Highest registered nurse salaries in California, by employer, 2025
University of California, San Francisco pays California's highest average total pay for registered nurses: $246,392 for those who worked the full year in 2025, against a state average of $181,164. It also has the highest base pay ($213,313) and starting salary ($177,042).
Where do registered nurses earn the most in California?
The 25 public employers with the highest average total pay of full-year registered nurses, overtime included. Nurse practitioners and LVNs aren't in these figures.
Highest average total pay
- University of California, San FranciscoUniversity of California campus
3,484 full-year registered nurses$246,392 - Santa Clara CountyCounty government; most in a health system
1,889 full-year registered nurses$242,999 - San FranciscoCity government; most in a health system
1,470 full-year registered nurses$240,719 - Alameda Health SystemHealth care district in Alameda County; most in hospitals
858 full-year registered nurses$234,717 - Contra Costa CountyCounty government; most in hospitals
615 full-year registered nurses$207,342 - San Mateo CountyCounty government; most in hospitals
316 full-year registered nurses$203,980 - University of California, DavisUniversity of California campus
2,633 full-year registered nurses$200,401 - San Benito Health Care DistrictHealth care district in San Benito County; most in hospitals
55 full-year registered nurses$195,149 - Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare DistrictHealth care district in Monterey County; most in hospitals
285 full-year registered nurses$187,968 - University of California, IrvineUniversity of California campus
2,898 full-year registered nurses$185,774 - San Joaquin CountyCounty government; most in hospitals
409 full-year registered nurses$183,905 - Monterey CountyCounty government; most in hospitals
288 full-year registered nurses$178,346 - Alameda CountyCounty government; most in public health
113 full-year registered nurses$176,849 - University of California, Los AngelesUniversity of California campus
2,940 full-year registered nurses$175,376 - University of California, San DiegoUniversity of California campus
2,889 full-year registered nurses$172,285 - Marin CountyCounty government; most in behavioral health
21 full-year registered nurses$167,321 - Washington Township Health Care DistrictHealth care district in Alameda County; most in hospitals
792 full-year registered nurses$166,945 - California Department of State HospitalsState department; most in state hospitals
1,168 full-year registered nurses$160,251 - California Department of Corrections and RehabilitationState department; most in state prisons
1,458 full-year registered nurses$159,562 - Sacramento CountyCounty government; most in jails and juvenile halls
150 full-year registered nurses$158,744 - Ventura CountyCounty government; most in a health system
452 full-year registered nurses$158,583 - San Diego CountyCounty government; most in jails and juvenile halls
505 full-year registered nurses$158,228 - California Correctional Health Care ServicesState department; most in state prisons
445 full-year registered nurses$156,532 - Sonoma CountyCounty government; most in public health
40 full-year registered nurses$156,408 - Los AngelesCity government
28 full-year registered nurses$154,840
Highest registered nurse base pay in California
Average base pay of full-year registered nurses, without overtime and other pay: closer to what the job pays for a regular schedule.
