How much do nurses make in California?

Across 5,507 live job postings in California that state pay, the median posted offer is $123,760 a year (about $50/hr). The middle half of postings runs $93,600–$150,800, and the top 10% start at $192,764.

How does California nurse pay compare nationally?

California's posted median of $123,760 is 29% above the national median ($95,992), ranking #1 of 51 states on the Pay Index right now.

Do California nursing jobs offer sign-on bonuses?

588 live postings in California advertise a sign-on bonus right now, with a median of $10,000 and offers up to $50,000.

Nurse pay in California

$123,760median posted offer · $50/hr▲ 29% above the national median

Nurses in California are being offered a median $123,760 a year right now across 5,507 live job postings that state pay — ranking #1 of 51 states. Updated October 27, 2026.

$124k median

10th percentile: $72k
25th percentile: $94k
75th percentile: $151k
90th percentile: $193k

Where does your pay sit in California?

Checked against 5,507 live postings that state pay. Your number stays in your browser.

$124k median

10th percentile: $72k
25th percentile: $94k
75th percentile: $151k
90th percentile: $193k

Enter your pay to see your percentile.

Posted offers on live listings — not take-home pay or a promise of what any one nurse will earn.

California market overview

25th percentile: $93,600
Median: $123,760
75th percentile: $150,800
90th percentile: $192,764
Median hourly (3,848 postings): $50/hr
Sign-on bonus, median (588 postings): $10,000
Sign-on bonus, highest posted: $50,000
Live postings stating pay: 5,507

Annual figures are posted offers (midpoint of stated ranges) on live listings, updated October 27, 2026.

