Registered Nurse Salary in Fresno, CA
Registered Nurses in the Fresno, CA metro area earn a median $125,420 a year — 29% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $87,926 take-home, or $7,327 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in Fresno, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$18,835
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,776
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,819
- California income tax$7,434
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,630
- Take-home pay$87,926
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Fresno, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $89,890 | $43.22 | $66,769 | $5,564 |
| 25th percentile | $106,110 | $51.01 | $76,460 | $6,372 |
| Median (50th) | $125,420 | $60.30 | $87,926 | $7,327 |
| 75th percentile | $141,450 | $68.00 | $97,183 | $8,099 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $167,160 | $80.37 | $112,030 | $9,336 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $125,420 buys in Fresno, CA
Prices in Fresno, CA are 2.2% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 4% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median registered nurse's $87,926 take-home pay has the buying power of $86,068 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 Fresno, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.06).
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Fresno, CA ranks #29 of 370 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 | Santa Cruz, CA | $170,960 | $114,225 | $103,939 |
| 7 | Yuba City, CA | $149,320 | $101,728 | $97,597 |
| 8 | Olympia, WA | $125,020 | $96,717 | $93,293 |
| 29 | Fresno, CA | $125,420 | $87,926 | $86,068 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 370 metros →
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
- Santa Cruz, CA — $170,960
- Yuba City, CA — $149,320
- Merced, CA — $131,620
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Fresno, CA?
The median registered nurse salary in the Fresno, CA metro area is $125,420 a year, or about $60.30 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $106,110 and $141,450.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Fresno, CA?
On the median $125,420 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $87,926 a year ($7,327 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $9,065 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Fresno, CA a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 29% above the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 2.2% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $86,068 would in a typical U.S. city. Fresno, CA ranks #29 of 370 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Fresno, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Fresno, CA is $1,315 a month ($1,625 for two bedrooms) — 18% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Fresno, CA
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Pharmacist — $169,160
- Nurse Practitioner — $166,570
- Physical Therapist — $123,820
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $110,960
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $107,350
- Dental Hygienist — $101,730
- Respiratory Therapist — $83,340
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $75,580
- Surgical Technologist — $64,380
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $62,160
- Psychiatric Technician — $53,680