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Registered Nurses average salary by city in California
- San Jose$194,950
- Vallejo$182,820
- San Francisco$176,900
- Santa Rosa$170,000
- Sacramento$164,200
- Santa Cruz$159,830
- Yuba City$150,970
- San Luis Obispo$147,410
- Stockton$145,400
- San Diego$145,060
- Modesto$143,670
- Los Angeles$140,370
- Salinas$138,810
- Riverside$136,670
- Chico$134,900
- Santa Maria$134,680
- Oxnard$133,710
- Redding$133,700
- Merced$129,700
- Bakersfield$128,200
- Hanford$127,640
- Fresno$126,880
- Visalia$124,110
- El Centro$113,380
Pay, take-home pay and cost of living
| City | Average | Median | 25th pct. | Take-home* | Cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $194,950 | $216,740 | $165,050 | $131,124 | 110 |
| Vallejo | $182,820 | $203,290 | $139,940 | $123,313 | 108 |
| San Francisco | $176,900 | $186,610 | $137,120 | $119,817 | 116 |
| Santa Rosa | $170,000 | $174,550 | $132,170 | $115,743 | 108 |
| Sacramento | $164,200 | $171,460 | $131,830 | $112,318 | 107 |
| Santa Cruz | $159,830 | $170,960 | $122,310 | $109,738 | 110 |
| Yuba City | $150,970 | $149,320 | $125,860 | $104,506 | 104 |
| San Luis Obispo | $147,410 | $138,820 | $106,250 | $102,404 | 109 |
| Stockton | $145,400 | $134,580 | $122,640 | $101,217 | 105 |
| San Diego | $145,060 | $139,520 | $128,380 | $101,016 | 112 |
| Modesto | $143,670 | $132,590 | $124,010 | $100,195 | 104 |
| Los Angeles | $140,370 | $135,560 | $112,070 | $98,246 | 114 |
| Salinas | $138,810 | $134,910 | $105,540 | $97,325 | 109 |
| Riverside | $136,670 | $133,940 | $107,730 | $96,062 | 106 |
| Chico | $134,900 | $127,360 | $126,160 | $95,016 | 101 |
| Santa Maria | $134,680 | $137,360 | $114,750 | $94,887 | 109 |
| Oxnard | $133,710 | $131,160 | $106,840 | $94,314 | 111 |
| Redding | $133,700 | $134,350 | $107,380 | $94,308 | 101 |
| Merced | $129,700 | $131,620 | $118,890 | $91,946 | 98 |
| Bakersfield | $128,200 | $128,810 | $100,900 | $91,060 | 101 |
| Hanford | $127,640 | $128,160 | $116,320 | $90,729 | 102 |
| Fresno | $126,880 | $125,420 | $106,110 | $90,281 | 102 |
| Visalia | $124,110 | $125,180 | $97,940 | $88,645 | 100 |
| El Centro | $113,380 | $103,450 | $101,940 | $82,141 | 95 |
*Average salary after federal and state taxes for a single filer; California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included. Cost of living: BEA price parity, U.S. = 100.
Registered Nurses salary in other states
More about pay in California
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-1141.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
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