Nurse Practitioner Salary in San Francisco, CA
Nurse Practitioners in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $219,080 a year — 66% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $143,890 take-home, or $11,991 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median nurse practitioner salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$41,410
- Social Security (6.2%)$11,439
- Medicare (1.45%)$3,348
- California income tax$16,145
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,848
- Take-home pay$143,890
Marginal rate: 32% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Nurse Practitioner pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $153,280 | $73.69 | $104,015 | $8,668 |
| 25th percentile | $176,490 | $84.85 | $117,419 | $9,785 |
| Median (50th) | $219,080 | $105.33 | $143,890 | $11,991 |
| 75th percentile | $241,910+ | $116.30 | $156,458 | $13,038 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $273,960+ | $131.71 | $174,053 | $14,504 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $219,080 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median nurse practitioner's $143,890 take-home pay has the buying power of $124,458 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 Francisco, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.63), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for nurse practitioners, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #1 of 24 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $219,080 | $143,890 | $124,458 |
| 2 | Houston, TX | $134,560 | $103,238 | $104,673 |
| 3 | Cleveland, OH | $130,800 | $97,853 | $104,184 |
| 4 | Kansas City, MO | $130,760 | $95,432 | $103,122 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $163,340 | $114,312 | $101,554 |
| 6 | Cincinnati, OH | $128,700 | $96,476 | $101,159 |
| 7 | Indianapolis, IN | $130,460 | $96,616 | $100,962 |
| 8 | St. Louis, MO | $131,580 | $95,954 | $100,911 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 24 metros →
About the job: nurse practitioners
Diagnose and treat acute, episodic, or chronic illness, independently or as part of a healthcare team. May focus on health promotion and disease prevention. May order, perform, or interpret diagnostic tests such as lab work and x rays. May prescribe medication. Must be registered nurses who have specialized graduate education.
- Typical education
- Master's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +41.0% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Nurse Practitioner salaries elsewhere in California
- Los Angeles, CA — $161,470
Frequently asked questions
How much does a nurse practitioner make in San Francisco, CA?
The median nurse practitioner salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $219,080 a year, or about $105.33 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $176,490 and $239,200+.
What is a nurse practitioner’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $219,080 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $143,890 a year ($11,991 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $18,993 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a nurse practitioner?
Pay here is 66% above the national median of $132,300. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $124,458 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #1 of 24 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a nurse practitioner afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 22% of a median nurse practitioner’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Francisco, CA
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Registered Nurse — $186,610
- Pharmacist — $177,410
- Dental Hygienist — $146,760
- Physical Therapist — $141,980
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $141,780
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $94,310
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $84,130
- Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other — $71,360
- Pharmacy Technician — $60,550
- Emergency Medical Technician — $51,480