Registered Nurse Salary in San Diego, CA
Registered Nurses in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $139,520 a year — 43% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $96,068 take-home, or $8,006 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$22,219
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,650
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,023
- California income tax$8,746
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,814
- Take-home pay$96,068
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 San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $102,480 | $49.27 | $74,291 | $6,191 |
| 25th percentile | $128,380 | $61.72 | $89,635 | $7,470 |
| Median (50th) | $139,520 | $67.08 | $96,068 | $8,006 |
| 75th percentile | $169,920 | $81.69 | $113,624 | $9,469 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $175,210 | $84.24 | $116,679 | $9,723 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $139,520 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median registered nurse's $96,068 take-home pay has the buying power of $85,862 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 San Diego, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.86).
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #20 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 |
| 20 | San Diego, CA | $139,520 | $96,068 | $85,862 |
*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 San Diego, CA?
The median registered nurse salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $139,520 a year, or about $67.08 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $128,380 and $169,920.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $139,520 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $96,068 a year ($8,006 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $10,560 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 43% above the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $85,862 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #20 of 206 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 31% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Pharmacist — $165,130
- Physical Therapist — $113,850
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $79,720
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $63,770
- Pharmacy Technician — $54,500