Registered Nurse Salary in Riverside, CA
Registered Nurses in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $133,940 a year — 37% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $92,846 take-home, or $7,737 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,880
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,304
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,942
- California income tax$8,227
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,741
- Take-home pay$92,846
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 Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $100,510 | $48.32 | $73,114 | $6,093 |
| 25th percentile | $107,730 | $51.79 | $77,428 | $6,452 |
| Median (50th) | $133,940 | $64.39 | $92,846 | $7,737 |
| 75th percentile | $165,500 | $79.57 | $111,072 | $9,256 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $172,900 | $83.13 | $115,345 | $9,612 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $133,940 buys in Riverside, CA
Prices in Riverside, CA are 6.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.29× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median registered nurse's $92,846 take-home pay has the buying power of $87,227 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 Riverside, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.95).
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Riverside, CA ranks #15 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 |
| 15 | Riverside, CA | $133,940 | $92,846 | $87,227 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 206 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
- Bakersfield, CA — $128,810
- Stockton, CA — $134,580
- Modesto, CA — $132,590
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Riverside, CA?
The median registered nurse salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $133,940 a year, or about $64.39 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $107,730 and $165,500.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $133,940 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $92,846 a year ($7,737 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $9,968 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 37% above the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $87,227 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #15 of 206 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Riverside, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Riverside, CA is $1,777 a month ($2,201 for two bedrooms) — 23% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Riverside, CA
- Pharmacist — $161,870
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $76,970
- Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other — $57,030
- Pharmacy Technician — $50,270