Registered Nurses Salary in California
Median annual wage in California: $140,270 +43.8% vs national
California vs United States
| California | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $140,270 | $97,550 |
| Median hourly | $67.44 | $46.90 |
| Employment | 338,940 | 3,379,720 |
| Location quotient | 0.86 | 1.00 |
Data source: BLS OES state file (California) · U.S. BLS OES, May 2024 (updated April 2025)
The numbers in context
At $67.44 per hour, a full-time schedule (2,080 hours per year) works out to roughly $140,275 — in line with the reported median annual wage of $140,270.
Employment density in California is 0.86x the national average — a below-average concentration of these roles in the local economy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average registered nurses salary in California?
The median annual wage in California is $140,270 ($67.44 per hour), per BLS OES May 2024 data.
How does California compare to the national average for registered nurses?
The California median of $140,270 is 43.8% higher than the U.S. median of $97,550.
How many registered nurses work in California?
Approximately 338,940 are employed in California, per BLS OES.