School Nurse Salary By State – (2024 Figures)

Written By: Pattie TrumblePattie Trumble, MPP, MPH

Pattie Trumble is a nurse who worked in both California and New York for many years as an emergency room nurse. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and an Associate Degree in Nursing from the Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing. Read Full Bio »» , MPP, MPH

School nurses work primarily in educational settings with children between the ages of 5 and 18. School nurse salary varies dramatically from state to state, from county to county and even from school district to school district within the same county.

School nurses are mainly charged with assessing injuries and illnesses that students experience in the course of a school day or after-school activities to determine whether these injuries or illnesses need more intensive care. They may also provide treatment for students with chronic conditions such as asthma, epilepsy, and diabetes. In less affluent school districts, school nurses increasingly have taken on the role of front-line public health and primary care providers.

So, how much does a school nurse make? Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about school nurse salary in 2024.

What is the Salary Per Hour of a School Nurse?

What salary per hour of a school nurse in 2024? The average school nurse salary per hour in 2024 is $29.20. School nurses with two decades or more of experience make 45 percent more than the hourly average school nurse salary. Entry-level school nurses make 33 percent less than the average hourly salary while school nurses with one to four years of experience make 23 percent less and school nurses with five to nine years of experience, 6 percent less. School nurses generally begin making the average hourly amount at some point during their tenth year on their career track.

Hourly wages are usually a reflection of the demand for a specific service as well as the amount that other professionals engaged in similar lines of work are compensated for their services. As we have seen, however, in the case of school nurses, the high demand for their services is not an accurate gauge of school nurse salary. Very few school district administrators would argue with the fact that school nurses provide an immensely valuable service; however, if the funds aren’t available to pay for it, the demand for that service will continue to remain unmet.

The closest professional analogs to school nurses are probably teachers. True, school nurses perform a very different function, but they work in the same scholastic setting. Elementary school teachers average $18 an hour throughout all part of the U.S. while high school teachers earn $22.59. These figures are respectively 38 percent and 23 percent less than the average salary of a school nurse, which may indicate that in economic terms at least, school nurse salaries are on the high side. Note that on the whole, teachers employed by private schools make significantly less than teachers employed by public schools, and the same is likely true of school nurses in private school settings as well.

There are also similarities between the work school nurses do and the work public health nurses do. Public health nurses only make 1 percent more than school nurses ($61,379).

What is the Starting Salary of a School Nurse?

What is the starting salary of a school nurse in 2024? The starting salary of a school nurse in 2024 is $19.50 an hour, $811 a week, $3,380 a month, or $40,550 a year. This amount is 33 percent less than the average salary of a school nurse.

Public school districts have a system of salary steps in place; these steps determine when employees will receive raises. Seventeen states mandate entry-level salaries and subsequent salary increases for professional employees, although these figures represent the minimum amounts that these professionals have to be paid, and individual school districts are free to pay higher salaries. In most states, individual school districts determine entry-level and subsequent salaries, and this is why school professionals based in affluent districts tend to get paid more.

In states where school staff are unionized, school nurses belong to the Nurses and Health Professionals division of the American Federation of Teachers. Unionized school professionals periodically negotiate new contracts, and these often address revisions to entry-level salaries and subsequent salary steps. Entry-level school nurses with advanced practice credentials or a specified number of credit hours in professional development coursework may also be able to negotiate higher starting salaries.

What is the Average Salary of a School Nurse?

What is the average salary of a school nurse in 2024? The average school nurse salary in 2024 is $29.20 an hour, $1,168 a week, $5,060 a month, or $60,730 a year. This is only 7 percent higher than the average salary for all occupations throughout all parts of the U.S. ($56,310).

Average salaries typically correlate with cost of living indices for specific geographical regions: They tend to be higher in areas where the cost of living index is higher. The highest-paid school nurses work in California and Hawaii where the cost of living is respectively 50 percent higher and 77 percent higher than it is throughout the U.S. as a whole. Similarly, the lowest-paid school nurses work in Alabama, South Dakota and Mississippi where the cost of living respectively is 18 percent, 12 percent and 19 percent lower than it is throughout the U.S. as a whole.

To some degree, average salaries also reflect the laws of supply and demand. California has one of the lowest nurse-to-state-population ratios in the nation; there are only 9.25 nurses for every 1,000 California residents. This means schools are competing more aggressively with hospitals for nursing employees than they may be in a state like Alabama where there are 12.79 nurses for every 1,000 state residents. This increased competition will tend to drive average school nurse salaries in the Golden State higher.

School Nurse Salary by Years of Experience

As noted above, most public school districts use a seniority-based schedule to determine school nurse pay rates. School nurses with one to four years of experience make a school nurse salary that’s 15 percent higher than that of entry-level school nurses. School nurses with five to nine years of experience earn a school nurse salary that’s 22 percent more than that of school nurses with one to four years of experience. School nurses who’ve been working in the district for two decades or longer make more than twice as much as they did when they were just starting their careers.

Note, however, that seniority is usually counted as the number of years a school nurse has been working in a particular school district. If he or she decides to change school districts, their new salary will typically reset to reflect the starting salary in their new school district.

Average Annual Compensation (Salary + Benefits) for School Nurses

Most school nurses are public employees and receive benefits through either the State Employees Retirement System (SERS), or the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). These benefits can make up a significant portion of a school nurse’s total compensation package. For school nurses working for the state or local government (and this includes all public school system employees), benefits can add up to $38,211 annually, which is 38 percent of their total compensation package. For school nurses working in the private sector, benefits can add up to $25,547 a year, which is 30 percent of their total compensation package.

The majority of school nurses working in the public school system are eligible for defined-benefit pension plans, which are post-retirement payouts determined by a formula rather than by investment returns. Most states require school nurses to pay a portion of their salary into the pension plan, but pension funds are managed by the state. School nurses must remain at their jobs a certain number of years—usually between 5 and 10—in order to become vested; if they leave their jobs before they are vested, they forfeit all or part of the benefit. The time at which a school nurse can retire and begin receiving pension benefits varies from state to state.

