Registered Nurse salary in California
The median annual wage for registered nurses in California is $140,270, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2025 estimates — above the national median of $97,550. California ranks 1 of 50 states and DC with published data for this occupation.
Median
$140,270
25th percentile
$122,440
75th percentile
$173,170
90th percentile
$213,320
Employment and national comparison
| Employment in California | 338,940 |
|---|---|
| Mean annual wage in California | $150,280 |
| National median | $97,550 |
| National employment | 3,379,720 |
Metro areas in California
- San Francisco, CA: median $186,610
- Los Angeles, CA: median $135,560
- San Diego, CA: median $139,520
States with similar pay for registered nurses
- Hawaii: median $136,320
- Oregon: median $129,010
- Washington: median $124,200
- Alaska: median $109,480
- New York: median $109,440
- New Jersey: median $106,500
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates; state, metropolitan area and national files from https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm. State estimates are for BLS occupation "Registered Nurses" (29-1141), cross-industry, all ownerships. Retrieved 2026-10-02. Where BLS does not publish a numeric estimate (suppressed, or reported only as at or above $239,200) the value is shown as —.