How Much Does an RN Make in California in 2026?

A typical RN in California earns about $67.44 per hour ($140,270 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That works out to roughly $11,689 a month and $2,698 a week, figures calculated from the annual number. Pay varies by city, employer, and years of experience, though this figure reflects the typical pay for the state's registered nurses.

California's typical RN pay runs 44% above the national figure of $97,550 a year ($46.90 an hour). That gap places California 1st among all 51 states and territories for RN pay. Roughly 338,940 registered nurses work in California, one of the largest RN workforces in the country.

Entry-level positions in California typically offer around $48.68 an hour, or about $101,260 a year, for RNs just starting out. Pay tends to climb toward $58.87 an hour, or $122,440 a year, within the first couple of years on the job. That's still below the state's typical figure of $140,270, which most RNs reach later in their careers. Location and the type of facility also shape how quickly that happens.

Experienced RNs in California often earn upwards of $83.25 an hour, or around $173,170 a year, once they've built up years on the job. The top 10% of earners make over $213,320 a year, well above the typical figure for the state. The gap between entry-level and top pay comes to $112,060, one of the widest spreads among RN pay levels nationwide. Setting, specialty, and city tend to separate the two ends of that range.

California RN pay has risen steadily over the past decade, climbing from $100,400 in 2015 to $140,270 in 2025. That's a gain of $39,870, or 40%, over ten years. The increase wasn't perfectly even; pay rose faster in some years, including a jump between 2019 and 2021, than in others. Even so, the overall trend has moved consistently upward each year since 2015.

Nationally, RN pay rose 45% over the same ten years, a slightly faster pace than California's 40% gain, even though California's dollar figures remain far higher. For someone starting an RN career in California now, the data shows pay has moved up consistently in recent years. That trend offers no guarantee about future years, but the recent record points in a positive direction.

RN pay runs highest in Sunnyvale, San Jose, and Santa Clara, where the typical salary reaches $216,740 a year ($104.20 an hour), about 55% above the statewide figure. Vallejo follows close behind at $203,290 a year, and the San Francisco, Oakland, and Fremont metro area pays $186,610 a year. These Bay Area metro areas consistently post the highest RN pay in the state.

El Centro pays RNs the least, at $103,450 a year ($49.73 an hour), a spread of $113,290 from the top city. The Long Beach, Los Angeles, and Anaheim metro area employs more RNs than any other in the state, 109,360 in all, with typical pay of $135,560 a year ($65.18 an hour). Each city figure covers its full metro area, and higher pay tends to track local living costs.

California RN pay outpaces all of its neighbors. Oregon's typical RN salary is $129,010 a year, about 8% lower than California's figure, while Nevada sits further back at $103,670, 26% lower, and Arizona at $99,500, 29% lower. Nurses licensed in California can often transfer or endorse that license into a nearby state, though requirements vary. The pay gap with neighboring states is wide enough that it may factor into relocation decisions.

RN pay in California currently stands at $140,270 a year ($67.44 an hour), well above the national figure, after rising 40% over the past decade. Pay varies widely by city and experience level, from entry-level roles near $101,260 to top earners over $213,320. Readers weighing a move to California should check the state's nursing licensure requirements and review city-level pages for local pay figures before deciding.