7 Ways You Can Increase Your Salary as a School Nurse

A school nurse’s work is a lot less stressful than a hospital nurse’s work, and it will afford you a lot more free time. But the average school nurse salary is significantly less than the average hospital nurse’s salary. Here are seven ways you can pick up extra cash:

1. Work at an after-school program:

When children with chronic health conditions enroll in after-school activities, emergency medications must be made available to them as one of the provisions of the Individuals With Diasabilities Education Act. Pay rates for nurses administering these medications varies from state to state and from school district to school district but are typically between $30 and $50 an hour.

2. Pick up per diem hospital shifts:

Hospitals across the U.S. are experiencing massive nursing shortages because of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a per diem nurse, you’ll find it easy to pick up extra weekend or evening shifts without having to commit yourself to a schedule.

3. Earn additional certifications:

The National Board of Certification for School Nurses (NBCSN) offers a credential for school nurses. To qualify to sit for the National Certification Examination for School Nurses exam, you must be a registered nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree and have accumulated at least 1,000 hours of school nurse experience.

4. Pursue a graduate degree:

Approximately 13 percent of all school nurses hold Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degrees. As an MSN with a nurse practitioner specialization, you may be able to negotiate a higher average school nurse salary.

5. Work during the summer:

School nurses who work in districts that adhere to traditional calendars get summers off. Pick up a job at a summer camp, or sign up to be an emergency medic at a local amusement park.

6. Write:

You may be able to write about your experiences as a school nurse and sell what you write to a blog, a nursing magazine, or a more general publication. Check with your full-time employer first to learn what rules may be in place with respect to workplace disclosures.

7. Move:

As noted above, there’s a great deal of variance from geographical locale to geographical locale in terms of average school nurse salary. Remember, however, that in most public school districts, seniority determines salary. So, if you start a new job in a new place, it’s likely you’ll be starting at the base of the payscale.

What is the Future Outlook for School Nurse Salary?

To a large degree, the average salary of a school nurse is linked to the average salary of school teachers. Teacher salaries are increasing: During the 2020/2021 school year, teachers’ salaries nationwide rose by 2 percent. During this same time period, however, inflation rose by 6 percent. So teachers—and, presumably, school nurses—saw a decline in real purchasing power.

It's likely that school nurse salaries will continue to rise in small increments. But it’s equally likely that those modest raises will not represent any real wage increases. School nurse salary is essentially flat due to funding constraints and is likely to remain flat so long as those funding constraints continue to exist.

School Nurse Salary Comparison

School Nurse Salary VS. All Other Occupations

School nurses make 7 percent more than the average salary for all occupations throughout all parts of the U.S., but the average salary for all occupations is rising quickly: According to the Bureau for Labor Statistics, salaries for all occupations went up an average of 27 percent between 2010 and 2020. If that trend continues, it’s possible that the average salary for all occupations may overtake the average salary for a school nurse sometime within the next five years.

School Nurse Salary VS. Similar Nursing Jobs

School nurse salaries are small in comparison with the average salaries of registered nurses working in other specialty areas. The average registered nurse salary in the U.S. across all specialties is $30.79 an hour, which is 15.80 percent more than the average salary of a school nurse. This may reflect the fact that pediatric healthcare services as a whole tend to be undervalued in the U.S.

School nurses make 69 percent less than OB/GYN nurses and 66 percent less than neonatal nurses. They make 22 percent less than surgical nurses and occupational nurses, and 21 percent less than dialysis nurses. In fact, the only nursing specialty that pays lower salaries than school nursing is pediatric nursing, which also serves a primarily under-18 demographic.

Rank	Job Title	Average Annual Salary	Comparison
			Number	%
1	OB/GYN Nurse	$102,722	-$41,983	-69.12%
2	Neonatal Nurse	$100,944	-$40,205	-66.19%
3	Labor and Delivery Nurse	$99,043	-$38,304	-63.06%
4	Geriatric Nurse	$98,860	-$38,121	-62.76%
5	Orthopedic Nurse	$96,259	-$35,520	-58.48%
6	Cardiac Nurse	$90,964	-$30,225	-49.76%
7	Oncology Nurse	$87,340	-$26,601	-43.80%
8	ER Nurse	$85,704	-$24,965	-41.10%
9	Aesthetic Nurse	$85,621	-$24,882	-40.97%
10	Radiology Nurse	$81,942	-$21,203	-34.91%
11	Hospice Nurse	$81,417	-$20,678	-34.04%
12	Dermatology Nurse	$80,862	-$20,123	-33.13%
13	Psychiatric Nurse	$79,007	-$18,268	-30.08%
14	Surgical Nurse	$74,004	-$13,265	-21.84%
15	Occupational Health Nurse	$73,876	-$13,137	-21.63%
16	Dialysis Nurse	$73,769	-$13,030	-21.45%
17	Forensic Nurse	$65,047	-$4,308	-7.09%
18	Public Health Nurse	$61,379	-$640	-1.05%
19	School Nurse	$60,739	$0	0.00%
20	Pediatric Nurse	$59,084	+$1,655	+2.72%
(Source: Ziprecruiter.com)

School Nurse Salary VS. Other Healthcare Jobs

School nurses work by protocols. Though they work without onsite supervision, they don’t work autonomously. Unlike advanced practice nurses, their scope of practice does not include assessment and treatment. This means that school nurses earn much lower salaries than nurse practitioners and other APRNs do. They only earn about one-third of the salary of a certified registered nurse anesthetist and 62 percent of the salary of a nurse-midwife. They also earn significantly less than some ancillary medical specialists: 45 percent less than radiation technologists and 16 percent less than respiratory therapists.

