Nurse Practitioner Salary in San Diego, CA
Nurse Practitioners in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $163,860 a year — 24% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $110,125 take-home, or $9,177 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median nurse practitioner salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$28,060
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,159
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,376
- California income tax$11,009
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,130
- Take-home pay$110,125
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Nurse Practitioner pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $131,380 | $63.16 | $91,368 | $7,614 |
| 25th percentile | $135,410 | $65.10 | $93,695 | $7,808 |
| Median (50th) | $163,860 | $78.78 | $110,125 | $9,177 |
| 75th percentile | $181,120 | $87.08 | $120,092 | $10,008 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $215,640 | $103.67 | $141,818 | $11,818 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $163,860 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 nurse practitioner's $110,125 take-home pay has the buying power of $98,425 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Nurse Practitioner jobs are less concentrated in San Diego, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.73), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for nurse practitioners, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #68 of 117 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $231,560 | $150,760 | $136,530 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $219,080 | $143,890 | $124,458 |
| 3 | Killeen, TX | $138,670 | $106,047 | $116,366 |
| 4 | Tulsa, OK | $139,460 | $100,857 | $113,050 |
| 5 | Sioux Falls, SD | $130,390 | $100,388 | $110,765 |
| 6 | McAllen, TX | $122,550 | $95,029 | $110,634 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $144,060 | $109,731 | $109,496 |
| 8 | Fresno, CA | $166,570 | $111,690 | $109,330 |
| 68 | San Diego, CA | $163,860 | $110,125 | $98,425 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 117 metros →
Nurse Practitioner salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $231,560
- San Francisco, CA — $219,080
- Fresno, CA — $166,570
- Sacramento, CA — $172,010
- Riverside, CA — $169,920
- Los Angeles, CA — $161,470
Frequently asked questions
How much does a nurse practitioner make in San Diego, CA?
The median nurse practitioner salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $163,860 a year, or about $78.78 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $135,410 and $181,120.
What is a nurse practitioner’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $163,860 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $110,125 a year ($9,177 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $13,140 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a nurse practitioner?
Pay here is 24% above the national median of $132,300. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $98,425 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #68 of 117 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a nurse practitioner 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) — 27% of a median nurse practitioner’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+
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Pediatricians, General — $239,200+
- Physician Assistant — $165,160
- Pharmacist — $165,130
- Veterinarian — $159,750
- Dentists, General — $158,160
- Registered Nurse — $139,520
- Optometrist — $133,280
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $129,630
- Dental Hygienist — $123,790
- Occupational Therapist — $121,680