Where are nurses paid the most in California? See salaries by city

California is home to many of the highest-paying cities for nurses, according to a new report.

Where you begin your nursing career can have a big impact on both your salary and long-term job stability, according to University of West Alabama Online, which offers a range of degree programs.

“As health care systems respond to staffing shortages and population growth, registered nurses are evaluating which regions offer the strongest financial and professional opportunities,” the university said in its April 7 report.

California was home to 22 of the top 25 cities that offer the highest salaries for registered nurses, the study found.

Here’s where nurses are earning the most:

How much do registered nurses earn in the US?

Using wage data from 2019 to 2024, the University of West Alabama Online analyzed where nurses are earning the most in the United States.

Nationwide, the average annual pay for registered nurses has risen about 27%, climbing from $77,460 in 2019 to $98,430 in 2024.

“This steady rise in average salary highlights the increasing value of nursing professionals across health care facilities and health systems,” the University of West Alabama Online said.

The report found that nurses in California earn the highest wages in the country, making at least 26% more than the national average of $98,430 a year.

Which California city pays nurses the most?

According to University of West Alabama Online, registered nurses working in California earn the most in San Jose.

Nurses in the Silicon Valley city earn an annual salary of $189,880, “nearly double the national average,” the online university said.

What are top 10 cities for nursing salaries?

Here are the top 10 California metropolitan areas where registered nurses earn the most, along with their average annual salaries:

1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara — $189,880 a year
2. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont — $178,450
3. Vallejo — $175,620
4. Santa Rosa-Petaluma — $171,490
5. Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom — $163,020
6. Santa Cruz-Watsonville — $159,540
7. Modesto — $154,140
8. Yuba City — $146,470
9. San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles — $144,320
10. Salinas — $143,410

“While these figures reflect strong earning potential, prospective students should also weigh the cost of living, particularly in high-paying states like California,” the online university said. “A high RN salary may stretch differently depending on housing, transportation and daily expenses.”

Where do nurses make the least in the US?

According to University of West Alabama Online, here’s where registered nurses make the lowest annual salaries in the country:

1. Dothan, Alabama — $67,520 a year
2. Florence-Muscle Shoals, Alabama — $68,850
3. Decatur, Alabama — $69,030
4. Gadsden, Alabama — $69,620
5. Anniston-Oxford, Alabama — $70,740
6. Sioux Falls, South Dakota-Minnesota — $71,060
7. Springfield, Missouri — $72,290
8. Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Iowa — $72,440
9. Jackson, Tennessee — $73,030
10. Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, Alabama — $73,150

Though these cities pay less, the online university said, “they often also come with significantly lower costs of living.”

How did West Alabama university come up with rankings?

The University of West Alabama Online said it analyzed data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Projections Central to compare nurse pay across major cities and states.

The university focused on the most recent wage data available from 2019 through 2024.

Angela Rodriguez

The Modesto Bee

279-386-2738

Angela Rodriguez is a service journalism reporter for The Bee. She is a graduate of Sacramento State with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. During her time there, she worked on the State Hornet covering arts and entertainment.