What each specialty is offered in California

Specialty	Median	90th percentile	Postings
ICU	$128k	$174k	166
Home Health	$125k	$197k	143
Case Management	$120k	$190k	67
Telemetry	$132k	$159k	65
ER	$129k	$169k	58
Pediatric	$119k	$167k	58
Infusion	$187k	$187k	56
Medical-Surgical	$128k	$170k	53
General	$120k	$161k	52
Practical Nurse	$76k	$92k	50
Hospice	$121k	$154k	45
Acute Care	$120k	$183k	44
Geriatric	$107k	$165k	43
Critical & Intensive Care	$128k	$182k	40
Labor and Delivery	$143k	$204k	39
PACU	$133k	$217k	39
Cardiology	$156k	$194k	36
Operating Room	$133k	$194k	36
Nurse Practitioner	$161k	$250k	35
Oncology	$145k	$213k	34
Palliative Care	$144k	$193k	32
Dialysis	$104k	$168k	28
Nursing Assistant	$57k	$64k	26
Emergency	$130k	$213k	25
Emergency Medicine	$135k	$202k	25
Medical/Surgical	$118k	$152k	25
Wound Care	$128k	$212k	24
Emergency Nursing	$168k	$204k	22
Surgery	$155k	$222k	22
ED - Emergency Department	$130k	$174k	21
Skilled Nursing	$104k	$168k	21
Cardiac	$131k	$156k	20
Labor & Delivery	$149k	$178k	20
Nephrology	$102k	$116k	19
Manager	$171k	$195k	18
OR - Operating Room	$158k	$193k	18
Orthopedics	$136k	$171k	18
Perioperative Care	$139k	$159k	18
Travel	$119k	$139k	18
ICU - Intensive Care Unit	$140k	$178k	16
OR	$132k	$209k	16
Perioperative	$132k	$218k	16
Behavioral Health	$124k	$194k	15
Outpatient	$123k	$175k	15
Psychiatric	$145k	$182k	15
IV Therapy	$113k	$121k	14
Emergency Department	$142k	$212k	13
Mental Health	$122k	$184k	13
Neurology	$125k	$169k	13
Stepdown	$150k	$150k	13
Nursing Management	$220k	$258k	12
Skilled Nursing Facility	$96k	$118k	12
Emergency Room	$141k	$229k	11
Infectious Disease	$101k	$218k	11
Nursing Management/Admin	$119k	$133k	11
Urgent Care	$124k	$238k	11
Emergency Services	$170k	$199k	10
NICU	$124k	$175k	10
Primary Care	$128k	$149k	10
Women's Health	$156k	$251k	10
Workers' Compensation	$115k	$117k	10
Cardiac Cath Lab	$158k	$195k	9
Cardiothoracic Surgery	$204k	$205k	9
Education/Staff Development	$128k	$142k	9
Hospice & Palliative Medicine	$153k	$198k	9
Long-Term Care	$104k	$132k	9
Neonatology	$137k	$149k	9
Infection Control	$125k	$138k	8
Intensive Care	$147k	$214k	8
Long-term Care	$102k	$183k	8
Med/Surg	$108k	$153k	8
Nursing Leadership	$206k	$216k	8
PCU	$158k	$231k	8
Rehabilitation	$104k	$136k	8
Telehealth	$140k	$151k	8
Trauma	$143k	$213k	8
Assistant Manager	$179k	$179k	7
Cath Lab	$154k	$260k	7
Dermatology	$114k	$134k	7
Gastroenterology	$170k	$187k	7
Military	$115k	$145k	7
Nursing Education	$214k	$237k	7
Pain Medicine	$126k	$145k	7
Registered Nurse	$131k	$169k	7
Surgical Nursing	$133k	$193k	7
Aesthetics	$112k	$122k	6
CVICU	$152k	$154k	6
Cardiovascular Surgery	$204k	$204k	6
Fertility	$99k	$115k	6
Float Pool	$123k	$184k	6
Internal Medicine	$105k	$173k	6
Interventional Radiology	$158k	$184k	6
Long-term care	$106k	$119k	6
Med Surg	$125k	$134k	6
Med/Surg/Telemetry	$109k	$109k	6
Neurocritical Care	$145k	$150k	6
Occupational Health	$104k	$144k	6
Plastic Surgery	$104k	$125k	6
Rehab	$132k	$189k	6
Triage	$102k	$125k	6
Utilization Review	$105k	$136k	6
Addiction Medicine	$131k	$135k	5
Ambulatory Surgery	$107k	$149k	5
Clinical Nurse Coordinator	$125k	$151k	5
Family Medicine	$194k	$232k	5
First Assist	$148k	$149k	5
Home Care	$114k	$132k	5
Neonatal	$141k	$236k	5
Neuro ICU	$154k	$181k	5
Nurse Practitioner / Physician Assistant	$194k	$201k	5
Nursing Administration	$230k	$264k	5
OR Circulate	$139k	$179k	5
Oncology Nursing	$215k	$240k	5
Peritoneal Dialysis	$128k	$168k	5
Public Health	$120k	$144k	5
Rheumatology	$98k	$147k	5
Workers Compensation	$113k	$113k	5

Highest-offering employers in California right now

#1$352k
HealthYes Staffing Network
median across 10 priced postings
#2$291k
Premiere Healthcare Staffing
median across 3 priced postings
#3$267k
AZAD Technology Partners
median across 5 priced postings
#4$251k
Palo Alto Medical Foundation
median across 9 priced postings
#5$250k
Caring Hand Home Health Solutions Inc
median across 3 priced postings

What are you being paid?

30 seconds, no name. After a quick review, your report joins the nurse-reported pay, always shown apart from what employers post, so nurses can compare the two.

What to do with this

Want the craft behind the numbers — differentials, negotiating, travel packages? Read the pay & salary guides.

Starting out? New grad RN jobs in California.

Questions nurses ask

How much do nurses make in California?: Across 5,507 live job postings in California that state pay, the median posted offer is $123,760 a year (about $50/hr). The middle half of postings runs $93,600–$150,800, and the top 10% start at $192,764.
How does California nurse pay compare nationally?: California's posted median of $123,760 is 29% above the national median ($95,992), ranking #1 of 51 states on the Pay Index right now.
Do California nursing jobs offer sign-on bonuses?: 588 live postings in California advertise a sign-on bonus right now, with a median of $10,000 and offers up to $50,000.