Salary Report for California Registered Nurses
California Rankings
Compare California to U.S.
California Registered Nurses earn an average of $124,000 which is 49% more than the national average salary of $82,750.
Type | California | U.S. | % Difference |
---|---|---|---|
Average Hourly Wage | $59.62 | $39.78 | 49.87% |
Average Annual Salary | $124,000 | $82,750 | 49.85% |
Salary Range by Education and Experience
In California, 50% of Registered Nurses earn between $98,960 and $155,930 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.
About 10% of Registered Nurses earn more than $165,620, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Registered Nurses.
Approximately 10% of Registered Nurses earn under $78,070, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Registered Nurses.
Percent | Experience | Employed | Annual Salary |
---|---|---|---|
10% | Less than a Year | 32,440 | Under $78,070 |
15% | 2 – 4 years | 48,660 | $78,070 – $98,960 |
25% | 5 – 9 years | 81,100 | $98,960 – $125,340 |
25% | 10 – 14 years | 81,100 | $125,340 – $155,930 |
15% | 15 – 20 years | 48,660 | $125,340 – $165,620 |
10% | 20+ years | 32,440 | Above $165,620 |
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living
After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Registered Nurses in California nurses earn about $112,339 per year which is more than the average U.S. nurse of $82,750.
Cost-of-living in California is 10% higher than the national average, which means California residents have an overall higher cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to other states.
More cost-of-living reports for U.S. States.
Salary Compared to Related Professions
With an average annual salary of $124,000, California Registered Nurses tend to earn less than Nurse Anesthetists ($232,540), Nurse Practitioners ($151,830), and Nurse Midwives ($137,070).
However, Registered Nurses tend to earn more than Nursing Assistants ($39,760), LPNs ($65,140), and Nursing Instructors ($106,850).
Title | Annual Salary |
---|---|
Nurse Anesthetists | $232,540 |
Nurse Practitioners | $151,830 |
Nurse Midwives | $137,070 |
Registered Nurses | $124,000 |
Nursing Instructors | $106,850 |
LPNs | $65,140 |
Nursing Assistants | $39,760 |
Projected Demand for Nurses in 2030
The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in California the three professions needing the most new nurses by 2030 are Registered Nurses (358,900), Nursing Assistants (110,000) and LPNs (83,500).
The three professions in California needing highest percentage new nurses by 2030 are Nurse Practitioners (55.5%), Nursing Instructors (26.3%) and Nurse Anesthetists (20%).
Title | 2020 | 2030 | Change | Yearly Openings |
---|---|---|---|---|
Registered Nurses | 323,900 | 358,900 | 10.8% | 21,200 |
Nursing Assistants | 97,300 | 110,000 | 13.1% | 13,780 |
LPNs | 72,400 | 83,500 | 15.3% | 6,980 |
Nurse Practitioners | 17,300 | 26,900 | 55.5% | 2,120 |
Nursing Instructors | 3,800 | 4,800 | 26.3% | 490 |
Nurse Anesthetists | 2,000 | 2,400 | 20% | 150 |
Nurse Midwives | 1,200 | 1,400 | 16.7% | 90 |
Salaries Ranked by California Cities
The average salary for Registered Nurses in California is $124,000. The top cities that pay Registered Nurses the most are El Centro ($91,120), San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ($155,230) and San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward ($151,640).
When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Registered Nurses the highest average annual salary are San Diego-Carlsbad ($99,788), El Centro ($97,538) and Santa Maria-Santa Barbara ($91,592).
The following table shows the average yearly salary range for Registered Nurses in each city, and the average yearly salary after being adjusted for cost-of-living in that state.
The difference column shows how much more or less purchasing power a Registered Nurses salary will have in that area.
