Registered Nurse salary in California
See how much registered nurses earn in California, including median annual pay, hourly rate, and employment numbers.
Median annual
$124,000
Median hourly
$60
Employment
325,000
Comparison to national average
National median
$86,000
California median
$124,000
Difference
+44%
What that salary is really worth in California
California's cost of living is 138 on an index where the US average is 100 — about 38% more expensive than the national average. Housing is the biggest driver at 200 versus a national baseline of 100.
Nominal median pay
$124,000
Cost-of-living adjusted
$89,855
vs national median
+$3,855
Adjusted for local prices, a registered nurse in California has the buying power of roughly $89,855 at national average prices — real purchasing power that beats the national median for this career.
State income tax
1%–13.3% graduated state income tax
Largest job markets
Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego
Registered Nurse pay in other states
Related careers in California
About this data
This salary estimate is based on aggregated labor market data. Actual pay can vary by employer, experience level, certifications, and specific location within California. Cost-of-living figures are composite state-level estimates where the US average equals 100.