State salary hub
Registered Nurse Salary in California 2026
BLS statewide gross wage benchmarks, hourly rate, metro comparison, estimated take-home pay, and offer context for registered nurse roles in CA.
BLS May 2025 reports $150,280 mean annual and $72.25 mean hourly pay for registered nurses in California.
BLS mean annual wage
$150,280
$72.25/hr, $2,890/wk, $12,523/mo
State pay snapshot
Hourly
$72.25
Weekly
$2,890
Monthly
$12,523
Annual
$150,280
This is 48% above the national baseline of $101,420 per year for registered nurse.
BLS estimated 338,940 registered nurse jobs in California. Employment and wage figures refer to May 2025; the page year reflects the guide update.
Quick answer for CA salary searches
In California, the May 2025 BLS mean registered nurse salary is $150,280 per year, or $72.25 per hour, before taxes. Use the metro calculator below to compare local gross pay and simplified take-home context.
The simplified statewide take-home estimate is about $8,766 per month. Compare that number with city pay, shift differential, benefits, commute, and overtime rules before treating a statewide average as a real offer.
Compare key CA city salaries
Use these city calculators to compare hourly pay, annual pay, and estimated take-home context before weighing a local offer in California.
Published metro wage benchmark in CA
| City | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA | $69.74 | $145,060 |
City salary calculators in CA
Use these city pages to compare local hourly pay, annual pay, take-home context, and nearby markets before evaluating an offer.
BLS wage percentiles
These percentiles describe the statewide RN wage distribution. They are not experience tiers and should not be presented as guaranteed new-graduate or senior pay.
10th percentile
$101,260
$48.68/hr
25th percentile
$122,440
$58.87/hr
Median
$140,270
$67.44/hr
75th percentile
$173,170
$83.25/hr
90th percentile
$213,320
$102.56/hr
Take-home pay and taxes
Estimated take-home pay for the statewide salary is about $105,196 per year, or $8,766 per month, using a simplified federal tax assumption and the stored California state income tax rate. Use a city page calculator to adjust the salary input for a specific offer.
How to increase pay
- Compare offers across the highest-paying cities before accepting a role.
- Ask about shift differential, weekend differential, overtime rules, and call pay.
- Document specialty certifications, high-acuity experience, and unit leadership work.
- Compare total compensation, not only hourly rate: benefits and retirement match matter.
FAQ
How much does a Registered Nurse make in California?
BLS May 2025 OEWS reports a mean registered nurse wage of $150,280 per year, or $72.25 per hour, in California. This is a gross occupation-wide benchmark, not a guaranteed offer.
What is the hourly pay for Registered Nurse roles in CA?
The BLS statewide mean hourly wage is $72.25 before taxes. Metro figures can differ from the statewide mean.
What are the top cities for Registered Nurse salary in CA?
San Diego is the published metro comparison for registered nurse pay on TrueNursePay.
Is California above or below the national average?
California is 48% above the national BLS mean in the same May 2025 release.
Which California page should I check next?
Start with San Diego because these city calculators give useful local context before comparing a specific offer.
Methodology
Last updated July 16, 2026. Gross wage and employment benchmarks come from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for May 2025, occupation code 29-1141. Take-home pay is a separate simplified TrueNursePay estimate and is not BLS data, tax advice, or a guaranteed offer.