Registered Nurse · Salary Comparison · 2026
Registered Nurse Salary: Atlanta, GA vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Registered Nurses in Atlanta, GA and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$72,000 vs $130,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ San Francisco, CA
$66,667 vs $69,892
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ San Francisco, CA
$58,219 vs $58,575
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $72,000 | $130,000▲ | -$58,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $55,000 | $100,000▲ | -$45,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $92,000 | $165,000▲ | -$73,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $112,000 | $200,000▲ | -$88,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 108 | 186 | -78 |
| State Income Tax | 5.49%▲ | 9.3% | -3.8100000000000005% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $66,667 | $69,892▲ | -$3,225 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $62,876 | $108,949▲ | -$46,073 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $58,219 | $58,575▲ | -$356 |
| Total Employment | 38,000 | 28,000 | +10,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Atlanta, GA minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $58,000 more (median: $72,000 vs $130,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 108 vs 186), San Francisco, CA provides better purchasing power ($66,667 vs $69,892 equivalent). Atlanta, GA has the lower state tax rate (5.49% vs 9.3%).
4More Registered Nurse City Comparisons
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.