ICU nurse pay in California
$128,019median posted offer#2 of 45 states for ICU
ICU nurses in California are being offered a median $128,019 a year across 166 live postings that state pay — 23% above the national ICU median of $104,000. Updated October 26, 2026.
- 10th percentile
- $99k
- 25th percentile
- $108k
- 75th percentile
- $150k
- 90th percentile
- $174k
Where does your pay sit in ICU in California?
Checked against 166 live postings that state pay. Your number stays in your browser.
- 10th percentile
- $99k
- 25th percentile
- $108k
- 75th percentile
- $150k
- 90th percentile
- $174k
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.
Other specialties in California
- Nursing Administration 5 postings$230k
- Nursing Management 12 postings$220k
- Oncology Nursing 5 postings$215k
- Nursing Education 7 postings$214k
- Nursing Leadership 8 postings$206k
- Cardiovascular Surgery 6 postings$204k
- Cardiothoracic Surgery 9 postings$204k
- Family Medicine 5 postings$194k
Or see all nurse pay in California (5,353 postings), or ICU pay across every state.
What to do with this
- See the rolesSee ICU roles in CaliforniaEvery posting behind these numbers is a live job you can open and apply to.
- Offer in hand?Review an offerTurn it into a full-year number, see what it's worth where you'd live, and compare offers side by side.
- 3-minute PULSEFind the work that brings out your bestPay is one axis. Your pace, decision style, connection, scope, and energy rhythm shape the rest.
- CommunityAsk nurses what they really take homeDifferentials, ratios, and the offer nobody posts. Bring your number and compare notes.
Want the craft behind the numbers — differentials, negotiating, travel packages? Read the pay & salary guides.
Questions nurses ask
- How much do ICU nurses make in California?
- Across 166 live ICU postings in California that state pay, the median offer is $128,019 a year. The middle half runs $108,160–$150,342, and the top 10% start at $174,237.
- Is California a good state for ICU nurses?
- On posted pay, California ranks #2 of 45 states for ICU. The median there is 23% above the national ICU median of $104,000. Pay is one axis — shift, ratios, and cost of living decide whether the job is worth it.