing change and selecting program activities to bring about desired results.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 0.51% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 25.64%
Program Design 1.03%
Microsoft Office 0.51%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Dean of Nursing's salary.

  • Nursing Practice: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Budgeting: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Verbal Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Nursing Practice $200,680
13%
Budgeting $198,904
12%
Verbal Communication $197,128
11%

Dean of Nursing Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Dean of Nursing salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $189,358. While startup companies pay approximate $161,095.

Dean of Nursing Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $161,095
Growth Stage 51~500 $170,140
Established 501~5000 $183,093
Enterprise 5000+ $189,358

Dean of Nursing Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Dean of Nursing roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Dean of Nursing positions in Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Dean of Nursing as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Dean of Nursing

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$213,112$102.020%

How Education impacts an Dean of Nursing's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Dean of Nursing enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Dean of Nursing with a Bachelor's Degree is between $0 and $0.

Dean of Nursing Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Dean of Nursing
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 4.0%
High School 4.0%
Associates 12.0%
Bachelors 20.0%
Masters 16.0%
Doctorate 48.0%

Dean of Nursing Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Dean of Nursing's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$156,448
Average $177,593/year
$193,311
$13,037
Average $14,799/month
$16,109
$3,009
Average $3,415/week
$3,718
$75
Average $85/hour
$93
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $193,311 $16,109 $3,718 $93
Average $177,593 $14,799 $3,415 $85
25th Percentile $156,448 $13,037 $3,009 $75

Most common benefits for Dean of Nursing

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Dean of Nursing

Here are companies hiring for Dean of Nursing and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Dean of Nursing

1. Where can a Dean of Nursing earn the most?

A Dean of Nursing's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Dean of Nursing earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Dean of Nursing is $223,998.

2. What is the highest pay for Dean of Nursing?

The highest pay for Dean of Nursing is $207,621.

3. What is the lowest pay for Dean of Nursing?

The lowest pay for Dean of Nursing is $137,197.

4. What are the responsibilities of Dean of Nursing?

Manages the administrative and operational functions of the College of Nursing. Develops strategic initiatives and participates in long-term planning and policy setting. Provides senior level leadership in areas of curriculum development, institutional assessment, and faculty development. Ensures academic standards are met and align with institutional goals. Requires an advanced degree. Requires Registered Nurse (RN). Typically reports to senior management. Manages a departmental sub-function within a broader departmental function. Creates functional strategies and specific objectives for the sub-function and develops budgets/policies/procedures to support the functional infrastructure. Typically requires 5+ years of managerial experience. Deep knowledge of the managed sub-function and solid knowledge of the overall departmental function.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Dean of Nursing?

The Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit industry offers the highest average compensation for Dean of Nursing roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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