How much does a nurse practitioner make in California?
$168,500a year
Median yearly pay for nurse practitioners in California. That is $81.02 an hour or $14,040 a month.
- Hourly
- $81.02
- Vs. national median
- +27%
- Rank among states
- 1 of 51
- Jobs in the state
- 25,120
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $120,300Median: $168,500Highest 10%: $240,800
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $120,300 | $57.86 | |
| 25th | $146,000 | $70.18 | |
| Median | $168,500 | $81.02 | |
| 75th | $209,400 | $100.65 | |
| 90th | $240,800 | $115.78 |
Cities in California
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Jose, CA | $231,600 |
| San Francisco, CA | $219,100 |
| Vallejo, CA | $182,400 |
| Napa, CA | $176,300 |
| Modesto, CA | $173,400 |
| Sacramento, CA | $172,000 |
| Riverside, CA | $169,900 |
| Hanford, CA | $168,500 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $167,200 |
| Chico, CA | $167,100 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $167,000 |
| Fresno, CA | $166,600 |
| Salinas, CA | $166,100 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $165,600 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $165,600 |
| Yuba City, CA | $165,000 |
| El Centro, CA | $164,700 |
| San Diego, CA | $163,900 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $163,000 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $161,500 |
| Redding, CA | $160,500 |
| Visalia, CA | $159,400 |
| Stockton, CA | $159,200 |
| Merced, CA | $158,800 |
| Oxnard, CA | $148,800 |
Nearby in the ranking
States with similar pay for nurse practitioners.
| 1. California | $168,500 |
| 2. New Jersey | $159,300 |
| 3. Washington | $156,100 |
| 4. Oregon | $155,700 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a nurse practitioner make an hour in California?
The median hourly pay in California is $81.02 ($168,500 a year).
Do nurse practitioners make more in California than the national average?
Yes: $168,500 against $132,300 nationally, 27% more.
Where does California rank for nurse practitioner pay?
California ranks 1 of 51 states.
Which city in California pays nurse practitioners the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $231,600 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.