Registered Nurse Salary in San Francisco, CA
Registered Nurses in San Francisco, CA earn a median of $130,000/year, ranging from $100,000 (25th percentile) to $200,000 (90th percentile). After California state taxes (9.3%) and cost-of-living adjustments (COL index 186), this is equivalent to $69,892 in purchasing power vs the US average.
1Salary Distribution in San Francisco, CA
2Estimated Take-Home & Purchasing Power
* Estimates only. Does not include federal income tax, 401k, health insurance, or local taxes. Use the Salary Calculator for a detailed breakdown.
How Does San Francisco, CA Compare?
| City | Median | COL Index | COL-Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA (current) | $130,000 | 186 | $69,892 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $118,000 | 173 | $68,208 |
| San Diego, CA | $112,000 | 152 | $73,684 |
| New York, NY | $105,000 | 187 | $56,150 |
| Seattle, WA | $115,000 | 162 | $70,988 |
| Boston, MA | $108,000 | 162 | $66,667 |
4Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Registered Nurse salary in San Francisco, CA?
The median Registered Nurse salary in San Francisco, CA is $130,000 per year as of 2026 BLS OEWS data. The 25th percentile is $100,000 and the 90th percentile is $200,000.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a Registered Nurse?
San Francisco, CA has a cost of living index of 186 (US average = 100). After adjusting for cost of living, a $130,000 Registered Nurse salary in San Francisco, CA is equivalent to $69,892 in purchasing power compared to the US average.
What is the cost of living adjustment for San Francisco, CA?
San Francisco, CA has a cost of living index of 186, meaning it is 86% more expensive than the US average. The state income tax rate in California is approximately 9.3%.
What is the Registered Nurse salary range in San Francisco, CA?
In San Francisco, CA, Registered Nurses earn between $100,000 (25th percentile) and $200,000 (90th percentile), with a median of $130,000 per year.
How many Registered Nurse jobs are there in San Francisco, CA?
According to BLS OEWS data, there are approximately 28,000 Registered Nurse positions in the San Francisco, CA metropolitan area.
What do Registered Nurses earn in San Francisco, CA?
Based on BLS OEWS 2026 data, Registered Nurses in San Francisco, CA earn a median annual wage of $130,000. The middle 50% earn between $100,000 and $165,000. The top 10% earn more than $200,000. There are approximately 28,000 Registered Nurses employed in the San Francisco, CA metro area, with annual job growth estimated at 3.5%.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place for a Registered Nurse?
San Francisco, CA has a cost of living index of 186 (US average = 100), making it 86% more expensive than the national average. After adjusting for cost of living, a Registered Nurse in San Francisco, CA earning $130,000has the equivalent purchasing power of $69,892 relative to the US median. California has a state income tax rate of approximately 9.3%.
What is the cost of living adjustment for San Francisco, CA?
San Francisco, CA's cost of living index is 186, based on composite data including housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and utilities. This means that $130,000 in San Francisco, CAhas the same purchasing power as $69,892 in a city at exactly the US average cost of living. Housing is typically the largest driver of cost of living differences between metros.
Compare San Francisco, CA with Another City
See a detailed side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, and purchasing power.
Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Program. All figures are approximate annual estimates based on the most recent available BLS data. Actual salaries may vary based on experience, education, employer size, and specific role. Cost-of-living data represents composite indices from publicly available metropolitan area data.