Registered Nurse salary in California
Registered Nurses in California earn a median of $140,270 a year ($67.44 an hour), based on BLS data for 338,940 workers.
Pay ranges from $101,260 for the lowest-paid 10% to $213,320 for the top 10%. That is 44% higher than the national median of $97,550. California ranks 1st of 51 states for registered nurses pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 19 registered nurses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $150,280, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for registered nurses in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $101,260 | $48.68 |
| 25th percentile | $122,440 | $58.87 |
| Median | $140,270 | $67.44 |
| 75th percentile | $173,170 | $83.25 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $213,320 | $102.56 |
| Average (mean) | $150,280 | $72.25 |
Half of registered nurses earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $11,689.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,844.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,395 |
| Weekly | $2,697.50 |
| Hourly | $67.44 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Registered Nurse salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $216,740 | 22,930 |
| Vallejo, CA | $203,290 | 4,120 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $186,610 | 41,750 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $174,550 | 3,720 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $171,460 | 23,590 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $170,960 | 1,750 |
| Yuba City, CA | $149,320 | 1,080 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $139,520 | 28,680 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $138,820 | 2,180 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $137,360 | 3,280 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $135,560 | 109,360 |
| Salinas, CA | $134,910 | 3,180 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $134,580 | 5,460 |
| Redding, CA | $134,350 | 1,720 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $133,940 | 35,290 |
| Modesto, CA | $132,590 | 4,850 |
| Merced, CA | $131,620 | 1,050 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $131,160 | 5,710 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $128,810 | 5,620 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $128,160 | 710 |
| Chico, CA | $127,360 | 2,170 |
| Fresno, CA | $125,420 | 11,030 |
| Visalia, CA | $125,180 | 2,990 |
| El Centro, CA | $103,450 | 950 |
Highest-paying states for registered nurses
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $140,270 |
| Hawaii | $136,320 |
| Oregon | $129,010 |
| Washington | $124,200 |
| Alaska | $109,480 |
| New York | $109,440 |
| New Jersey | $106,500 |
| Massachusetts | $104,550 |
| Nevada | $103,670 |
| Connecticut | $102,740 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacist | $164,610 | $79.14 |
| Physical Therapist | $124,190 | $59.71 |
| Physicians, All Other | $281,590 | $135.38 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $168,520 | $81.02 |
| Dental Hygienist | $124,930 | $60.06 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $104,820 | $50.40 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $118,970 | $57.20 |
| Dentists, General | $165,950 | $79.79 |
| Occupational Therapist | $124,510 | $59.86 |
| Physician Assistant | $165,650 | $79.64 |
| Veterinarian | $163,920 | $78.81 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $98,850 | $47.52 |
| Optometrist | $136,300 | $65.53 |
| Pediatricians, General | $214,140 | $102.95 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1141. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in California?
The median salary for registered nurses in California is $140,270 a year, or $67.44 an hour. Pay ranges from $101,260 for the lowest-paid 10% to $213,320 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid registered nurses make in California?
The top 10% of registered nurses in California earn at least $213,320 a year. The top 25% earn $173,170 or more.
What is the starting pay for registered nurses in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $101,260 a year, and a quarter of registered nurses earn $122,440 or less.
How many registered nurses work in California?
About 338,940 registered nurses are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.