How much does a registered nurse make in San Diego?
$139,500a year
Median yearly pay for registered nurses in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $67.08 an hour or $11,630 a month.
- Hourly
- $67.08
- Vs. national median
- +43%
- Rank among cities
- 9 of 380
- Jobs in the area
- 28,680
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $102,500Median: $139,500Highest 10%: $175,200
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $102,500 | $49.27 | |
| 25th | $128,400 | $61.72 | |
| Median | $139,500 | $67.08 | |
| 75th | $169,900 | $81.69 | |
| 90th | $175,200 | $84.24 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for registered nurses.
| 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 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 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Cardiologist | $493,700 |
| Psychiatrist | $335,600 |
| Physician | $333,300 |
| Physician | $323,100 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $295,500 |
| Obstetrician and Gynecologist | $293,400 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $282,200 |
| Pediatrician | $262,700 |
| Podiatrist | $235,400 |
| Dermatologist | $233,400 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $67.08 ($139,500 a year).
Do registered nurses make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $139,500 against $97,550 nationally, 43% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $140,300, so San Diego pays 1% less.
Where does San Diego rank for registered nurse pay?
9 of 380 metro areas with data.
How much does a registered nurse make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $102,500 or less a year; the top 10% make $175,200 or more.
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.