Rank	Job Title	Average Annual Salary	Comparison
			Number	%
1	Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist	$171,340	-$110,601	-182.09%
2	Nurse Practitioner	$109,025	-$48,286	-79.50%
3	Physician Assistant	$107,038	-$46,299	-76.23%
4	Nurse Midwife	$98,455	-$37,716	-62.10%
5	Radiation Therapist	$88,324	-$27,585	-45.42%
6	Cardiovascular Technologist	$87,045	-$26,306	-43.31%
7	Diagnostic Medical Sonographer	$81,160	-$20,421	-33.62%
8	Dental Hygienist	$76,315	-$15,576	-25.64%
9	Nurse Educator	$75,223	-$14,484	-23.85%
10	Respiratory Therapist	$70,501	-$9,762	-16.07%
11	Dietitian and Nutritionist	$64,595	-$3,856	-6.35%
12	School Nurse	$60,739	$0	0.00%
13	Physical Therapist Assistant	$60,377	+$362	+0.60%
14	Cardiovascular Technician	$58,868	+$1,871	+3.08%
15	Radiologic Technologist	$56,617	+$4,122	+6.79%
16	Licensed Practical/ Licensed Vocational Nurse	$52,280	+$8,459	+13.93%
17	Radiology Technician	$51,107	+$9,632	+15.86%
18	Emergency Medical Technician and Paramedic	$36,096	+$24,643	+40.57%
19	Certified Nursing Assistant	$31,905	+$28,834	+47.47%
20	Medical Assistant	$30,692	+$30,047	+49.47%
(Source: Ziprecruiter.com)

Average School Nurse Salary in Your State

1. Alabama:

The average salary for school nurses in Alabama is $21.98 an hour, $3,810 a month, or $45,720 a year. School-based health services are mandated by law in the Cotton State, but state statutes provide no guidance as to how these services are operated. Alabama’s school districts employed 1,403 school nurses in 2019, spread out among 1,360 schools. Just under half of those schools employed full-time nurses while just under half employed part-time nurses. Approximately 100 school nurses in the Cotton State are assigned to caring for individual medically fragile students.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$21.98	$3,810	$45,720

2. Alaska:

In-state school districts can function as Medicaid providers of school-based services under some circumstances in Alaska, which means that some school nurses there function as primary care providers. State legislation does not stipulate how these Medicaid clinics are to be set up, however. School nurses in the Last Frontier State make $34.77 an hour, $6,030 a month or $72,320 annually, making Alaska school nurses the second-highest-paid school nurses in the U.S.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$34.77	$6,030	$72,320

3. Arizona:

In order to work as a school nurse in Arizona, RNs must obtain a school nurse certificate issued by the Arizona Department of Education. This certification must be renewed every six years. The average salary for school nurses in Arizona is $29.34 an hour, $5,090 a month or $61,020 a year, which is fractionally higher than the national average. School nurses in Tucson make 5 percent less than the state average while school nurses in Phoenix make 1 percent more.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$29.34	$5,090	$61,020

4. Arkansas:

Arkansas school nurses average $23.23 an hour, $4,030 a month, or $48,310 annually. This figure is 20 percent less than the average salary for school nurses throughout all 50 states. In Little Rock, school nurses make 9 percent more than the state average. State law recommends that all school nurses be certified by the State of Arkansas. The state also describes the requirements for its school-based health services programs in its legal codes.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$23.23	$4,030	$48,310

5. California:

The highest-paid school nurses in the nation work in California’s San Francisco Bay Area. The average school nurse salary in California is $44 an hour, $7,630 a month or $91,520 a year, which is over 50 percent more than the national average. In the San Francisco Bay, however, school nurses make 86 percent more than the national average. In the Golden State, school nurses must hold a School Nurse Services Credential before they can participate in immunization programs, assess student health, or interpret medical findings in the context of an individualized education plan (IEP).

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$44.00	$7,630	$91,520

6. Colorado:

The average salary for school nurses in Colorado is $28.42 an hour, $4,930 a month or $59,110 a year, which is 3 percent less than the average salary that all school nurses throughout the U.S. earn. School nurses based in the Greater Denver/Aurora Metropolitan Area make 2 percent more than the state average but school nurses based in Colorado Springs make 2 percent less. Nurses must be endorsed by the Colorado Department of Education before they will be allowed to work in the public school system.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$28.42	$4,930	$59,110

7. Connecticut:

Connecticut requires all school nurses to take additional academic credits in accordance with stipulations set forth in the state’s general statutes regarding state agencies (Sec. 10-212-2.) Additionally, school nurses must work for at least one year before they can be hired by the public school system. Employers in the Nutmeg State pay school nurses $30.97 an hour, $5,370 a month, or $64,410 annually on average.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$30.97	$5,370	$64,410

8. Delaware:

Before a nurse can be hired by the Delaware public school system, he or she must be certified by the state pursuant to Delaware Administrative Code 14-1500-1582. Nurses employed by the Delaware school system earn $27.13 an hour, $4,700 a month, or $56,430 a year. This figure is 7 percent less than what school nurses throughout the U.S. average as a whole. School nurses who work in Wilmington, which is usually considered part of the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area, make 8 percent more than the state average.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$27.13	$4,700	$56,430

9. Florida:

Florida gets away with paying all nurses, including school nurses, comparatively low salaries because the Sunshine State is such a desirable place to live. The average school nurse salary in Florida is $25.37 an hour, $4,400 a month or $52,770 a year, which is 13 percent than the national average for school nurse salaries. In Miami, located in the Sunshine State’s largest school district, school nurses earn 4 percent more than the state average, but in Orlando, they earn 3 percent less. School nurses in the Sunshine State must be certified by the state Board of Education.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$25.37	$4,400	$52,770

10. Georgia:

More than 1,600 RNs are employed throughout Georgia to provide school nursing services. The lead agency for coordinating school nurse employment is Georgia’s Department of Public Health. The average school nurse salary in Georgia is $26.10 an hour, $4,520 a month, or $54,290 a year. In Atlanta, the Peach State’s capital, school nurses earn 6 percent more than the state average, but in Columbus, Georgia, they earn 10 percent less.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$26.10	$4,520	$54,290

11. Hawaii:

Hawaii is home to the second-highest-paid school nurses in the U.S. School nurses in the Aloha State make $38.26 an hour, $6,630 a month or $79,580 a year, which is 31 percent more than what school nurses throughout all parts of the U.S. make. School nurses in Honolulu earn 2 percent more than the state average. Since 2012, the Hawaii Keiki program has been providing school nurse services to public schools in Oahu, Hawaii Island, Maui, and Kauai.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$38.26	$6,630	$79,580

