What is the best state to be a nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary?

By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Hawaii is the best state for a nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary: a BLS median of $129,530 is worth $110,245 after the 2025 state income tax ($8,314) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 110.0), an index of 137.3 where the average state is 100.

Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?

Not necessarily. Hawaii has the highest headline BLS median for a nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary at $129,530, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 51 on real pay (index 137.3). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary

Best States to Be a Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary salary goes furthest in Hawaii — a $129,530 BLS median worth $110,245 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 137.3).

Which US states are best for a nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary after cost of living and tax?

For a nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks Hawaii #1: a $129,530 BLS median becomes $110,245 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 137.3). Vermont ranks last ($65,990, index 82.2). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 51 states; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

Hawaii ranks #1 of 51 states for a nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary. Index 100 = the average state; 137.3 means pay goes 37.3% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

137.3

Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	Hawaii	$129,530	$8,314	110.0	$110,245	137.3
2	Nevada	$96,500	—	100.0	$96,520	120.2
3	Delaware	$98,170	$5,138	99.8	$93,211	116.0
4	District of Columbia	$107,770	$6,285	109.9	$92,342	115.0
5	Idaho	$90,890	$4,056	95.5	$90,932	113.2
6	North Dakota	$80,710	$336	89.0	$90,349	112.5
7	Connecticut	$95,500	$3,678	103.6	$88,623	110.3
8	Louisiana	$79,960	$2,024	88.2	$88,356	110.0
9	Nebraska	$82,720	$3,205	90.1	$88,249	109.9
10	Texas	$84,930	—	97.1	$87,505	108.9
11	Tennessee	$80,050	—	91.9	$87,134	108.5
12	Wisconsin	$84,700	$3,337	94.1	$86,469	107.7
13	Alabama	$79,690	$3,720	88.8	$85,530	106.5
14	Iowa	$77,360	$2,900	87.8	$84,843	105.6
15	Alaska	$85,650	—	102.4	$83,676	104.2
16	Mississippi	$75,060	$2,497	87.0	$83,450	103.9
17	New Mexico	$79,380	$2,617	92.2	$83,246	103.6
18	North Carolina	$80,400	$2,875	94.3	$82,188	102.3
19	South Carolina	$79,540	$3,324	93.7	$81,298	101.2
20	Ohio	$76,700	$1,327	92.8	$81,244	101.1
21	Missouri	$76,340	$2,707	90.8	$81,078	100.9
22	Florida	$82,410	—	103.4	$79,689	99.2
23	Utah	$82,320	$3,746	98.9	$79,477	98.9
24	Indiana	$76,080	$2,252	93.3	$79,105	98.5
25	Michigan	$78,870	$3,105	96.2	$78,743	98.0
26	Montana	$77,980	$3,463	94.6	$78,734	98.0
27	Minnesota	$81,280	$4,038	98.6	$78,322	97.5
28	Wyoming	$72,590	—	92.7	$78,314	97.5
29	Maine	$79,600	$3,758	97.0	$78,147	97.3
30	Pennsylvania	$78,460	$2,409	97.6	$77,944	97.0
31	Virginia	$82,550	$3,947	101.1	$77,745	96.8
32	Colorado	$82,530	$2,971	103.1	$77,202	96.1
33	Georgia	$77,720	$3,542	96.3	$77,033	95.9
34	Arizona	$78,980	$1,500	100.7	$76,959	95.8
35	Kentucky	$71,920	$2,746	90.2	$76,724	95.5
36	Massachusetts	$85,130	$4,037	105.8	$76,679	95.5
37	Maryland	$84,050	$3,660	105.0	$76,592	95.4
38	Washington	$81,630	—	107.0	$76,280	95.0
39	Illinois	$79,150	$3,777	100.0	$75,405	93.9
40	South Dakota	$66,630	—	88.6	$75,215	93.6
41	New Hampshire	$78,310	—	104.2	$75,179	93.6
42	Rhode Island	$78,340	$2,338	102.3	$74,308	92.5
43	Oklahoma	$67,840	$2,685	87.8	$74,172	92.3
44	New York	$82,950	$3,957	107.9	$73,195	91.1
45	California	$81,960	$3,500	110.7	$70,863	88.2
46	Arkansas	$63,090	$2,252	86.9	$69,979	87.1
47	Oregon	$78,050	$6,025	103.4	$69,683	86.8
48	New Jersey	$76,980	$2,714	108.8	$68,256	85.0
49	West Virginia	$62,210	$2,064	89.5	$67,205	83.7
50	Kansas	$62,870	$2,708	90.1	$66,796	83.2
51	Vermont	$66,660	$2,018	98.0	$65,990	82.2

"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 51 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In Hawaii, a $129,530 salary is worth about $104,848 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $14,248 (≈ top marginal 11.00% (upper bound)) · take-home $115,282 · BEA cost of living 110.0 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $146,219, a $41,371 gain over Hawaii.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$146,219	88.6
2	Arkansas	$143,182	86.9
3	Louisiana	$142,442	88.2
4	Mississippi	$142,411	87.0
5	Iowa	$141,984	87.8
6	North Dakota	$141,966	89.0
7	Tennessee	$140,993	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$140,452	87.8
9	Wyoming	$139,744	92.7
10	Alabama	$138,538	88.8
11	Kentucky	$137,922	90.2
12	West Virginia	$137,755	89.5

Browse US jobs with salaries

Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Hawaii is the best state for a nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary: a BLS median of $129,530 is worth $110,245 after the 2025 state income tax ($8,314) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 110.0), an index of 137.3 where the average state is 100.
Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?: Not necessarily. Hawaii has the highest headline BLS median for a nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary at $129,530, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 51 on real pay (index 137.3). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary salary go least far?: Vermont ranks last of 51 states for a nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary: a $66,660 BLS median is worth only $65,990 after tax and cost of living (index 82.2). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

Compare other occupations

Get the Gera US Real Pay Index when BLS refreshes OEWS

BLS OEWS updates roughly once a year. Save your email and we’ll send the refreshed real-pay rankings when new wage data lands.

Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.