NOLS Instructor
Lead National Outdoor Leadership School expeditions combining outdoor skills and leadership training
About the profession
Experienced NOLS instructor delivering leadership and wilderness skills curricula across diverse terrain. Expertise in expedition safety and student development.
How to Get Started
Take a personality test to see if NOLS Instructor fits your profile
Career Match Test →Explore the Career Path section to see progression from junior to senior
Jump to Career Path →Start learning — check the Learning Path for free courses
Jump to Learning Path →Career Path
Your career progression roadmap with salary growth at each level
Career Ladder
Instructor → Senior instructor → Course director → Program manager
Where are you on this career path?
Click a level below to set your current position
Salary Growth
4
Levels
87K
Top Salary
8+
Years
Learning Path
Skills you need to develop and courses to get there
🚀
Set your current level first
Go to the Career Path tab and select your current level to see your personalized learning plan.
Go to Career PathCareer levels
Timeline: 0-2 | Entry Level Base: $42,000 - $53,000/year With equity/bonuses: $46,200 - $63,600 Top markets (SF/NYC): $48,000 - $64,000 Execute core tasks using Wilderness skills…
Day in Life
Junior vs Senior — daily schedule breakdown
9am — Review priorities and respond to urgent items 10am — Team standup and progress check 11am — Deep work using Wilderness skills 1pm — Cross-functional meeting with…
Income Dynamics
Conservative and aggressive scenarios for 10–15 years
Year 1: Entry level $29,400 - $37,800 Year 2-3: Junior level $42,000 - $57,150 Year 4-6: Mid level $57,150 - $66,750 Year 7-10: Senior level $66,750 - $80,250 Year 10+:…
Is this for me?
15 questions — answer honestly
You find the craft of a NOLS Instructor genuinely interesting, not just a paycheck You enjoy working with Wilderness skills and Risk management You communicate clearly with…
💰 Salary Range
US dataSign up to see salary data
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