How much does a registered nurse make in California?
$140,300a year
Median yearly pay for registered nurses in California. That is $67.44 an hour or $11,690 a month.
- Hourly
- $67.44
- Vs. national median
- +44%
- Rank among states
- 1 of 51
- Jobs in the state
- 338,940
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $101,300Median: $140,300Highest 10%: $213,300
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $101,300 | $48.68 | |
| 25th | $122,400 | $58.87 | |
| Median | $140,300 | $67.44 | |
| 75th | $173,200 | $83.25 | |
| 90th | $213,300 | $102.56 |
Cities in California
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Jose, CA | $216,700 |
| Vallejo, CA | $203,300 |
| San Francisco, CA | $186,600 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $174,600 |
| Sacramento, CA | $171,500 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $171,000 |
| Yuba City, CA | $149,300 |
| San Diego, CA | $139,500 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $138,800 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $137,400 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $135,600 |
| Salinas, CA | $134,900 |
| Stockton, CA | $134,600 |
| Redding, CA | $134,400 |
| Riverside, CA | $133,900 |
| Modesto, CA | $132,600 |
| Merced, CA | $131,600 |
| Oxnard, CA | $131,200 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $128,800 |
| Hanford, CA | $128,200 |
| Chico, CA | $127,400 |
| Fresno, CA | $125,400 |
| Visalia, CA | $125,200 |
| El Centro, CA | $103,500 |
Nearby in the ranking
States with similar pay for registered nurses.
| 1. California | $140,300 |
| 2. Hawaii | $136,300 |
| 3. Oregon | $129,000 |
| 4. Washington | $124,200 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make an hour in California?
The median hourly pay in California is $67.44 ($140,300 a year).
Do registered nurses make more in California than the national average?
Yes: $140,300 against $97,550 nationally, 44% more.
Where does California rank for registered nurse pay?
California ranks 1 of 51 states.
Which city in California pays registered nurses the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $216,700 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.