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Registered nurse salary in California

How much does a Registered Nurse make in California?

Average base salary

$55.28
24%
above national average
Average $55.28
Low $34.22
High $89.31

The average salary for a registered nurse is $55.28 per hour in California and $14,688 overtime per year.20.3k salaries taken from job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months (updated July 26, 2026).

What Does a Registered Nurse Do?

A neonatal nurse is a healthcare professional who focuses on the care of newborn infants during the first weeks of their lives. These professionals typically provide focused care for newborns who are ill or premature in the NICU setting, but may also care for healthy infants in a newborn nursery. Neonatal nurses may serve as the bridge between the specialist and the parent when working with the newborn. Some of a neonatal nurse’s additional responsibilities may include:
  • Attending deliveries to assess infants or provide care immediately after birth
  • Providing basic care to infants after birth by weighing and measuring them, bathing them and monitoring their condition
  • Monitoring infants and providing specialized care after birth, including starting and maintaining IV lines, managing ventilators and assessing vital signs
  • Assisting doctors in the NICU with intensive care procedures using specialized equipment such as incubators, ventilators, surgery and other support equipment
  • Teaching new parents about caring for their newborn and helping mothers learn to breastfeed
Learn more about what a Registered Nurse does

Registered Nurse job openings in California

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Registered Nurse (PCU-Intermit...
US Department of Veterans Affairs3.8out of 5 stars.
Los Angeles, CA
$111,502 - $190,737 a year
Full-time
11 hours ago

Highest paying companies for Registered Nurse in California

Average year pay is based on job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months.
Comfort Choice Hospice Care
 
$452,400per year
View company
Sadiant Health LLC
 
$342,875per year
Distinctive Home & Health Care
 
$332,800per year
MGA Homecare
 
$325,867per year
American Hospice and Home Heal...
 
$312,000per year
TactStaff
 
$260,000per year

Highest paying cities for Registered Nurses near California

  1. Oakland, CA
    $70.27 per hour
  2. San Francisco, CA
    $67.50 per hour
  3. Orange, CA
    $65.80 per hour
  4. Sacramento, CA
    $62.84 per hour
  5. Whittier, CA
    $59.75 per hour

Where can a Registered Nurse earn more?

Compare salaries for Registered Nurses in different locations
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Registered Nurse

How much do similar professions as Registered Nurse get paid in California?

Registered Nurse II

Job openings
Average $71.90 per hour