California Median
$140,270
per year
Hourly Rate
$67.44
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+44% vs US median
US median $97,550
State Rank
#1 of 51
338,940 employed here
How much does a Registered Nurse make in California?
Registered Nurses in California take home a median of $140,270 annually — roughly $67.44 an hour — which runs 44% above the national median of $97,550.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $101,260 while the top 10% make $213,320 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $122,440 and $173,170 a year.
Registered Nurse salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $101,260 | $48.68 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $122,440 | $58.87 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $140,270 | $67.44 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $173,170 | $83.25 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $213,320 | $102.56 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 1st out of 51 states and territories for Registered Nurse pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Registered Nurse salary in other states
Hawaii $136,320Oregon $129,010Washington $124,200Alaska $109,480New York $109,440New Jersey $106,500Massachusetts $104,550Nevada $103,670Connecticut $102,740District of Columbia $102,540Minnesota $101,510Rhode Island $100,640Colorado $100,260Maryland $99,790New Hampshire $99,700Delaware $99,520Arizona $99,500Vermont $97,460Pennsylvania $96,430Illinois $95,990Texas $95,970Wisconsin $95,530New Mexico $94,340Michigan $94,300Virginia $93,600Georgia $93,550Idaho $92,460Maine $86,990Montana $85,280Nebraska $84,730Utah $84,600North Carolina $84,350Florida $84,190Wyoming $83,760Indiana $83,500Oklahoma $82,920Ohio $82,510South Carolina $82,360Missouri $81,780Tennessee $81,500Kentucky $81,040North Dakota $80,730Louisiana $80,230West Virginia $80,130Kansas $79,320Arkansas $78,940Iowa $78,630South Dakota $78,060Mississippi $77,090Alabama $77,080
Working as a Registered Nurse in California
Nationally, about 3,380,000 people work as Registered Nurses in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($140,270) 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 Registered Nurse make in California?
The median Registered Nurse salary in California is $140,270 per year, or about $67.44 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $101,260 at the entry level to $213,320 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Registered Nurses about 44% more than the national median of $97,550. California ranks 1st out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Registered Nurses?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $140,270 a year. About 338,940 Registered Nurses 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 Registered Nurse 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.