12. Idaho:

In Idaho, school nurses can’t be employed without a Pupil Service Staff certificate. Registered nurses who aren’t graduates of a BSN program can apply for and submit an interim (3)-year certificate while registered nurses who are graduates of a BSN program can apply for and submit a renewable (5)-year certificate. School nurses in the Gem State average $26.14 an hour, $4,530 a month or $54,380 annually, which is 10 percent less than the national average.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$26.14	$4,530	$54,380

13. Illinois:

The average school nurse salary in Illinois is $27.21 an hour, $4,720 a month, or $56,600 annually. This figure is 7 percent lower than the average school nurse salary throughout all parts of the U.S. Chicago-based school nurses earn 5 percent more than the state average. Section 105 ILCS 5/ of the Illinois Compiled Statutes states that school nurses must be certified in order to perform duties that involve teaching, the exercise of instructional judgment, or educational evaluation of pupils but school districts may hire non-certified nurses to perform healthcare-related duties.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$27.21	$4,720	$56,600

14. Indiana:

In Indiana, school nurses provide primary care services such as vision and hearing screening services. Certification through the NBCSN is highly recommended for all school nurses in Indiana. The average salary of a school nurse in Indiana is $24.63 an hour, $4,270 a month or $51,230 a year, which is 16 percent less than the national average. School nurses in Fort Wayne make 7 percent less than the state average while school nurses in Indianapolis make 5 percent more.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$24.63	$4,270	$51,230

15. Iowa:

Iowa school nurses average $22.84 an hour, $3,960 a month or $47,500 annually, which is 22 percent less than the national average, making Iowa the fourth lowest-paying state so far as school nurse salaries are concerned. Des Moines-based school nurses make 3 percent more than the state average. The Hawkeye State recommends that all school nurses be certified through the NBCSN.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$22.84	$3,960	$47,500

16. Kansas:

In 2015, there were 715 school nurses working in the Sunflower State’s public school system. Since then, however, school nurses are increasingly being replaced by health aides who don’t have nursing licenses and for whom there are no minimum training standards under state law. Kansas school nurses earn $23.43 an hour, $4,060 a month, or $48,740 a year. This amount is 20 percent less than what school nurses can expect to earn throughout all parts of the U.S. In Wichita, school nurses earn 7 percent less than the state average.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$23.43	$4,060	$48,740

17. Kentucky:

The average salary for school nurses in Kentucky is $23.63 an hour, $4,100 a month or $49,140 annually, which is 19 percent less than the average salary that school nurses make throughout all parts of the country. Nurses must have a BSN in order to be employed by the Bluegrass State’s public school system. In Lexington, school nurses make 1 percent less than the state average, but in Louisville, they make 3 percent more.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$23.63	$4,100	$49,140

18. Louisiana:

Louisiana’s Revised Statutes 17:28 stipulate that school nurses must be certified by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, and that their number shall not exceed a ratio of 1 certified school nurse for every 1,500 students. School nurses in the Bayou State make $24.82 an hour, $4,300 a month or $51.630 a year, which is 15 percent less than the state average. School nurses in Baton Rouge make 4 percent less than the state average, but school nurses in New Orleans make 4 percent more.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$24.82	$4,300	$51,630

19. Maine:

Under Maine state law, there must be one school nurse for each administrative school unit. The Pine Tree State’s school nurses are responsible for certain primary care interventions such as hearing and vision testing. School nurses in Maine average $25.93 an hour, $4,490 a month or $53,930 a year; this amount is 11 percent less than the national average.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$25.93	$4,490	$53,930

20. Maryland:

The average salary for school nurses in Maryland is $29.78 an hour, $5,160 a month or $61,940 annually, which is 2 percent higher than what school nurses make throughout all parts of the U.S. In Baltimore, Maryland’s biggest city, school nurses earn 1 percent more than the state average. Maryland’s school nurses’ scope of practice is defined by Code of Maryland Regulations 10.09.76.01. School nurses are authorized to provide onsite primary and preventive health care, referrals, and follow-up services.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$29.78	$5,160	$61,940

21. Massachusetts:

The third highest-paid school nurses in the nation are employed in Massachusetts. The average school nurse salary in Massachusetts is $35.13 an hour, $6,090 a month or $73,070 annually, which is 20 percent higher than the national average. By law, the Bay State requires school districts to staff nursing offices based on the size of the student population, but many school districts fail to meet this requirement. In Boston, school nurses earn 3 percent more than the state average, but in less affluent Worcester, they earn 8 percent less.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$35.13	$6,090	$73,070

22. Michigan:

Though Michigan state law requires its Department of Education and State Health Planning and Development Agency to collaborate on school-based healthcare planning, it does not stipulate what such programs should include. The average school nurse salary in Michigan is $27 an hour, $4,680 a month or $56,160 a year, which is 8 percent less than the national average. In Detroit, school nurses earn 3 percent more than they do in the Wolverine State as a whole.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$27.00	$4,680	$56,160

23. Minnesota:

While there are 890,000 students in Minnesota’s public school system, the state only employs 637 school nurses. By law, school districts in the Land of Lakes are required to provide one school nurse for every 1,000 enrolled students. The average salary of a school nurse in Minnesota is $29.55 an hour, $5,120 a month or $61,460 a year, which is just fractionally higher than the national average for all school nurses. In the Greater Minneapolis/St. Paul Metropolitan Area, school nurses earn 6 percent more than the state average.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$29.55	$5,120	$61,460

24. Mississippi:

Mississippi’s expenditures on school nurse services is the third-lowest in the nation. School nurses in the Magnolia State earn $22.36 an hour, $3,880 a month or $46,500 a year, which amounts to only 77 percent of the national average for school nurse salaries. During the 2012-2013 academic year, Mississippi implemented a school health pilot program in all local districts designed to improve student health so that students would perform better academically.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$22.36	$3,880	$46,500

25. Missouri:

Though the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has produced a manual for school-based healthcare delivery, approximately 20 percent of Missouri public schools are without a school nurse. Public health experts throughout the state attribute this to budgetary shortfalls. The average school nurse salary in Missouri is $24.05 an hour, $4,170 a month, or $50,030 annually. School nurses in St. Louis make 4 percent more than this while school nurses in Kansas City, Missouri, make 7 percent more.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$24.05	$4,170	$50,030