Area | Average Salary | COL Adjusted | Difference |
---|---|---|---|
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $155,230 | $138,450 | $-16,780 |
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward | $151,640 | $129,198 | $-22,442 |
Vallejo-Fairfield | $146,360 | $134,994 | $-11,366 |
Santa Rosa | $141,440 | $128,769 | $-12,671 |
Napa | $139,680 | $125,352 | $-14,328 |
Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $139,590 | $127,573 | $-12,017 |
Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade | $135,490 | $127,700 | $-7,790 |
Salinas | $130,520 | $117,851 | $-12,669 |
Modesto | $127,730 | $124,360 | $-3,370 |
Hanford-Corcoran | $124,790 | $129,881 | $5,091 |
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande | $122,730 | $112,051 | $-10,679 |
Fresno | $119,830 | $120,022 | $192 |
Stockton-Lodi | $119,600 | $115,222 | $-4,378 |
Yuba City | $117,190 | $117,779 | $589 |
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $116,110 | $103,772 | $-12,338 |
North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California | $115,160 | $115,241 | $81 |
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $114,530 | $102,810 | $-11,720 |
San Diego-Carlsbad | $113,150 | $99,788 | $-13,362 |
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $111,700 | $107,704 | $-3,996 |
North Coast Region of California | $110,760 | $110,838 | $78 |
Redding | $110,760 | $110,860 | $100 |
Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California | $109,990 | $110,067 | $77 |
Merced | $107,760 | $108,673 | $913 |
Chico | $107,290 | $105,725 | $-1,565 |
Bakersfield | $107,090 | $107,975 | $885 |
Visalia-Porterville | $102,330 | $104,879 | $2,549 |
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $100,770 | $91,592 | $-9,178 |
El Centro | $91,120 | $97,538 | $6,418 |
Salary FAQ for California Registered Nurses
City and Rural Summaries
Bakersfield
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $107,090
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $107,975
Hourly Wage: $51.49
Currently Employed: 5,310
Cost-of-Living Index: 99.18
Bakersfield Salary Report
Chico
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $107,290
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $105,725
Hourly Wage: $52
Currently Employed: 1,980
Cost-of-Living Index: 101.48
Chico Salary Report
Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $109,990
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $110,067
Hourly Wage: $52.88
Currently Employed: 1,100
Cost-of-Living Index: 99.93
Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California Salary Report
El Centro
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $91,120
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $97,538
Hourly Wage: $44
Currently Employed: 770
Cost-of-Living Index: 93.42
El Centro Salary Report
Fresno
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $119,830
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $120,022
Hourly Wage: $57.61
Currently Employed: 8,140
Cost-of-Living Index: 99.84
Fresno Salary Report
Hanford-Corcoran
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $124,790
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $129,881
Hourly Wage: $60
Currently Employed: 970
Cost-of-Living Index: 96.08
Hanford-Corcoran Salary Report
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $116,110
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $103,772
Hourly Wage: $55.82
Currently Employed: 113,890
Cost-of-Living Index: 111.89
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim Salary Report
Merced
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $107,760
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $108,673
Hourly Wage: $52
Currently Employed: 820
Cost-of-Living Index: 99.16
Merced Salary Report
Modesto
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $127,730
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $124,360
Hourly Wage: $61.41
Currently Employed: 4,900
Cost-of-Living Index: 102.71
Modesto Salary Report
Napa
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $139,680
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $125,352
Hourly Wage: $67
Currently Employed: 1,520
Cost-of-Living Index: 111.43
Napa Salary Report
North Coast Region of California
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $110,760
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $110,838
Hourly Wage: $53.25
Currently Employed: 1,840
Cost-of-Living Index: 99.93
North Coast Region of California Salary Report
North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $115,160
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $115,241
Hourly Wage: $55
Currently Employed: 1,750
Cost-of-Living Index: 99.93
North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California Salary Report
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $114,530
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $102,810
Hourly Wage: $55.06
Currently Employed: 5,520
Cost-of-Living Index: 111.40
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura Salary Report
Redding
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $110,760
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $110,860
Hourly Wage: $53
Currently Employed: 1,690
Cost-of-Living Index: 99.91
Redding Salary Report
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $111,700
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $107,704
Hourly Wage: $53.70
Currently Employed: 30,570
Cost-of-Living Index: 103.71
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario Salary Report
Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $135,490
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $127,700
Hourly Wage: $65
Currently Employed: 21,770
Cost-of-Living Index: 106.10
Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade Salary Report
Salinas
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $130,520
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $117,851
Hourly Wage: $62.75
Currently Employed: 3,250
Cost-of-Living Index: 110.75
Salinas Salary Report
San Diego-Carlsbad
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $113,150
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $99,788
Hourly Wage: $54
Currently Employed: 27,200
Cost-of-Living Index: 113.39
San Diego-Carlsbad Salary Report
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $151,640
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $129,198
Hourly Wage: $72.90
Currently Employed: 41,160
Cost-of-Living Index: 117.37
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward Salary Report
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $155,230
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $138,450
Hourly Wage: $75
Currently Employed: 20,640
Cost-of-Living Index: 112.12
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara Salary Report
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $122,730
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $112,051
Hourly Wage: $59.00
Currently Employed: 1,920
Cost-of-Living Index: 109.53
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande Salary Report
Santa Cruz-Watsonville
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $139,590
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $127,573
Hourly Wage: $67
Currently Employed: 1,520
Cost-of-Living Index: 109.42
Santa Cruz-Watsonville Salary Report
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $100,770
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $91,592
Hourly Wage: $48.45
Currently Employed: 4,540
Cost-of-Living Index: 110.02
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara Salary Report
Santa Rosa
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $141,440
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $128,769
Hourly Wage: $68
Currently Employed: 3,510
Cost-of-Living Index: 109.84
Santa Rosa Salary Report
Stockton-Lodi
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $119,600
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $115,222
Hourly Wage: $57.50
Currently Employed: 4,820
Cost-of-Living Index: 103.80
Stockton-Lodi Salary Report
Vallejo-Fairfield
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $146,360
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $134,994
Hourly Wage: $70
Currently Employed: 3,530
Cost-of-Living Index: 108.42
Vallejo-Fairfield Salary Report
Visalia-Porterville
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $102,330
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $104,879
Hourly Wage: $49.20
Currently Employed: 2,800
Cost-of-Living Index: 97.57
Visalia-Porterville Salary Report
Yuba City
Average Registered Nurses Salary: $117,190
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $117,779
Hourly Wage: $56
Currently Employed: 950
Cost-of-Living Index: 99.50
Yuba City Salary Report
Official Data Sources for Registered Nurses: Salary Data | Projected Employment | Cost of Living Data
