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Top 15 cities for nurses
Full ranking
| # | Metro area | Price-adjusted median | Median salary | Price parity | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $196,282 | $216,740 | 110.4 | 22,930 |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $187,400 | $203,290 | 108.5 | 4,120 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $161,944 | $174,550 | 107.8 | 3,720 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $161,409 | $186,610 | 115.6 | 41,750 |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $160,739 | $171,460 | 106.7 | 23,590 |
| 6 | Santa Cruz, CA | $155,565 | $170,960 | 109.9 | 1,750 |
| 7 | Yuba City, CA | $143,256 | $149,320 | 104.2 | 1,080 |
| 8 | Merced, CA | $133,930 | $131,620 | 98.3 | 1,050 |
| 9 | Redding, CA | $133,437 | $134,350 | 100.7 | 1,720 |
| 10 | Kahului, HI | $131,955 | $144,350 | 109.4 | 1,270 |
| 11 | Bend, OR | $130,310 | $135,010 | 103.6 | 2,500 |
| 12 | Stockton, CA | $128,063 | $134,580 | 105.1 | 5,460 |
| 13 | San Luis Obispo, CA | $127,832 | $138,820 | 108.6 | 2,180 |
| 14 | Bakersfield, CA | $127,679 | $128,810 | 100.9 | 5,620 |
| 15 | Modesto, CA | $127,358 | $132,590 | 104.1 | 4,850 |
| 16 | Salem, OR | $127,112 | $131,750 | 103.6 | 4,010 |
| 17 | Santa Maria, CA | $126,252 | $137,360 | 108.8 | 3,280 |
| 18 | Hanford, CA | $126,127 | $128,160 | 101.6 | 710 |
| 19 | Chico, CA | $125,854 | $127,360 | 101.2 | 2,170 |
| 20 | Riverside, CA | $125,834 | $133,940 | 106.4 | 35,290 |
| 21 | Honolulu, HI | $125,504 | $139,260 | 111.0 | 9,680 |
| 22 | Visalia, CA | $125,399 | $125,180 | 99.8 | 2,990 |
| 23 | Medford, OR | $125,235 | $127,030 | 101.4 | 2,370 |
| 24 | San Diego, CA | $124,697 | $139,520 | 111.9 | 28,680 |
| 25 | Salinas, CA | $123,723 | $134,910 | 109.0 | 3,180 |
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Highest raw pay for nurses, before cost of living
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Sources and how to read this page
- Ranking: median annual wage of Registered Nurses (BLS OEWS May 2025; the average where BLS publishes no median) divided by the BEA price parity x 100. Only metros where BLS counts at least 100 of these jobs with a reliable estimate.
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
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