Registered Nurse Salary Guide: California
Average Registered Nurse Salary
$78.53/hour
The average salary for a Registered Nurse in California is $78.53 per hour. This is 35% higher than the US average of $50.77.
Last updated on October 6, 2026. Based on active jobs on Vivian.com.
Registered Nurse salaries in California compared to National Averages
$78.53/hour
California
35% higher than the US average.
$50.77/hour
United States
What cities in California pay the most for Registered Nurses?
Modesto, California pays Registered Nurses the most, averaging $88 per hour, followed by Palm Springs, California ($85) and Clovis, California ($78). Clovis, California has the highest ceiling, with max hourly pay reaching $105. For comparison, the California average for Registered Nurses is $79 per hour — Modesto, California pays 12% more.
| City | Average Hourly Salary | Max Hourly Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Modesto, California | $88 | $97 |
| Palm Springs, California | $85 | $91 |
| Clovis, California | $78 | $105 |
| Thousand Oaks, California | $76 | $88 |
| Joshua Tree, California | $76 | $101 |
| Los Gatos, California | $68 | $95 |
| Mountain View, California | $68 | $95 |
| Palo Alto, California | $68 | $95 |
| San Jose, California | $68 | $95 |
| Santa Clara, California | $68 | $95 |
What type of Registered Nurses make the most money in California?
Educator earns the most among Nursing specialties in California, averaging $93 per hour, followed by Perioperative ($89) and OR - Operating Room ($88). Perioperative has the highest ceiling, with max hourly pay reaching $111. For comparison, the California average for Registered Nurses is $79 per hour — Educator earns 19% more.
| Specialty | Average Hourly Salary | Max Hourly Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Educator | $93 | $101 |
| Perioperative | $89 | $111 |
| OR - Operating Room | $88 | $106 |
| Trauma ICU | $84 | $100 |
| SICU - Surgical Intensive Care | $84 | $100 |
| Surgical ICU Stepdown | $84 | $100 |
| Labor and Delivery | $81 | $105 |
How does the pay for Registered Nurses in California compare to nearby states?
Nevada pays Registered Nurses the most, averaging $68 per hour, followed by New Mexico ($59) and Colorado ($57). Nevada also has the highest ceiling, with max hourly pay reaching $77. For comparison, the California average for Registered Nurses is $79 per hour — Nevada pays 14% less.
| Average Hourly Salary | Max Hourly Salary | |
|---|---|---|
| Nevada | $68 | $77 |
| New Mexico | $59 | $72 |
| Colorado | $57 | $63 |
| Texas | $51 | $60 |
| Idaho | $49 | $52 |
| Arizona | $48 | $55 |
| Oregon | $45 | $59 |
| Utah | $42 | $45 |
| Montana | $33 | $44 |
What are the highest paying Employers and Agencies for Registered Nurse jobs in California?
Tenet North Cal pays Registered Nurses the most, averaging $72 per hour, followed by Perm Staff Jobs ($70) and Patterns Hiring - Perm ($69). Perm Staff Jobs has the highest ceiling, with max hourly pay reaching $114. For comparison, the California average for Registered Nurses is $79 per hour — Tenet North Cal pays 9% less.
| Average Hourly Salary | Max Hourly Salary | |
|---|---|---|
| Tenet North Cal | $72 | $98 |
| Perm Staff Jobs | $70 | $114 |
| Patterns Hiring - Perm | $69 | $69 |
| Adventist Health | $67 | $87 |
| Tenet Desert | $67 | $98 |
| Community Medical Centers | $64 | $111 |
| CoreCivic | $57 | $57 |
| CoreMedical Group Perm | $56 | $57 |
Last updated on October 6, 2026. Information based on active jobs on Vivian.com and pay data from BLS and around the web.
Top Registered Nurse Jobs
Director Registered Nurse (RN) - ICU - Intensive Care Unit
- CoreMedical Group Perm
- Mission Viejo, CA
- 5x8 hrs
$250K-280K/year
approximately $120-135/hrRegistered Nurse (RN) - Oncology
- Good Samaritan Hospital
- San Jose, CA
$91-137/hour
Registered Nurse (RN) - Labor and Delivery
- Good Samaritan Hospital
- San Jose, CA
$91-137/hour
Director Registered Nurse (RN) - Stepdown
- Community Regional Medical Center
- Fresno, CA
- 5x8 hrs, Days
$98-125/hour
Manager Registered Nurse (RN) - OR - Operating Room
- CoreMedical Group Perm
- Santa Rosa, CA
- 5x8 hrs
$167K-265K/year
approximately $80-128/hrGet alerts about new jobs and salary trends in California
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