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NursingDirector10-15+ yrs

Director of Nursing

Career advancement roadmap

Your path to the next level

Bachelor's degree → entry role → credentials → graduate path → mid-level → senior-level.

  1. Recommended bachelor's path
    Nursing
    Health
    Your academic foundation
  2. Entry-level role
    No entry-level role mapped yet.
  3. Credentials that advance you
    Nurse Executive Certification (NE-BC)
    ANCC
  4. Graduate paths worth considering
    MBA
    Business
  5. Mid-level role
    No mid-level role mapped yet.
  6. Senior-level roleYou are here
    Director of Nursing
    Director
    10-15+ years experience • $140K – $220K
Overview

Degrees that lead to this role

Career ladder

How the climb looks

  1. 1
    Director of Nursing
    Current • you are here
    years
  2. 2
    Chief Nursing Officer
    Next
    years
Salary range

What you can realistically earn

Entry / low
$140K
Typical mid
$180K
Top of range
$220K
$140K$220K

Estimated broad U.S. salary range for planning; validate with current market data before publishing.

Salary by State

Top 5 highest paying states

#StateMedian SalaryDiff vs National
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Certifications

Credentials that advance you

Nursing Leadership
Recommended
Nurse Executive Certification (NE-BC)
ANCC
Nursing Leadership
Recommended
Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML)
AONL
Professional
Recommended
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
Professional
Master's degrees

Graduate paths worth considering

Business
Recommended
MBA
Healthcare
Recommended
MSN
Healthcare
Recommended
MHA

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