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verified BLS-Verified Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) May 2025 release

Registered Nurse Salary in California

Median Annual in California
$140,270/yr
Median Hourly Wage
$67.44/hr
▲ 44% above U.S. median

Salary Distribution in California

groups Employed in CA
338,940
public U.S. Median
$97,550
savings Real pay (cost-adjusted)
$126,689 #1 of 51

Registered Nurse pay in California, explained

Registered nurses in California earn a median of $140,270 per year ($67.44 per hour), which is 44% above the national median of $97,550. Entry-level workers earn around $101,260, while the most experienced registered nurses reach about $213,320. Pay varies by employer, setting, and metro area within California.

Is $140,270 good pay in California?

Adjusted for California's cost of living (which runs 111% of the U.S. average), that $140,270 is worth about $126,689 in national buying power — ranking California #1 for real pay (vs #1 on the sticker number).

See the full Registered Nurse Real Pay Index arrow_forward

Registered Nurse pay by experience in California

Entry level (10th pct)
$101,260
$48.68/hr
Median
Mid-career (50th pct)
$140,270
$67.44/hr
Experienced (90th pct)
$213,320
$102.56/hr

Registered Nurse pay in neighboring states

StateMedian / yrReal payvs CA
California (here) $140,270 $126,689 —
Oregon $129,010 $124,815 +$11,260
Nevada $103,670 $103,692 +$36,600
Arizona $99,500 $98,831 +$40,770

Registered Nurse in California: FAQ

How much do registered nurses make in California?

Registered nurses in California earn a median of $140,270 per year ($67.44 per hour), compared with $97,550 nationally.

Does California pay registered nurses well?

At $140,270, California pays 44% above the national median for registered nurses. An estimated 338,940 work in the state.

Registered Nurse salary in other states

Hawaii · $136,320 Oregon · $129,010 Washington · $124,200 Alaska · $109,480 New York · $109,440 New Jersey · $106,500 Massachusetts · $104,550 Nevada · $103,670 Connecticut · $102,740 District of Columbia · $102,540 Minnesota · $101,510 Rhode Island · $100,640

All 51 states ranked arrow_forward

Related careers in California

Nurse Practitioner $168,520/yr median Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) $47,630/yr median Physician Assistant $165,650/yr median