Highest average base pay
- University of California, San FranciscoUniversity of California campus
3,484 full-year registered nurses$213,313 - San FranciscoCity government; most in a health system
1,470 full-year registered nurses$207,589 - Santa Clara CountyCounty government; most in a health system
1,889 full-year registered nurses$204,325 - Alameda Health SystemHealth care district in Alameda County; most in hospitals
858 full-year registered nurses$200,397 - University of California, DavisUniversity of California campus
2,633 full-year registered nurses$181,511 - San Mateo CountyCounty government; most in hospitals
316 full-year registered nurses$176,920 - Contra Costa CountyCounty government; most in hospitals
615 full-year registered nurses$175,784 - Alameda CountyCounty government; most in public health
113 full-year registered nurses$170,519 - Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare DistrictHealth care district in Monterey County; most in hospitals
285 full-year registered nurses$163,604 - San Benito Health Care DistrictHealth care district in San Benito County; most in hospitals
55 full-year registered nurses$158,221 - University of California, Los AngelesUniversity of California campus
2,940 full-year registered nurses$157,114 - University of California, IrvineUniversity of California campus
2,898 full-year registered nurses$155,282 - University of California, San DiegoUniversity of California campus
2,889 full-year registered nurses$155,055 - Washington Township Health Care DistrictHealth care district in Alameda County; most in hospitals
792 full-year registered nurses$154,321 - Marin CountyCounty government; most in behavioral health
21 full-year registered nurses$153,223 - University of California, BerkeleyUniversity of California campus
12 full-year registered nurses$148,254 - Sonoma CountyCounty government; most in public health
40 full-year registered nurses$147,606 - Monterey CountyCounty government; most in hospitals
288 full-year registered nurses$147,403 - San Joaquin CountyCounty government; most in hospitals
409 full-year registered nurses$146,192 - Santa Cruz CountyCounty government; most in public health
41 full-year registered nurses$142,588 - Sacramento CountyCounty government; most in jails and juvenile halls
150 full-year registered nurses$138,078 - Los AngelesCity government
28 full-year registered nurses$136,418 - Kern CountyCounty government; most in public health
65 full-year registered nurses$132,239 - Orange CountyCounty government; most in a health system
291 full-year registered nurses$131,903 - Napa CountyCounty government; most in public health
7 full-year registered nurses$130,795
Which California public employers pay new nurses the most?
The bottom of the official pay range for each employer's plain staff nurse title (such as Registered Nurse I or Clinical Nurse I), as reported.
Highest starting salary
- University of California, San FranciscoUniversity of California campus
3,484 full-year registered nurses$177,042 - San FranciscoCity government; most in a health system
1,470 full-year registered nurses$168,142 - Contra Costa CountyCounty government; most in hospitals
615 full-year registered nurses$155,797 - San Mateo CountyCounty government; most in hospitals
316 full-year registered nurses$152,859 - Santa Clara CountyCounty government; most in a health system
1,889 full-year registered nurses$150,028 - University of California, DavisUniversity of California campus
2,633 full-year registered nurses$146,598 - Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare DistrictHealth care district in Monterey County; most in hospitals
285 full-year registered nurses$144,123 - BerkeleyCity in Alameda County
3 full-year registered nurses$138,845 - San Benito Health Care DistrictHealth care district in San Benito County; most in hospitals
55 full-year registered nurses$136,614 - University of California, IrvineUniversity of California campus
2,898 full-year registered nurses$130,646 - University of California, San DiegoUniversity of California campus
2,889 full-year registered nurses$126,408 - Monterey CountyCounty government; most in hospitals
288 full-year registered nurses$122,620 - University of California, Los AngelesUniversity of California campus
2,940 full-year registered nurses$122,044 - Soledad Community Health Care DistrictHealth care district in Monterey County; most in hospitals
1 full-year registered nurses$121,992 - California Correctional Health Care ServicesState department; most in state prisons
445 full-year registered nurses$119,820 - California Department of Corrections and RehabilitationState department; most in state prisons
1,458 full-year registered nurses$119,820 - Alameda CountyCounty government; most in public health
113 full-year registered nurses$118,997 - Santa Cruz CountyCounty government; most in public health
41 full-year registered nurses$118,768 - Alameda Health SystemHealth care district in Alameda County; most in hospitals
858 full-year registered nurses$117,777 - California Department of Developmental ServicesState department
25 full-year registered nurses$114,120 - California Department of State HospitalsState department; most in state hospitals
1,168 full-year registered nurses$114,120 - California Department of Veterans AffairsState department; most in veterans homes
160 full-year registered nurses$114,120 - California Emergency Medical Services AuthorityState department$114,120
- Napa CountyCounty government; most in public health
7 full-year registered nurses$113,926 - San Joaquin CountyCounty government; most in hospitals
409 full-year registered nurses$110,556
Where do California nurses earn the most overtime?
Average overtime paid to full-year registered nurses in 2025. A few people with a lot of overtime can pull an employer's average up.
