Registered Nurse Salary in Riverside, CA
Registered Nurses in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $133,940 a year — 37% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $92,846 take-home, or $7,737 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,880
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,304
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,942
- California income tax$8,227
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,741
- Take-home pay$92,846
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $100,510 | $48.32 | $73,114 | $6,093 |
| 25th percentile | $107,730 | $51.79 | $77,428 | $6,452 |
| Median (50th) | $133,940 | $64.39 | $92,846 | $7,737 |
| 75th percentile | $165,500 | $79.57 | $111,072 | $9,256 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $172,900 | $83.13 | $115,345 | $9,612 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $133,940 buys in Riverside, CA
Prices in Riverside, CA are 6.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.29× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median registered nurse's $92,846 take-home pay has the buying power of $87,227 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Registered Nurse jobs are about as common in Riverside, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.95).
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Riverside, CA ranks #15 of 206 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $216,740 | $142,511 | $129,059 |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $203,290 | $134,031 | $123,555 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $174,550 | $116,298 | $107,899 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $171,460 | $114,514 | $107,353 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $186,610 | $123,394 | $106,730 |
| 6 | Bend, OR | $135,010 | $92,480 | $89,260 |
| 7 | Bakersfield, CA | $128,810 | $89,883 | $89,094 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $128,260 | $98,932 | $89,021 |
| 15 | Riverside, CA | $133,940 | $92,846 | $87,227 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 206 metros →
About the job: registered nurses
Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.6% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Registered Nurse salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $216,740
- Vallejo, CA — $203,290
- Santa Rosa, CA — $174,550
- Sacramento, CA — $171,460
- San Francisco, CA — $186,610
- Bakersfield, CA — $128,810
- Stockton, CA — $134,580
- Modesto, CA — $132,590
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Riverside, CA?
The median registered nurse salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $133,940 a year, or about $64.39 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $107,730 and $165,500.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $133,940 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $92,846 a year ($7,737 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $9,968 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 37% above the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $87,227 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #15 of 206 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Riverside, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Riverside, CA is $1,777 a month ($2,201 for two bedrooms) — 23% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Riverside, CA
- Pharmacist — $161,870
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $76,970
- Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other — $57,030
- Pharmacy Technician — $50,270