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.
On the ground in San Francisco, CA
Nurses here work across several major health systems: UCSF Medical Center, California Pacific Medical Center, and the VA Medical Center in San Francisco all hire heavily. That said, a $130,000 salary goes further than you'd expect if you're outside the Bay - but you'll feel it acutely in rent. A one-bedroom in the Mission or SOMA runs around $2,800 to $3,200 monthly, which means housing eats a real chunk of your paycheck. Public transit via BART and Muni makes car-free nursing shifts possible, especially if you're stationed downtown or near major hospital corridors. California's state income tax hits around 9.3 percent, so factor that into your take-home calculations. The Bay's year-round mild weather is a genuine perk for shift work - no seasonal weather disruptions like you'd face elsewhere. Most nurses here juggle the high cost against strong union contracts and specialty pay differentials that grow faster than in many other metros.
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.
5Should You Work as a Registered Nurse in San Francisco, CA?
The headline median of $130,000 is only part of the picture. San Francisco, CA's cost of living index is 186 (US average = 100), meaning a dollar here buys roughly 54¢ of what it buys in an average US city. The $130,000 salary effectively purchases $69,892 worth of goods and services at national-average prices.
Housing is the single biggest driver of cost-of-living differences between metros. In San Francisco, CA, the median household typically spends 35–45% of gross income on housing — significantly above the 28% "affordable" threshold most lenders use. For a $130,000 salary, that translates to roughly $52,000/year on housing alone.
State tax plays a meaningful but smaller role. California levies a state income tax of approximately 9.3%, which reduces take-home by roughly $12,090 per year on this salary. States with zero income tax (Texas, Florida, Washington, Tennessee, Nevada) offer a structural advantage, but often offset it with higher sales tax or property tax. After state tax and approximate federal FICA (~7.6%), the estimated take-home is $108,949. This excludes federal income tax, which varies by filing status and deductions.
For comparison, here are nearby alternatives: Los Angeles, CA ($118,000 median, COL 173); San Diego, CA ($112,000 median, COL 152); New York, NY ($105,000 median, COL 187). If you're optimizing for purchasing power, compare the COL-adjusted column in the table above and pick the highest number. If you're optimizing for career progression, weight total employment and yearly growth in the role — larger markets offer more lateral moves and promotion velocity, even when nominal pay is lower.
The 3.5% year-over-year growth rate for Registered Nurses in San Francisco, CA is a leading indicator of market health. Healthy growth at a steady pace — enough to support mobility but not so fast that compensation is racing ahead of credentials. For side-by-side comparisons, try the full city ranking for Registered Nurses or the California state overview.
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.