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California offers the highest nursing salaries in the United States. Explore RN, NP, ICU, ER, and travel nursing positions at top hospitals and health systems across the Golden State.
$130K+
Average RN Salary
47,000+
Open Positions
Top 5
Best States for Nurses
12%
Projected Growth by 2030
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
$70,000–$105,000
Apply NowRegistered nurses in California earn an average of $130,000–$160,000 per year, with specialized roles like nurse anesthetists and nurse practitioners reaching $180,000–$220,000. Salaries vary by city, with San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego offering the highest compensation.
Major employers actively hiring include Kaiser Permanente, Cedars-Sinai, Stanford Health Care, UCLA Health, Scripps Health, and Dignity Health. The California Department of Public Health also lists hundreds of state and county health positions.
Yes. California requires an active RN license issued by the California Board of Registered Nursing. If you hold a license from another state, you can apply for licensure by endorsement, which typically takes 6–10 weeks. International nurses must pass the NCLEX-RN and meet English proficiency requirements.
ICU, emergency department, operating room, labor and delivery, and travel nursing are the highest-demand specialties. Behavioral health, oncology, and home health nursing are also seeing strong growth due to California's aging population.
Yes. Telehealth nursing, case management, utilization review, and nurse educator roles are increasingly offered as remote or hybrid positions. Companies like Teladoc, MDLive, and major health systems all hire California-licensed nurses for remote work.
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