Salaries › Registered Nurse › California
Registered Nurse Salary in California (2026)
$67.44 per hour · take-home ≈ $98,172/year ($8,181/month) for a single filer
Registered Nurse pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $101,260 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $122,440 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $140,270 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $173,170 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $213,320 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 338,940 Registered Nurse jobs in California (occupation code 29-1141, “Registered Nurses”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Registered Nurse salary of $140,270 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $98,172 — an effective tax rate of 30.0%.
| Gross (median) | $140,270 |
| Federal income tax | −$22,399 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$10,731 |
| California state income tax | −$8,969 |
| Take-home (annual) | $98,172 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $8,181 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Registered Nurse make in California?
- The median Registered Nurse salary in California is $140,270 per year ($67.44 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $122,440 and $173,170.
- What is the take-home pay for a Registered Nurse in California?
- On the median salary of $140,270, a single filer in California takes home about $98,172 per year ($8,181 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 30.0%.
- How many Registered Nurse jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 338,940 Registered Nurse jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Registered Nurses
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.