Registered Nurse Salary in Sacramento, CA
Registered Nurses in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area earn a median $171,460 a year — 76% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $114,514 take-home, or $9,543 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$29,884
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,631
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,486
- California income tax$11,716
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,229
- Take-home pay$114,514
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Sacramento, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $100,630 | $48.38 | $73,186 | $6,099 |
| 25th percentile | $131,830 | $63.38 | $91,627 | $7,636 |
| Median (50th) | $171,460 | $82.43 | $114,514 | $9,543 |
| 75th percentile | $198,580 | $95.47 | $131,048 | $10,921 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $218,780 | $105.18 | $143,725 | $11,977 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $171,460 buys in Sacramento, CA
Prices in Sacramento, CA are 6.7% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.30× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median registered nurse's $114,514 take-home pay has the buying power of $107,353 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 Sacramento, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.00).
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Sacramento, CA ranks #4 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 |
*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
- San Francisco, CA — $186,610
- Santa Cruz, CA — $170,960
- Yuba City, CA — $149,320
- Merced, CA — $131,620
- Redding, CA — $134,350
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Sacramento, CA?
The median registered nurse salary in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area is $171,460 a year, or about $82.43 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $131,830 and $198,580.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Sacramento, CA?
On the median $171,460 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $114,514 a year ($9,543 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $13,945 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Sacramento, CA a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 76% above the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 6.7% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $107,353 would in a typical U.S. city. Sacramento, CA ranks #4 of 370 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Sacramento, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Sacramento, CA is $1,812 a month ($2,241 for two bedrooms) — 19% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Sacramento, CA
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Pharmacist — $172,680
- Nurse Practitioner — $172,010
- Dentists, General — $170,500
- Veterinarian — $165,260
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $163,220
- Physician Assistant — $161,470
- Optometrist — $139,020
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $135,880
- Respiratory Therapist — $134,430
- Physical Therapist — $131,430