Table of Contents
Top 5 Highest Paying States for School RNs:Top 5 Lowest Paying States for School RNs:What is the average incentive bonus for a School Nurse Job?Employed vs. self-employed School Nurse JobHow to do an effective School Nurse job searchWhat is the average salary of a school nurse in the U.S.?Do school nurses get paid during the summer?Which states pay school nurses the most?Do school nurses earn less than hospital nurses?Do travel school nurses make more than non-traveling school nurses?A school nurse is a registered nurse who works in an educational setting to promote the health and academic success of their students. They provide healthcare, conduct health screenings, develop individualized healthcare plans for students with chronic conditions, and support health education.
Though the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not provide specific information for school nurses, the overall employment of registered nurses is projected to grow by 6% from 2022 to 2032, which is faster than other occupations. The overall demand for nurses is expected to grow due to the focus on preventative care, risking rate of chronic diseases (even in children) and a growing demand for healthcare services.
Top 5 Highest and Lowest Paying States for School Nurse Jobs in the US
The salary for a school nurse is influenced by the demand for nurses, the cost of living, and regional economic conditions. According to zip recruiter, the highest and lowest paying states for school RNs are as follows:
Top 5 Highest Paying States for School RNs:
1. Washington
2. New York
3. Massachusetts
4. Alaska
5. Vermont
Top 5 Lowest Paying States for School RNs:
1. Florida
2. West Virginia
3. Arkansas
4. Georgia
5. Louisiana
The state salary data varies between sources.
Historical Data (Salary Outlook) For Salary Median
** Chart from https://www.zippia.com/salaries/school-nurse/#salary-history-line-chart
Median salary, Entry-level salary, Average salary
The median salary for a school nurse in the U.S. is influenced by their experience, location, and school district. An entry-level salary for those starting their career is around $40,550 annually and salary will increase with experience. The average salary of a school nurse is $60,730 per year. The median salary is around $56,989. A traveling school nurse will receive a higher hourly rate because of their temporary job assignment status. The average salary for a traveling school nurse is between $74,672 and $111,072.
Average School Nurse Salary by State (for non-traveling)
| State | Annual Salary | Weekly Salary | Hourly Wage |
| Alabama | $48,405 | $931 | $23.27 |
| Alaska | $72,819 | $1,400 | $35.01 |
| Arizona | $46,167 | $888 | $22.20 |
| Arkansas | $48,192 | $927 | $23.17 |
| California | $67,286 | $1,293 | $32.35 |
| Colorado | $54,200 | $1,042 | $26.06 |
| Connecticut | $66,472 | $1,929 | $31.96 |
| Delaware | $69,463 | $1,278 | $33.40 |
| Florida | $47,220 | $908 | $22.70 |
| Georgia | $49,362 | $949 | $23.73 |
| Hawaii | $59,193 | $1,138 | $28.46 |
| Idaho | $56,857 | $1,093 | $27.34 |
| Illinois | $57,031 | $1,096 | $27.42 |
| Indiana | $56,209 | $1,080 | $27.02 |
| Iowa | $45,065 | $1,429 | $21.67 |
| Kansas | $42,640 | $866 | $20.50 |
| Kentucky | $51,996 | $1000 | $25.00 |
| Louisiana | $48,761 | $938 | $23.44 |
| Maine | $58,339 | $1,121 | $28.05 |
| Maryland | $57,802 | $1,111 | $27.79 |
| Massachusetts | $77,072 | $1,482 | $37.05 |
| Michigan | $62,625 | $1,204 | $30.11 |
| Minnesota | $57,005 | $1,096 | $27.41 |
| Mississippi | $46,391 | $892 | $22.30 |
| Missouri | $43,631 | $839 | $20.98 |
| Montana | $55,040 | $1,058 | $26.46 |
| Nebraska | $52,316 | $1,006 | $25.15 |
| Nevada | $53,557 | $1,029 | $25.75 |
| New Hampshire | $65,289 | $1,256 | $31.39 |
| New Jersey | $68,875 | $1,324 | $33.11 |
| New Mexico | $54,951 | $1,057 | $26.42 |
| New York | $68,009 | $1,307 | $32.70 |
| North Carolina | $46,478 | $894 | $22.35 |
| North Dakota | $57,575 | $1,107 | $27.68 |
| Ohio | $47,222 | $908 | $22.70 |
| Oklahoma | $52,134 | $1,002 | $25.06 |
| Oregon | $83,135 | $1,599 | $39.97 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,169 | $1,215 | $30.37 |
| Rhode Island | $84,613 | $1,627 | $40.68 |
| South Carolina | $49,700 | $956 | $23.89 |
| South Dakota | $51,710 | $994 | $24.86 |
| Tennessee | $48,430 | $931 | $23.28 |
| Texas | $49,195 | $946 | $23.65 |
| Utah | $55,267 | $1,062 | $26.57 |
| Vermont | $59,202 | $1,138 | $28.46 |
| Virginia | $49,510 | $952 | $23.80 |
| Washington | $78,838 | $1,516 | $37.90 |
| West Virginia | $51,727 | $995 | $24.87 |
| Wisconsin | $62,070 | $1,194 | $29.84 |
| Wyoming | $62,146 | $1,195 | $29.88 |
**Data from ZipRecuiter
Average School Nurse Job Salary by State (for traveling)
| State | Annual Salary | Weekly Salary | Hourly Wage |
| Alabama | $77,588 | $1,492 | $37.30 |
| Alaska | $74,299 | $1,429 | $35.72 |
| Arizona | $87,190 | $1,677 | $41.92 |
| Arkansas | $80,194 | $1,542 | $38.55 |
| California | $97,974 | $1,884 | $47.10 |
| Colorado | $98,220 | $1,889 | $47.22 |
| Connecticut | $111,005 | $2,134 | $53.37 |
| Delaware | $91,711 | $1,764 | $44.09 |
| Florida | $74,846 | $1,813 | $35.98 |
| Georgia | $86,852 | $1,439 | $41.76 |
| Hawaii | $124,372 | $2,391 | $59.79 |
| Idaho | $83,166 | $1,599 | $39.98 |
| Illinois | $90,763 | $1,746 | $43.64 |