Highest average overtime
- California Department of State HospitalsState department; most in state hospitals
1,168 full-year registered nurses$36,063 - Last Frontier Health DistrictHealth care district in Modoc County; most in hospitals
7 full-year registered nurses$29,742 - Alameda Health SystemHealth care district in Alameda County; most in hospitals
858 full-year registered nurses$28,421 - California Department of Corrections and RehabilitationState department; most in state prisons
1,458 full-year registered nurses$27,883 - California Correctional Health Care ServicesState department; most in state prisons
445 full-year registered nurses$26,948 - San Benito Health Care DistrictHealth care district in San Benito County; most in hospitals
55 full-year registered nurses$25,724 - San Joaquin CountyCounty government; most in hospitals
409 full-year registered nurses$21,379 - San Diego CountyCounty government; most in jails and juvenile halls
505 full-year registered nurses$21,335 - California Department of Veterans AffairsState department; most in veterans homes
160 full-year registered nurses$20,273 - Sierra View Local Health Care DistrictHealth care district in Tulare County; most in hospitals
129 full-year registered nurses$18,112 - Palomar Health DistrictHealth care district in San Diego County; most in hospitals
491 full-year registered nurses$17,949 - Santa Clara CountyCounty government; most in a health system
1,889 full-year registered nurses$16,296 - Los AngelesCity government
28 full-year registered nurses$15,854 - Antelope Valley Healthcare DistrictHealth care district in Los Angeles County; most in hospitals
387 full-year registered nurses$15,540 - San FranciscoCity government; most in a health system
1,470 full-year registered nurses$15,418 - University of California, IrvineUniversity of California campus
2,898 full-year registered nurses$15,129 - Ventura CountyCounty government; most in a health system
452 full-year registered nurses$13,714 - Monterey CountyCounty government; most in hospitals
288 full-year registered nurses$12,869 - Riverside CountyCounty government; most in clinics
1,180 full-year registered nurses$12,850 - California Department of Developmental ServicesState department
25 full-year registered nurses$12,663 - Sacramento CountyCounty government; most in jails and juvenile halls
150 full-year registered nurses$12,123 - San Mateo CountyCounty government; most in hospitals
316 full-year registered nurses$11,854 - University of California, San FranciscoUniversity of California campus
3,484 full-year registered nurses$11,665 - Lompoc Hospital DistrictHealth care district in Santa Barbara County; most in hospitals
95 full-year registered nurses$11,207 - Oak Valley Hospital DistrictHealth care district in Stanislaus County; most in hospitals
37 full-year registered nurses$10,830
Do University of California campuses, counties or health care districts pay nurses more in California?
By the middle employer's average total pay: $175,376 for University of California campuses (7 employers), $150,595 for state departments (6 employers), $136,946 for health care districts (19 employers) and $133,556 for counties (36 employers). Of the 25 best-paying employers, 11 are counties, 5 University of California campuses, 4 health care districts and 3 state departments.
- University of California campuses
- $175,376
- middle campus's average, of 7; 5 in the top 25
- State departments
- $150,595
- middle state department's average, of 6; 3 in the top 25
- Health care districts
- $136,946
- middle health care district's average, of 19; 4 in the top 25
- Counties
- $133,556
- middle county's average, of 36; 11 in the top 25
Which California counties pay registered nurses the most?
Average total pay of full-year registered nurses across every employer in the county, for the 42 counties with at least 5 of them. The dashed line marks the California average of $181,164.
The highest-paying employer for registered nurses in each California county
By average total pay of full-year registered nurses, among the county's employers with at least 5 of them.