26. Montana:

In Montana, school nurses make $25.74 an hour, $4,460 a month, or $53,540 annually. This figure is 12 percent less than the average salary school nurses make throughout all 50 states. By law, Montana’s school-based healthcare-related services can include physical therapy, speech-language therapy, and periodic screening diagnostic and treatment services, but the state’s administrative rules don’t stipulate how these services are to be delivered. In 2015, there were just over 80 full-time school nurse positions in the Big Sky State.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$25.74	$4,460	$53,540

27. Nebraska:

Nebraska’s Revised Statutes 79-1222 allow school districts to contract with local health departments to provide school health services as needed but provides no guidance on just how such an arrangement might be implemented. School nurses in the Cornhusker State earn $25.36 an hour, $4,400 a month or $52,750 a year, which is 13 percent less than the national average. In Lincoln, Nebraska’s capital, school nurses earn 2 percent less than the state average, but in Omaha, the state’s largest city, they earn 1 percent more.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$25.36	$4,400	$52,750

28. Nevada:

Nevada-based school nurses average $32.75 an hour, $5,680 a month, or $68,130 a year. This figure is 12 percent more than the national average. School nurses employed in the Greater Las Vegas Metropolitan Area make 3 percent more than that. Nevada state law does not stipulate specific responsibilities for school nurses, but it does address the need for school-based health centers that can improve access to primary care services for low-income children.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$32.75	$5,680	$68,130

29. New Hampshire:

While New Hampshire’s state laws don’t address the specific responsibilities of school nurses, they do mandate the existence of health education programs for students in grades 1 through 12. New Hampshire school nurses must be certified through the state Board of Education. School nurses in the Granite State earn $27.73 an hour, $4,810 a month, or $57,670 a year. This amount is 5 percent less than the national average.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$27.73	$4,810	$57,670

30. New Jersey:

Twenty-seven hundred school nurses are employed throughout the Garden State. The average school nurse salary in New Jersey is $31.28 an hour, $5,420 a month, or $65,070 a year. School nurses in Jersey City, Newark and other Garden State municipalities that are considered part of the Greater New York City Metropolitan Area make 11 percent more than the state average while school nurses in Camden, which is classified as part of the Greater Philadelphia Metropolitan Area, make 7 percent less. New Jersey state law requires every school district to have at least one school nurse, and the New Jersey Department of Education periodically updates its School Health Services Guidelines.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$31.28	$5,420	$65,070

31. New Mexico:

As of 2017, New Mexico had 492 licensed school nurses, nine licensed practical nurses, and 448 health assistants. New Mexico’s laws define school-based health services but provide no guidance on setting up a system capable of delivering such services. School nurses in the Land of Enchantment earn $27.63 an hour, $4,790 a month, or $57,470 annually. In Albuquerque, school nurse salaries are 1 percent higher than the state average.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$27.63	$4,790	$57,470

32. New York:

The average school nurse salary in New York is $32.76 an hour, $5,680 a month, or $68,140 a year. Considerable disparities exist between school nurse salaries in the Greater New York City Metropolitan Area and school nurse salaries in the rest of the state. In the Big Apple, school nurses make 6 percent more than the state average, but in Buffalo, they make 14 percent less, and in Rochester, they make 24 percent less. While there’s no state law requiring the presence of a nurse in every New York public school, since an overwhelming majority of these schools have at least one student with a chronic debilitating condition, an implicit requirement exists since both federal and New York state law mandate that such students must have access to healthcare services.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$32.76	$5,680	$68,140

33. North Carolina:

The average school nurse salary in North Carolina is $25.16 an hour, $4,410 a month or $52,340 a year, which is 14 percent less than the average salary school nurses make throughout all 50 states. In Charlotte, Durham and Greensboro, though, school nurse salaries average 2 to 3 percent higher. North Carolina school nurses must be certified by the NBCSN within three years of their hiring date.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$25.16	$4,360	$52,340

34. North Dakota:

In North Dakota, school nurses make $25.41 an hour, $4,410 a month or $52,860 a year, which is 13 percent less than the national average for school nurse salaries. During the COVID-19 pandemic, some school nurses have been doing COVID testing and contact tracing while others have begun staffing vaccine clinics for eligible students and staff members.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$25.41	$4,410	$52,860

35. Ohio:

The average school nurse salary in Ohio is $25.46 an hour, $4,410 a month, or $52,950 annually. This figure is 13 percent less than the average salary for school nurses throughout all parts of the U.S. In Columbus, Ohio, school nurse salaries are fractionally less than the state average, but in Cincinnati, they are 3 percent higher while in Cleveland, they are 5 percent higher. In order to be hired as a school nurse in the Buckeye State, you must possess a BSN and be licensed by the Ohio Department of Education as well as by the state’s Board of Nursing.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$25.46	$4,410	$52,950

36. Oklahoma:

In addition to holding a nursing license, school nurses in Oklahoma must be certified as teachers by the Oklahoma State Department of Education. The state strongly recommends that school nurses pursue NBCSN certification. School nurses in the Sooner State make $24.31 an hour, $4,210 a month or $50,560 annually, which is 17 percent less than the national average. In Tulsa, school nurses earn 1 percent more than the state average while in Oklahoma City, they earn 3 percent more.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$24.31	$4,210	$50,560

37. Oregon:

There are more than 311 registered nurses and more than 60 LPNs working in the Beaver State’s public school system. School nurses in Oregon are the fourth highest-paid school nurses in the nation. Oregon’s Revised Statutes 336.201 recommends that each school district maintain a ratio of one school nurse for every 750 pupils. In the Beaver State, school nurses make $35.12 an hour, $6,090 a month, or $73,050 a year. Portland-based school nurses make 3 percent more than that.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$35.12	$6,090	$73,050

38. Pennsylvania:

The average school nurse salary in Pennsylvania is $27.07 an hour, $4,690 a month, or $56,310 annually. School nurses in Pittsburgh make 6 percent less than that, but school nurses in Philadelphia make 8 percent more. In order to work for the Keystone State’s public school system, nurses must be certified by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. School nurses in Pennsylvania provide some primary care services, including vision and hearing screening tests, and tuberculosis skin testing.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$27.07	$4,690	$56,310