| Indiana | $93,092 | $1,790 | $44.76 |
| Iowa | $64,402 | $1,239 | $30.96 |
| Kansas | $74,871 | $1,440 | $36.00 |
| Kentucky | $87,679 | $1,686 | $42.15 |
| Louisiana | $77,520 | $1,491 | $37.27 |
| Maine | $90,520 | $1,741 | $43.52 |
| Maryland | $93,994 | $1,808 | $45.19 |
| Massachusetts | $105,266 | $2,024 | $50.61 |
| Michigan | $108,277 | $2,082 | $52.06 |
| Minnesota | $89,793 | $1,727 | $43.17 |
| Mississippi | $78,188 | $1,504 | $37.59 |
| Missouri | $85,683 | $1,648 | $41.19 |
| Montana | $80,009 | $1,539 | $38.47 |
| Nebraska | $74,217 | $1,427 | $35.68 |
| Nevada | $91,862 | $1,767 | $44.16 |
| New Hampshire | $95,063 | $1,828 | $45.70 |
| New Jersey | $96,940 | $1,864 | $46.61 |
| New Mexico | $80,739 | $1,553 | $38.82 |
| New York | $112,944 | $2,172 | $54.30 |
| North Carolina | $86,413 | $1,728 | $41.54 |
| North Dakota | $81,504 | $1,567 | $39.18 |
| Ohio | $76,751 | $1,476 | $36.90 |
| Oklahoma | $81,370 | $1,565 | $39.12 |
| Oregon | $85,917 | $1,652 | $41.31 |
| Pennsylvania | $91,807 | $1,766 | $44.14 |
| Rhode Island | $109,043 | $2,096 | $52.42 |
| South Carolina | $78,431 | $1,508 | $37.71 |
| South Dakota | $73,846 | $1,420 | $35.50 |
| Tennessee | $83,550 | $1,607 | $40.17 |
| Texas | $80,436 | $1,547 | $38.67 |
| Utah | $71,628 | $1,377 | $34.44 |
| Vermont | $86,240 | $1,658 | $41.46 |
| Virginia | $87,999 | $1,692 | $42.31 |
| Washington | $107,658 | $2,070 | $51.76 |
| West Virginia | $73,407 | $1,411 | $35.29 |
| Wisconsin | $98,435 | $1,893 | $47.32 |
| Wyoming | $79,907 | $1,537 | $38.42 |
Note: No data is available for traveling school nurses by state. The data above is for a traveling nurse from ZipRecruiter. School nurses typically make much less than the average nurse.
What is the average incentive bonus for a School Nurse Job?
Typically, school nurses do not receive a regular bonus as part of their compensation; however, some employers may offer sign-on bonuses for qualified candidates in regions with nursing shortages. Sign-on bonuses can range from hundreds to thousands but are not standard across all positions or locations.
Employed vs. self-employed School Nurse Job
Salaries vary between an employed and self-employed school RN. Employed RNs have a fixed, stable salary, health insurance, retirement and pension plans, education reimbursement, and paid time off. They usually work for a school district and have less financial risk and flexibility in scheduling. Their hours coincide with the school day, and they have weekends, holidays, and summers off.
A self-employed or travel school nurse will work independently through a staffing agency. They often have higher earning potential and flexibility; however, they must find their own jobs, frequently relocate, and may/may not be provided with healthcare, liability coverage or a retirement plan. They also enjoy some tax advantages as a 1099.
How to do an effective School Nurse job search
We make it is easy to find a school nurse position with PRNHealthcare. Use the position job search bar by searching “I am a RN” and select SCHOOL as your specialty. Finally, use the location bar to select your state and city of choice.
Most common benefits for a School Nurse
Being a school nurse comes with many professional and personal benefits including:
1. Job Stability – School nurses are often protected by unions or government funding.
2. Autonomy and Leadership- They have strong leadership skills due to being the only healthcare professional on site.
3. Work-Life Balance- School nurses work 7–8-hour days on the school’s schedule. They do not work evenings or weekends and often have holidays and summers off.
4. Diverse Responsibilities- They are responsible for caring for students, managing chronic disease, mental health support, health education, health screenings, and taking care of students in emergency situations.
5. Professional Growth– School nurses can train in pediatric care, public health, or take on supervisor or district-level positions.
6. Professional Collaboration- School nurses work with counselors, administrators, and parents to support student health.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary of a school nurse in the U.S.?
The average salary for a school nurse in the U.S. is around $60,730 per year or about $29.20 per hour but this varies by state, district, and experience.
Do school nurses get paid during the summer?
School nurses are usually only contracted for the academic year only and are unpaid during the summer unless they work extended programs or summer school. Some could be paid year-round in private or large public-school systems.
Which states pay school nurses the most?
Top paying states are those that have a higher cost of living like California and Massachusetts.
Do school nurses earn less than hospital nurses?
Yes, hospital nurses earn more due to shift differentials, overtime, and more acute care responsibilities; however, school nurses trade higher pay for better work-life balance, flexibility holidays off, and lower job stress.
Do travel school nurses make more than non-traveling school nurses?
Yes, travel school nurses generally get paid more than non-traveling nurses because they fill staffing gaps, are flexible and change locations, and may receive tax-free housing, meal, and travel allowances.