Registered Nurses Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$101,260
- 25th Percentile — Junior$122,440
- 50th Percentile — Median$140,270
- 75th Percentile — Senior$173,170
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$213,320
Half of Registered Nurses in California earn more than $140,270. The top 10% make $213,320 or more, while entry-level workers start around $101,260.
Registered Nurses in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 1st of 51 states for Registered Nurses pay, at $150,280 per year (48.2% above the U.S. average of $101,420).
- 338,940 people work as Registered Nurses in California — 10.0% of all U.S. Registered Nurses jobs.
- Location quotient 0.86: Registered Nurses jobs are less concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $101,260; the top 10% earn over $213,320.
- Hourly equivalent: $72.25 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- Among healthcare jobs in California, Psychiatrists pays the most ($315,380).
Registered Nurses Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Registered Nurses here earn $150,280 on average, placing the state 1st nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $150,280 is roughly equivalent to $105,831 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Hawaii ($124,340), Oregon ($123,140), Washington ($121,540) are the closest alternatives for Registered Nurses weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Healthcare Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- Psychiatrists $315,380/yr California +109.9% vs this role
- Radiologists $309,990/yr California +106.3% vs this role
- Nurse Anesthetists $283,780/yr California +88.8% vs this role
- General Internal Medicine Physicians $273,270/yr California +81.8% vs this role
- Obstetricians and Gynecologists $272,520/yr California +81.3% vs this role
- Surgeons All Other $255,620/yr California +70.1% vs this role
- Family Medicine Physicians $252,930/yr California +68.3% vs this role
- Physicians All Other $249,620/yr California +66.1% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Registered Nurses salary in California?
The average Registered Nurses salary in California is $150,280 per year (median $140,270), which is 48.2% above the national average of $101,420.
How does California rank for Registered Nurses pay?
California ranks 1st out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is California ($150,280/yr).
How much do entry-level Registered Nurses make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Registered Nurses in California earn about $101,260 per year and the 25th percentile is $122,440.
How much do Registered Nurses make per hour in California?
About $72.25 per hour, based on the $150,280 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Registered Nurses work in California?
BLS counts 338,940 Registered Nurses jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
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