Registered Nurse Salary in San Diego, CA
Registered Nurses in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $139,520 a year — 43% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $96,068 take-home, or $8,006 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$22,219
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,650
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,023
- California income tax$8,746
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,814
- Take-home pay$96,068
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Registered Nurse pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $102,480 | $49.27 | $74,291 | $6,191 |
| 25th percentile | $128,380 | $61.72 | $89,635 | $7,470 |
| Median (50th) | $139,520 | $67.08 | $96,068 | $8,006 |
| 75th percentile | $169,920 | $81.69 | $113,624 | $9,469 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $175,210 | $84.24 | $116,679 | $9,723 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $139,520 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median registered nurse's $96,068 take-home pay has the buying power of $85,862 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 San Diego, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.86).
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #30 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 |
| 30 | San Diego, CA | $139,520 | $96,068 | $85,862 |
*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 San Diego, CA?
The median registered nurse salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $139,520 a year, or about $67.08 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $128,380 and $169,920.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $139,520 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $96,068 a year ($8,006 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $10,560 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 43% above the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $85,862 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #30 of 370 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 31% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Pediatricians, General — $239,200+
- Physician Assistant — $165,160
- Pharmacist — $165,130
- Nurse Practitioner — $163,860
- Veterinarian — $159,750
- Dentists, General — $158,160
- Optometrist — $133,280
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $129,630
- Dental Hygienist — $123,790
- Occupational Therapist — $121,680