- Alameda CountyAlameda Health System$234,717highest of 4
- Butte CountyButte County$103,258only employer with an average
- Contra Costa CountyContra Costa County$207,342only employer with an average
- El Dorado CountyEl Dorado County$100,329only employer with an average
- Fresno CountyFresno County$117,883only employer with an average
- Humboldt CountyHumboldt County$109,295only employer with an average
- Imperial CountyImperial County$95,597only employer with an average
- Inyo CountyNorthern Inyo Healthcare District$132,872only employer with an average
- Kern CountyKern County$143,230highest of 2
- Kings CountyKings County$98,491only employer with an average
- Los Angeles CountyUniversity of California, Los Angeles$175,376highest of 5
- Madera CountyMadera County$93,165only employer with an average
- Marin CountyMarin County$167,321only employer with an average
- Merced CountyMerced County$103,768only employer with an average
- Modoc CountyLast Frontier Health District$150,206only employer with an average
- Mono CountySouthern Mono Health Care District$140,145only employer with an average
- Monterey CountySalinas Valley Memorial Healthcare District$187,968highest of 2
- Napa CountyNapa County$133,171only employer with an average
- Nevada CountyNevada County$112,516only employer with an average
- Orange CountyUniversity of California, Irvine$185,774highest of 2
- Placer CountyPlacer County$114,996only employer with an average
- Plumas CountyEastern Plumas Health Care District$131,099highest of 2
- Riverside CountyRiverside County$150,378only employer with an average
- Sacramento CountySacramento County$158,744highest of 2
- San Benito CountySan Benito Health Care District$195,149only employer with an average
- San Bernardino CountySan Bernardino County$138,923highest of 2
- San Diego CountyUniversity of California, San Diego$172,285highest of 4
- San Francisco CountyUniversity of California, San Francisco$246,392highest of 2
- San Joaquin CountySan Joaquin County$183,905only employer with an average
- San Luis Obispo CountySan Luis Obispo County$116,809only employer with an average
- San Mateo CountySan Mateo County$203,980only employer with an average
- Santa Barbara CountySanta Barbara County$130,440highest of 3
- Santa Clara CountySanta Clara County$242,999only employer with an average
- Santa Cruz CountySanta Cruz County$144,769only employer with an average
- Shasta CountyShasta County$100,528only employer with an average
- Solano CountySolano County$133,941only employer with an average
- Sonoma CountySonoma County$156,408highest of 2
- Stanislaus CountyStanislaus County$120,232highest of 2
- Sutter CountySutter County$95,592only employer with an average
- Tulare CountySierra View Local Health Care District$136,946highest of 3
- Ventura CountyVentura County$158,583only employer with an average
- Yolo CountyYolo County$129,552only employer with an average
Questions about the highest registered nurse salaries in California
Which California public employer pays nurses the most?
University of California, San Francisco, where full-year registered nurses earned an average of $246,392 in 2025, overtime included. Santa Clara County ($242,999) and San Francisco ($240,719) follow.
Where do new grad nurses earn the most in California?
The highest starting salary, the bottom of the official range for the staff nurse title, is at University of California, San Francisco: $177,042. San Francisco ($168,142) and Contra Costa County ($155,797) follow.
Where do nurses earn the most overtime in California?
Full-year registered nurses at California Department of State Hospitals were paid an average of $36,063 in overtime in 2025, the most of any California public employer with at least 5 of them. The California average is $13,085.
Which California county pays nurses the most?
San Francisco County, where full-year registered nurses across its local public employers earned an average of $244,709, followed by Santa Clara County ($242,999) and Contra Costa County ($207,342). State departments and UC Davis aren't in county figures.
Sources for the California registered nurse rankings
Pay figures cover people who worked roughly the full year: those whose regular pay reached at least 90% of the bottom of their official range. Total pay is gross wages before tax, including overtime, lump sums and other pay. Every figure covers at least 5 people. Starting salaries are the bottom of each employer's official range for its entry title, as reported. The University of California reported no ranges, so its campuses' ranges come from its contract with the California Nurses Association: the wage tables effective January 2025. Rankings and medians are our own arithmetic on these figures.
- State Controller's Office, Government Compensation in California, 2025: positions, official pay ranges and wages as reported by each city, county, special district, state department and University of California campus.
- University of California and California Nurses Association, Registered Nurses (NX) contract, Appendix A: wage tables: each campus's hourly rates effective January 2025, lowest to highest step; yearly figures are the hourly rate times 2,088 hours, the tables' monthly rate times 12.