Nurse Practitioner · Salary Comparison · 2026
Nurse Practitioner Salary: San Diego, CA vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Nurse Practitioners in San Diego, CA and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$135,000 vs $155,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ San Diego, CA
$88,816 vs $83,333
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ San Diego, CA
$74,434 vs $69,839
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | San Diego, CA | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $135,000 | $155,000▲ | -$20,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $104,000 | $120,000▲ | -$16,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $173,000 | $198,000▲ | -$25,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $210,000 | $240,000▲ | -$30,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 152 | 186 | -34 |
| State Income Tax | 9.3%▲ | 9.3% | — |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $88,816▲ | $83,333 | +$5,483 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $113,139 | $129,901▲ | -$16,762 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $74,434▲ | $69,839 | +$4,595 |
| Total Employment | 6,000 | 5,000 | +1,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = San Diego, CA minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $20,000 more (median: $135,000 vs $155,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 152 vs 186), San Diego, CA provides better purchasing power ($88,816 vs $83,333 equivalent). San Francisco, CA has the lower state tax rate (9.3% vs 9.3%).
Data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS · 2026 · Cost-of-living indices from composite metro area data. Take-home estimates approximate only — consult a tax professional for accurate figures.