39. Rhode Island:

School nurses in Rhode Island must be certified by the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) in order to work in the state’s public school system. School nurses in the Ocean State earn $39.22 an hour, $5,240 a month or $62,850 a year, which is 3 percent more than the average salary for all school nurses throughout the U.S.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$30.22	$5,240	$62,850

40. South Carolina:

The average salary for school nurses in South Carolina is $24.50 an hour, $4,250 a month or $50,970 a year, which is 16 percent less than the national average. In August 2021, as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the South Carolina General Assembly allocated $5.6 million specifically towards the employment of school nurses in its public school system.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$24.50	$4,250	$50,970

41. South Dakota:

South Dakota’s school nurses make $22.25 an hour, $3,860 a month or $46,280 annually, which is the second-lowest school nurse salary in any of the 50 states. School nurses in the Mount Rushmore State function to some degree as primary care providers, administering medications, implementing services for students with special needs, and performing specialized healthcare procedures as needed.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$22.25	$3,860	$46,280

42. Tennessee:

The average salary of a school nurse in Tennessee is $23.40 an hour, $4,060 a month or $48,680 a year, which is 20 percent less than the average salary school nurses make throughout all parts of the U.S. School nurses in the Volunteer State are required by state law to be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. School nurses employed in Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee’s two biggest metropolitan areas, make 7 percent more than the state average.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$23.40	$4,060	$48,680

43. Texas:

Texas public schools employ approximately 6,100 full-time school nurses. By law, school districts in the Lone Star State are required to provide a coordinated school health program for students but RNs aren’t required to be on every public school campus. The average school nurse salary in Texas is $28.03 an hour, $4,860 a month or $58,300 annually, which is 4 percent less than the national average. Texas is an enormous state geographically, and there’s a great deal of variation in school nurses’ salaries throughout the state. In Corpus Christi, for example, school nurses make 13 percent less than the state average while in Lubbock, they make 6 percent less. But in Dallas/Fort Worth, they make 2 percent more than the state average while in Houston, they make 11 percent more.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$28.03	$4,860	$58,300

44. Utah:

Utah state law encourages state school districts to maintain one school nurse for every 5,000 students. As of 2021, the Bee Hive State employs 202 school nurses. School nurses in Utah earn $25.68 an hour, $4,450 a month, or $53,420 a year. This amount is 12 percent lower than the average salary for school nurses throughout all parts of the U.S.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$25.68	$4,450	$53,420

45. Vermont:

Vermont-based school nurses make $26.33 an hour, $4,560 a month or $54,760 annually, which is 10 percent less than the national average. In order to work in the Green Mountain State’s public school system, you will either need to be certified by the NBCSN or have 6,000 hours of clinical nursing experience. Code of Vermont Rules 22-000-010-5540-65 also mandate that all school nurses must be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and know how to use an automated external defibrillator.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$26.33	$4,560	$54,760

46. Virginia:

Currently, there are no minimum staffing levels for school nurses in Virginia’s public school system. Local school boards in the Old Dominion State have the discretion to fill school nurse employment vacancies as they see fit. The average salary of a school nurse in Virginia is $27.15 an hour, $4,710 a month or $56,470 a year, which is 7 percent less than what school nurses make throughout all 50 states. School nurses in the Greater Norfolk/Virginia Beach Metropolitan Area make 1 percent less than the state average while school nurses in Richmond, Virginia’s capital, make 7 percent more. School nurses in that part of Virginia that’s considered to be part of the Greater Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area earn 12 percent more than the state average.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$27.15	$4,710	$56,470

47. Washington:

The average salary of a school nurse in Washington State is $33.33 an hour, $5,780 a month, or $69,320 a year. In Seattle, the state’s largest city, school nurses earn 4 percent more than the state average. Before they can be employed as school nurses in the state of Washington, RNs must obtain an Educational Staff Associate (ESA) Certificate from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$33.33	$5,780	$69,320

48. West Virginia:

W.Va. Code § 18-5-22 requires each county school board to employ at least one school nurse for every 1,500 pupils enrolled in grades kindergarten through 7. As of 2011, the public school system in West Virginia employed 265 registered nurses and 93 LPNs. RNs working in the Mountain State’s public school system must have a BSN as well as a Certification in School Nursing from a nursing program. School nurses in West Virginia make $23.77 an hour, $4,120 a month, or $49,440 a year. This figure is 19 percent less than the national average.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$23.77	$4,120	$49,440

49. Wisconsin:

The average salary of a school nurse in Wisconsin is $27.28 an hour, but in Milwaukee, that figure is 3 percent more while in Madison, that figure is 10 percent more. RNs with BSNs who are applying to work in Wisconsin’t public school system must complete a School Nurse Certification Program for hiring consideration. The Badger State will also hire RNs with associate degrees to work in its public school system so long as they’ve completed a college-level course in public health or community health.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$27.28	$4,730	$56,750

50. Wyoming:

By law, Wyoming’s public school system is required to have a program in place that addresses the physical health and preventive health needs of its students, but the law gives no guidance on just how such a program should be set up. School nurses in the Cowboy State make $26.50 an hour, $4,590 a month or $55,110 a year, which is 9 percent less than the state average.

Hourly	Monthly	Annual
$26.50	$4,590	$55,110

Average School Nurse Salary in Your City

School nurse salaries can differ greatly from city to city in the same state. Since school districts are largely funded through property tax revenues, you might expect more affluent school districts in cities with higher home values and higher property taxes to pay higher salaries. This isn’t always the case, however. Austin is arguably the most affluent city in the Lone Star State, but its property tax rate is only 1.4 percent. Thus, school nurses in Austin make salaries that are 8 percent lower than the national school nurse salary average. Houston is a much more economically challenged city, yet its property tax rate is 2 percent, and school nurses in Houston make salaries that are 16 percent higher than those of their Austin counterparts.

