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Registered Nurses Salary in California

What Registered Nurses earn in California, labor market by labor market, and what is left after taxes and living costs in 18 counties.

Average in CA
$151,152
local median wages, weighted
Rank among states
1 of 43
published states
Workers in state
328,270
BLS employment estimate
Wage areas
7
18 counties

Pay by labor market in California

Registered Nurses pay by wage area in California
Wage areaMedian wageTake-home payMargin per yearLargest county
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$216,740$145,114$102,166Santa Clara County, CA
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$186,610$125,900$88,808Alameda County, CA
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$171,460$116,302$85,175Sacramento County, CA
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$139,520$97,441$59,810San Diego County, CA
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$135,560$95,103$56,668Los Angeles County, CA
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$133,940$94,146$64,075Riverside County, CA
Fresno, CA$125,420$89,115$63,148Fresno County, CA

Counties ranked by what is left after the basics

Registered Nurses in California counties, by yearly margin
#CountyMedian wageTake-home payMargin per year
1San Benito County, CA$216,740$145,114$107,950
2Santa Clara County, CA$216,740$145,114$102,166
3Alameda County, CA$186,610$125,900$88,808
4Contra Costa County, CA$186,610$125,900$88,808
5Yolo County, CA$171,460$116,302$86,651
6Sacramento County, CA$171,460$116,302$85,175
7Placer County, CA$171,460$116,302$85,175
8El Dorado County, CA$171,460$116,302$85,175
9San Francisco County, CA$186,610$125,900$80,252
10San Mateo County, CA$186,610$125,900$80,252
11Marin County, CA$186,610$125,900$80,252
12Madera County, CA$125,420$89,115$64,240
13Riverside County, CA$133,940$94,146$64,075
14San Bernardino County, CA$133,940$94,146$64,075
15Fresno County, CA$125,420$89,115$63,148
16San Diego County, CA$139,520$97,441$59,810
17Los Angeles County, CA$135,560$95,103$56,668
18Orange County, CA$135,560$95,103$54,172

Registered Nurses pay in California

The employment-weighted average of local median wages for Registered Nurses in California is $151,152, based on 328,270 workers. Among the 43 states with published data, that ranks number 1. The BLS national median for the occupation is $97,550, so California averages 54.9% above it.

Inside California, pay depends on the labor market. The highest local median is $216,740 in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA area and the lowest is $125,420 in Fresno, CA, a difference of $91,320 across 7 wage areas.

Cost of living for Registered Nurses in California

We compare 18 California counties after federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics: a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline. San Benito County, CA leaves the largest yearly margin, $107,950. Orange County, CA leaves the smallest, $54,172. The median wage covers all four basics in 18 of the 18 counties.

Registered Nurses in other states

The states with the highest average local median wages for Registered Nurses are Oregon ($126,881), Washington ($123,996), New Jersey ($113,690) and New York ($113,329).

Frequently asked questions: Registered Nurses in California

How much do Registered Nurses earn in California?

The employment-weighted average of local median wages is $151,152, from $125,420 to $216,740 depending on the labor market.

Which California county is best for Registered Nurses?

San Benito County, CA leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes and the four basics ($107,950). Santa Clara County, CA follows at $102,166.