Registered Nurse Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Registered Nurses in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $135,560 a year — 39% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $93,781 take-home, or $7,815 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$21,268
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,405
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,966
- California income tax$8,377
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,762
- Take-home pay$93,781
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $100,980 | $48.55 | $73,395 | $6,116 |
| 25th percentile | $112,070 | $53.88 | $80,021 | $6,668 |
| Median (50th) | $135,560 | $65.17 | $93,781 | $7,815 |
| 75th percentile | $167,800 | $80.67 | $112,400 | $9,367 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $174,200 | $83.75 | $116,096 | $9,675 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $135,560 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median registered nurse's $93,781 take-home pay has the buying power of $82,579 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 less concentrated in Los Angeles, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.80), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #39 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 |
| 39 | Los Angeles, CA | $135,560 | $93,781 | $82,579 |
*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 Los Angeles, CA?
The median registered nurse salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $135,560 a year, or about $65.17 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $112,070 and $167,800.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $135,560 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $93,781 a year ($7,815 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $10,140 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 39% above the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $82,579 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #39 of 370 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 29% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Psychiatrist — $239,200+
- Physicians, All Other — $196,760
- Pediatricians, General — $176,900
- Radiation Therapist — $169,150
- Physician Assistant — $161,890
- Nurse Practitioner — $161,470
- Veterinarian — $160,080
- Pharmacist — $157,440
- Nuclear Medicine Technologist — $156,410
- Dentists, General — $139,990
- Optometrist — $138,940
- Audiologist — $128,110