California leads all comparison states with a mean annual salary of $150,280 for registered nurses, well above the next closest state, Washington, at $121,540. That gap means employers recruiting nurses into California roles need to set offers that reflect a distinctly higher market rate. Using out-of-state benchmarks as a reference point will likely result in offers that fall short of candidate expectations in this market.
Registered nurse salary in California (2026)
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The average registered nurse salary in California is $150,280 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $140,270 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. California employs 338,940 registered nurses, and the $10,010 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior registered nurses in California typically earn around $101,260, while senior specialists reach and exceed the $213,320 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a registered nurse hire in California, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $140,270 |
Average Annual Salary | $150,280 |
vs. National Average | 48.2% above the national mean of $101,420 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 338,940 employed registered nurses across California.
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Registered nurse salary percentiles in California
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $101,260 |
25th Percentile | $122,440 |
75th Percentile | $173,170 |
90th Percentile | $213,320 |
Employers setting an offer for a registered nurse in California should expect a wide range depending on experience level and specialization. Entry-level candidates typically fall near $101,260, while experienced specialists reach $213,320 or beyond at the 90th percentile, giving you a practical floor-to-ceiling span to work within when structuring compensation bands.
Registered nurse salary by city in California
City | Average Annual Salary |
San Jose | $194,950 |
San Francisco | $176,900 |
Sacramento | $164,200 |
San Diego | $145,060 |
Los Angeles | $140,370 |
Where you hire within California will have a material impact on your compensation budget for a registered nurse role. San Jose averages $194,950 per year compared to $140,370 in Los Angeles, a difference of $54,580 that you should factor into location-based offer decisions. Employers hiring across multiple California markets should build city-specific pay bands rather than relying on a single statewide figure.
How California compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
California | $150,280 | $140,270 |
Washington | $121,540 | $124,200 |
New York | $113,440 | $109,440 |
Nevada | $105,710 | $103,670 |
Colorado | $99,370 | $100,260 |
Texas | $95,380 | $95,970 |
Employers hiring registered nurses in California should budget meaningfully higher than in any of the comparison states listed here. California's mean of $150,280 exceeds Washington's $121,540 by nearly $29,000, and sits more than $54,000 above Texas at $95,380. If your organization operates across multiple states, compensation benchmarks from lower-cost markets will not translate directly to California hiring.
Frequently asked questions about registered nurse salary in California
How does California compare to other states for registered nurse salary?
What do the top-earning registered nurses make in California?
Registered nurses at the 90th percentile in California earn $213,320 per year. When competing for senior or highly specialized talent, you should expect candidates at that level to anchor their expectations at or above this threshold. The statewide mean of $150,280 sits well below the 90th percentile, so the published average does not reflect what top-tier candidates will require.
What is the salary range for a registered nurse in California?
The salary range for a registered nurse in California runs from $101,260 at the 10th percentile to $213,320 at the 90th percentile. That $112,060 spread reflects meaningful differences in experience, specialization, and geography across the state. When building a compensation band, use the percentile closest to the seniority level of the role you are filling rather than defaulting to the statewide average.
What is the average registered nurse salary in California?
The average registered nurse salary in California is $150,280 per year, which is 48.2% above the national mean of $101,420. The median of $140,270 is a more grounded reference point for most hiring decisions, since a smaller group of higher-compensated roles pulls the average upward. For budgeting purposes, plan your offer range around the median and adjust upward based on the seniority and specialization you need.
Registered Nurse salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 29-1141 (Registered Nurses).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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