California Median
$168,520
per year
Hourly Rate
$81.02
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+27% vs US median
US median $132,300
State Rank
#1 of 51
25,120 employed here
How much does a Nurse Practitioner make in California?
Nurse Practitioners in California take home a median of $168,520 annually — roughly $81.02 an hour — which runs 27% above the national median of $132,300.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $120,340 while the top 10% make $240,830 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $145,980 and $209,350 a year.
Nurse Practitioner salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $120,340 | $57.86 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $145,980 | $70.18 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $168,520 | $81.02 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $209,350 | $100.65 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $240,830 | $115.78 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 1st out of 51 states and territories for Nurse Practitioner pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Nurse Practitioner salary in other states
New Jersey $159,310Washington $156,100Oregon $155,680Alaska $155,170New York $153,510Massachusetts $142,440Nevada $140,670Connecticut $138,470New Hampshire $137,550New Mexico $137,520Montana $137,210Rhode Island $135,970District of Columbia $135,880Hawaii $135,570Vermont $134,740Arizona $134,420Oklahoma $133,390Minnesota $133,260Colorado $132,930Idaho $132,540Wyoming $132,200Nebraska $132,130Wisconsin $131,980Texas $131,670Michigan $131,450Maryland $131,110Delaware $131,040Utah $130,920Illinois $130,680Maine $130,260Iowa $130,160Pennsylvania $130,140North Dakota $130,070Missouri $129,930Florida $129,510Georgia $129,430North Carolina $128,990South Dakota $128,840Indiana $128,830Virginia $127,810West Virginia $127,320Kansas $126,650Arkansas $125,660Louisiana $125,600Ohio $124,870Mississippi $124,730South Carolina $123,290Kentucky $122,870Tennessee $117,590Alabama $105,750
Working as a Nurse Practitioner in California
Nationally, about 323,000 people work as Nurse Practitioners in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($168,520) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Nurse Practitioner make in California?
The median Nurse Practitioner salary in California is $168,520 per year, or about $81.02 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $120,340 at the entry level to $240,830 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Nurse Practitioners about 27% more than the national median of $132,300. California ranks 1st out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Nurse Practitioners?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $168,520 a year. About 25,120 Nurse Practitioners are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Nurse Practitioner salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.