Registered Nurses Salary in California (2025)
Official BLS OEWS data · May 2025 · 338,940 employed
Annual Mean
$150,280
$72.25/hr
Annual Median
$140,270
$67.44/hr
Bottom 10%
$101,260
$48.68/hr
Top 10%
$213,320
$102.56/hr
Location vs National Average
California
$150,280
Difference
+48.2% vs US avg
US National
$101,420
Salary Percentile Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual |
|---|---|
10th Percentile Bottom 10% | $101,260 |
25th Percentile Lower quarter | $122,440 |
50th PercentileMedian Median | $140,270 |
75th Percentile Upper quarter | $173,170 |
90th Percentile Top 10% | $213,320 |
Salary Distribution
Annual Salary Range
10th
$101K
25th
$122K
Median
$140K
75th
$173K
90th
$213K
California has a large Registered Nurses workforce with approximately 338,940 positions, indicating strong demand for this occupation in the region.
In California, Registered Nurses salaries range from $101,260 at the 10th percentile to $213,320 at the 90th percentile — a spread of $112,060 (80% of the median). This relatively narrow range suggests more consistent pay across employers in this area.
Top Paying Cities in California
Metro areas with highest Registered Nurses wages
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$194,950
per year
Vallejo, CA
$182,820
per year
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$176,900
per year
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$170,000
per year
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
$164,200
per year
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
$159,830
per year
Yuba City, CA
$150,970
per year
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
$147,410
per year
How Registered Nurses Compares in California
The average Registered Nurses salary of $150,280 in California ranks above the national average of $101,420. There are approximately 338,940 Registered Nursess employed in California.
Psychiatrists$315,380
Radiologists$309,990
Related Occupations
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · Public domain · Not affiliated with BLS.