City	Hourly	Monthly	Annual
Albuquerque, NM	$28.01	$4,860	$58,260
Anaheim, CA	$41.28	$7,160	$85,870
Anchorage, AK	$34.42	$5,970	$71,600
Arlington, TX	$28.47	$4,930	$59,210
Atlanta, GA	$27.73	$4,810	$57,680
Augusta, GA	$27.10	$4,700	$56,370
Aurora, CO	$28.94	$5,020	$60,200
Austin, TX	$26.75	$4,640	$55,630
Bakersfield, CA	$35.02	$6,070	$72,850
Baltimore, MD	$30.16	$5,230	$62,740
Baton Rouge, LA	$23.78	$4,120	$49,470
Boise, ID	$27.05	$4,690	$56,270
Boston, MA	$36.28	$6,290	$75,470
Buffalo, NY	$28.31	$4,910	$58,890
Charlotte, NC	$25.70	$4,460	$53,460
Chicago, IL	$28.46	$4,930	$59,190
Cincinnati, OH	$26.27	$4,550	$54,640
Cleveland, OH	$26.69	$4,630	$55,520
Colorado Springs, CO	$27.97	$4,850	$58,180
Columbus, GA	$23.51	$4,080	$48,900
Columbus, OH	$25.33	$4,390	$52,690
Corpus Christi, TX	$24.28	$4,210	$50,510
Dallas, TX	$28.47	$4,930	$59,210
Denver, CO	$28.94	$5,020	$60,200
Des Moines, IA	$23.41	$4,060	$48,690
Detroit, MI	$27.81	$4,820	$57,850
Durham, NC	$25.84	$4,480	$53,740
El Paso, TX	$26.68	$4,620	$55,490
Fayetteville, NC	$27.57	$4,780	$57,340
Fort Wayne, IN	$22.83	$3,960	$47,480
Fort Worth, TX	$28.47	$4,930	$59,210
Fresno, CA	$40.27	$6,980	$83,760
Greensboro, NC	$25.62	$4,440	$53,290
Henderson, NV	$33.84	$5,870	$70,390
Honolulu, HI	$38.97	$6,750	$81,050
Houston, TX	$31.01	$5,380	$64,500
Huntsville, AL	$21.39	$3,710	$44,490
Indianapolis, IN	$25.78	$4,470	$53,630
Jacksonville, FL	$24.67	$4,280	$51,310
Jersey City, NJ	$34.64	$6,010	$72,060
Kansas City, MO	$25.63	$4,440	$53,320
Laredo, TX	$27.45	$4,760	$57,100
Las Vegas, NV	$33.84	$5,870	$70,390
Lexington, KY	$23.47	$4,070	$48,820
Lincoln, NE	$24.92	$4,320	$51,830
Little Rock, AR	$25.21	$4,370	$52,430
Long Beach, CA	$41.28	$7,160	$85,870
Los Angeles, CA	$41.28	$7,160	$85,870
Louisville, KY	$24.25	$4,200	$50,440
Lubbock, TX	$26.29	$4,560	$54,680
Madison, WI	$30.05	$5,210	$62,500
Memphis, TN	$24.93	$4,320	$51,850
Mesa, AZ	$29.71	$5,150	$61,790
Miami, FL	$26.39	$4,570	$54,890
Milwaukee, WI	$28.01	$4,860	$58,260
Minneapolis, MN	$31.43	$5,450	$65,380
Modesto, CA	$44.19	$7,660	$91,920
Nashville, TN	$24.87	$4,310	$51,720
New Orleans, LA	$25.89	$4,490	$53,850
New York City, NY	$34.64	$6,010	$72,060
Newark, NJ	$34.64	$6,010	$72,060
Norfolk, VA	$26.77	$4,640	$55,690
North Las Vegas, NV	$33.84	$5,870	$70,390
Oakland, CA	$54.45	$9,440	$113,260
Oklahoma City, OK	$25.00	$4,330	$52,010
Omaha, NE	$25.74	$4,460	$53,530
Orlando, FL	$24.57	$4,260	$51,110
Philadelphia, PA	$29.19	$5,060	$60,720
Phoenix, AZ	$29.71	$5,150	$61,790
Pittsburgh, PA	$25.62	$4,440	$53,280
Port St. Lucie, FL	$25.30	$4,390	$52,620
Portland, OR	$36.02	$6,240	$74,930
Raleigh, NC	$25.59	$4,440	$53,220
Reno, NV	$29.31	$5,080	$60,970
Richmond, VA	$28.99	$5,030	$60,300
Riverside, CA	$40.09	$6,950	$83,380
Rochester, NY	$25.01	$4,340	$52,030
Sacramento, CA	$49.03	$8,500	$101,990
Saint Paul, MN	$31.43	$5,450	$65,380
San Antonio, TX	$27.41	$4,750	$57,020
San Bernardino, CA	$40.09	$6,950	$83,380
San Diego, CA	$40.74	$7,060	$84,740
San Francisco, CA	$54.45	$9,440	$113,260
San Jose, CA	$53.61	$9,290	$111,500
Scottsdale, AZ	$29.71	$5,150	$61,790
Seattle, WA	$34.72	$6,020	$72,210
Spokane, WA	$32.81	$5,690	$68,240
St. Louis, MO	$24.90	$4,320	$51,800
St. Petersburg, FL	$26.02	$4,510	$54,130
Stockton, CA	$42.28	$7,330	$87,950
Tacoma, WA	$34.72	$6,020	$72,210
Tampa, FL	$26.02	$4,510	$54,130
Toledo, OH	$24.88	$4,310	$51,760
Tucson, AZ	$27.98	$4,850	$58,200
Tulsa, OK	$24.63	$4,270	$51,220
Virginia Beach, VA	$26.77	$4,640	$55,690
Washington, DC	$30.47	$5,280	$63,380
Wichita, KS	$21.71	$3,760	$45,150
Winston–Salem, NC	$25.78	$4,470	$53,630
Worcester, MA	$32.29	$5,600	$67,160

Highest and Lowest-Paying School Nurse Jobs

What Are The Highest And Lowest Paying Workplaces For School Nurses?

The highest paying workplaces for school nurses are affluent public school districts. The lowest paying workplaces for school nurses are economically challenged public school districts.

What Are The Highest And Lowest Paying States For School Nurses?

The highest-paid school nurses work in California where the average school RN salary is $91,520 a year. The lowest-paid school nurses work in Alabama where the average school RN salary is $45,720 a year.

What Are The Highest And Lowest Paying Cities For School Nurses?

