Nursing Instructor Jobs in California

Nursing Instructor jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in community colleges, university nursing programs, hospital-based simulation centers, and vocational schools, with demand at every level from newly credentialed clinical instructors through tenured faculty and program directors. Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Sacramento account for the largest share of openings, where established institutions like Kaiser Permanente, the California State University system, and UCSF Health regularly recruit. Simulation lab instruction, pediatric and obstetric clinical education, and BSN-to-MSN bridge program teaching are the most consistently sought specialties. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles87+
Top employerSamuel Merritt University
Top cityMoraga, CA
Cities hiring21
Work type98% On-site
Top industryEducation

Showing 5 of 87+ Nursing Instructor jobs

Management & Training Corporation
Nurse Assistant Instructor
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Management & Training Corporation
Added 1w ago
Nurse Assistant Instructor
Management & Training Corporation
Los Angeles, California
Teaching & Instruction
Corporate Training & Learning Development
Nursing
$70k/yr
On-Site
Other
5,001-10,000

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Redlands Community Hospital
Radiology Tech Clinical Instructor
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Redlands Community Hospital
Added 2w ago
Radiology Tech Clinical Instructor
Redlands Community Hospital
Redlands, California
Nursing
Allied Health
Healthcare Administration
Radiology / Imaging
$41 - $59/hr
On-Site
None
1,001-5,000

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Pacific Union College
RN Clinical Instructor: Medical-Surgical
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Pacific Union College
Added 1mo ago
RN Clinical Instructor: Medical-Surgical
Pacific Union College
Costa Mesa, California
Nursing
Teaching & Instruction
Corporate Training & Learning Development
$94k - $135k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's

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Trinity Health Academy
LVN Instructor
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Trinity Health Academy
Added 2mo ago
LVN Instructor
Trinity Health Academy
Temecula, California
Teaching & Instruction
Corporate Training & Learning Development
Healthcare Administration
Corporate Training
Nursing
$35 - $40/hr
On-Site
None

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Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Anatomic Pathology Instructor
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Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Added 4mo ago
Anatomic Pathology Instructor
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Beverly Hills, California
Nursing
Healthcare Administration
On-Site
Other
10,000+

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See All 87 Nursing Instructor Jobs in California

Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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Nursing Instructor Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Moraga
18 jobs
Sacramento
16 jobs
San Francisco
13 jobs
Oakland
10 jobs
Turlock
7 jobs
Los Angeles
4 jobs
Costa Mesa
3 jobs
Anaheim
2 jobs
Orange
2 jobs

Nursing Instructor Job Market in California

A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

  • Samuel Merritt University
    Samuel Merritt University19
  • Saint Mary's College of California
    Saint Mary's College of California18
  • University of California, San Francisco
    University of California, San Francisco12
  • California State University, Stanislaus
    California State University, Stanislaus6
  • University of San Francisco
    University of San Francisco6

Top Industries Hiring

  • Education75
  • Healthcare & Medical Services29
  • Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals1

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in nursing instructor jobs across California.

  • Active California RN license in good standing issued by the California Board of Registered Nursing
  • Master of Science in Nursing or related field required by most California community colleges and universities
  • Minimum one to two years of direct clinical nursing experience in a relevant specialty area
  • Familiarity with California Board of Registered Nursing approval standards for nursing education programs
  • Experience delivering didactic instruction or clinical supervision in accredited nursing programs
  • Proficiency with learning management systems such as Canvas or Blackboard used across California campuses

Nursing Instructor Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a nursing instructor in California?

To become a nursing instructor in California, you must hold an active Registered Nurse license issued by the California Board of Registered Nursing, which requires passing the NCLEX-RN. Most community college and university positions also require a Master of Science in Nursing or a related graduate degree. Clinical teaching roles at hospital simulation centers may accept a bachelor's degree plus significant clinical experience, but BRN-regulated program faculty positions carry the graduate degree requirement.

How much do nursing instructors make in California?

Nursing instructors in California earn a median of about $81,960 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $47,840 for the lowest 10% to over $164,450 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire nursing instructors in California?

Employers hiring nursing instructors in California right now include Samuel Merritt University, Saint Mary's College of California, and University of California, San Francisco, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's large community college districts and integrated health systems like Kaiser Permanente and Dignity Health also maintain ongoing faculty pipelines tied to their nursing workforce development programs.

Which California cities have the most nursing instructor jobs?

Moraga, Sacramento, and San Francisco have the most nursing instructor openings in California. Los Angeles and the Bay Area dominate because of their dense concentration of community college districts, CSU campuses, and major academic medical centers, while Sacramento's openings are driven by UC Davis Health and the Sacramento region's growing network of community colleges expanding nursing program capacity.

Are there remote nursing instructor jobs in California?

Yes, but they're rare. Nursing instruction is largely hands-on, requiring clinical supervision and simulation lab presence, which limits fully remote roles. About 2% of nursing instructor openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, and those positions are mostly in didactic theory courses, online bridge programs, or curriculum development roles that do not involve direct clinical oversight.

How can I get hired as a nursing instructor in California with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is a part-time or adjunct clinical instructor position at a California community college, where districts like the Los Angeles Community College District and the Foothill-De Anza Community College District routinely hire RNs with two or more years of bedside experience to supervise clinical rotations before requiring a graduate degree. Building a teaching portfolio through preceptorship or charge nurse roles strengthens your application, and enrolling in a California State University MSN program with a nursing education track while working clinically is the standard ladder into full-time faculty positions.

Where can I find and apply to nursing instructor jobs in California?

You can find and apply to nursing instructor jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across community colleges, universities, hospital systems, and vocational nursing programs. Find roles that fit your experience and specialty and apply directly through the listings.

See All 87 Nursing Instructor Jobs in California

Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Nursing Instructor Jobs