Oakland and San Francisco, CA, are the two cities in the U.S. where school nurses earn their highest salaries ($113,260 a year). Other cities where school nurses earn high salaries include San Jose, CA ($111,500), Sacramento, CA ($101,990), and Modesto, CA, ($91,920). Huntsville, AL, is the city in the U.S. where school nurses earn their lowest salaries ($44,490 a year.) Other cities where school nurses earn low salaries include Wichita, KS, ($45,150), Fort Wayne, IN, ($47,480), Des Moines, IA, ($48,690), and Lexington, KY, ($48,820).

What States In The Northeast Pay The Highest And Lowest Salaries For School Nurses?

The northeastern states that pay the highest school nurse salaries are Massachusetts ($73,070) and New York ($68,140). The northeastern states that pay the lowest school nurse salaries are Maine ($53,930) and Vermont ($54,760).

What States In The Midwest Pay The Highest And Lowest Salaries For School Nurses?

The Midwestern states that pay the highest school nurse salaries are Minnesota ($61,460) and Wisconsin ($56,750). The Midwestern states that pay the lowest school nurse salaries are South Dakota ($46,280) and Iowa ($47,500).

What States In The Southeast Pay The Highest And Lowest Salaries For School Nurses?

The southeastern states that pay the highest school nurse salaries are Virginia ($56,470) and Georgia ($54,290). The southeastern states that pay the lowest school nurse salaries are Alabama ($45,720) and Mississippi ($46,500).

What States In The Southwest Pay The Highest And Lowest Salaries For School Nurses?

The southwestern states that pay the highest school nurse salaries are Arizona ($61,020) and Texas ($58,300). The southwestern states that pay the lowest school nurse salaries are Oklahoma ($50,560) and New Mexico ($57,470).

What States In The Western Region Pay The Highest And Lowest Salaries For School Nurses?

The western region states that pay the highest school nurse salaries are California ($91,520) and Hawaii ($79,580). The western region states that pay the lowest school nurse salaries are Utah ($53,420) and Montana ($53,540).

My Final Thoughts

There are plenty of reasons to become a school nurse, but a high salary is probably not one of them. How much does a school nurse make? Let’s put it this way: As a school nurse, you won’t get rich from the school nurse salary in 2024. You will be filling a tremendous community need, however, and you’ll benefit from having evenings, weekends, and (in many instances) summers to yourself. If you recognize that access to good healthcare plays a vital role in helping America’s children grow into successful adults, school nursing may be the occupation for you.

Sources

We have used the following sources to compile the salary data on this page.

1. NP Editorial Assessment
2. Ziprecruiter.com

Frequently Asked Questions Answered by Our Expert

1. Is There A High Demand For School Nurses?

A study published in a 2018 issue of The Journal of School Nursing found that only 39 percent of U.S. schools have a full-time nurse. Thirty-five percent have a part-time nurse while 25 percent have no nurse at all.

Coverage gaps like this were initially caused by budget cuts at the state and local levels that date back to the Great Recession of 2008. Such cuts targeted all programs in schools that weren’t specifically mandated by law. State funding typically accounts for 47 percent of a school district’s budget while local funding, mainly culled from property taxes, makes up another 45 percent of a school district’s budget. (Federal funding accounts for the remaining 8 percent.) The 2008 recession caused a steep decline in housing values, which caused property tax-related revenues to plummet. This was accompanied by an even steeper decline in state revenues, which meant that states had to slash educational budgets.

The COVID-19 pandemic has focused increased scrutiny upon the negative impact of school nurse shortages. Though the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) provided K-12 schools with more than $13 billion in emergency funding, this didn’t even begin to cover mounting costs associated with facility deep cleaning and expenditures on preventative hygiene essentials like sanitizer. And yet the need for frontline healthcare professionals to implement sanitary and social distancing guidelines, and to perform triage on students potentially affected by COVID, has never been greater.

The demand for school nurse services, in other words, is very high. But serious budget shortfalls place severe constraints upon the fulfillment of that demand.

2. Where Do School Nurses Work?

The majority of school nurses work in the primary and secondary educational systems. They’re employed by both private and public schools. Sixty-two percent are employed by elementary schools while 25 percent are employed by middle and high schools; the remaining 13 percent work simultaneously in both primary and secondary schools. School nurses also work in pre-schools, recreational camps, hospitals, county and state boards of education, and state and local health departments.

The requirements for school nurses differ from state to state. All states require school nurses to be registered nurses (RNs); licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) are functioning outside their scope of practice if they accept employment as a school nurse, and while some states employ them, these LVNs and LPNs must be supervised by an RN. Many states may also have additional certification requirements for school nurses. The best way to find out the requirements in your state is to check with the state branch of the National Association of School Nurses, which is the professional organization associated with the profession.

Technically, nurses who work at colleges and universities can be classified as school nurses. They’re typically categorized otherwise, however, because they work with a young adult cohort whose healthcare issues are significantly different from the healthcare issues most children and teens face.

3. What Is The Typical Work Schedule For School Nurses?

School nurses typically work 40-hour weeks, weekdays from approximately 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Unlike hospital nurses, school nurses get nights and weekends off. In districts that still adhere to a traditional nine-month schedule, school nurses enjoy a 10 to 12-week summer break. School nurses have no opportunity to earn overtime.

Like teachers, many school nurses in districts with a traditional nine-month schedule have the option of setting up a 10-month or 12-month payment structure when they first sign on with a school district. If they opt for the former, they will not be paid their salary during the summer; if they opt for the latter, they will. Note that their annual salary will remain the same whether they receive paychecks during the summer or not; only the amount of their monthly check will be affected.

4. How Satisfied Are School Nurses With Their Jobs?

School nurses aren’t particularly content with their jobs. Although research published in a 2004 issue of The Journal of School Nursing found that 83 percent of school nurses were satisfied with their jobs, this research was undertaken before budgetary constraints caused such severe cutbacks in the ranks of school nurses. More recent findings, largely anecdotal, seem to indicate that school nurses feel oppressed by a mounting sense of powerlessness and lack of control in their work settings. The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to this growing dissatisfaction: A 2022 survey jointly undertaken by the Centers for Disease Control and Deloitte Consulting found that 36 percent of school nurses feel less satisfied with their jobs than they felt before the pandemic.