Salary report · San Francisco, CA

What is the average Registered Nurse salary in San Francisco, CA?

Registered Nurses in San Francisco earn a median of $122,200 per year — about 42% above the national average. Pay ranges from $88,000 (25th percentile) to $189,400 (90th percentile).

25th percentile
$88,000
Median
$122,200
75th percentile
$156,400
90th percentile
$189,400
YoY change
+4.3%

Registered Nurse salary by experience level

Entry · 0–2 yrs
$79,400
Mid · 3–5 yrs
$122,200
Senior · 6–8 yrs
$156,400
Lead · 8+ yrs
$177,200

How San Francisco pay compares

San Francisco median$122,200
National median$86,070
Cost-of-living adjusted(COL index 244)$50,100

Cost-of-living adjusted is the San Francisco salary translated into equivalent purchasing power vs the US average (COL index 100). Useful for comparing offers across cities.

5-year salary trend

$103K
2022
$108K
2023
$112K
2024
$117K
2025
$122K
2026

Trend extrapolated from BLS May 2024 BLS OEWS OEWS data using the latest year-over-year growth rate of 4.3%.

Registered Nurse job market in San Francisco

San Francisco offers the highest tech salaries in the country but cost of living is brutal — particularly housing. Many roles offer remote/hybrid flexibility.

An estimated 3,100 registered nurses work in the San Francisco metro. Daily responsibilities typically include:

  • Administer medications
  • Monitor patient vitals
  • Document patient care
  • Coordinate with physicians
  • Educate patients on conditions

Related job salaries in San Francisco

Registered Nurse salary in other cities

FAQ

How much does a Registered Nurse make in San Francisco, CA?+

Registered Nurses in San Francisco earn a median of $122,200 per year — about 42% above the national average of $86,070.

What's the entry-level Registered Nurse salary in San Francisco?+

Entry-level Registered Nurses in San Francisco typically earn around $79,400 per year. Salaries scale to about $177,200 at the senior level with 8+ years of experience.

Is $122,200 a good Registered Nurse salary in San Francisco?+

$122,200 is the median, meaning half of Registered Nurses in San Francisco earn more and half earn less. Adjusted for the city's cost-of-living index of 244, that's roughly $50,100 in nationally-equivalent purchasing power.

How fast is Registered Nurse pay growing in San Francisco?+

Registered Nurse salaries in San Francisco grew about 4.3% year-over-year in the latest BLS data. The 10-year national outlook for this role is +6%.

Where do Registered Nurses in San Francisco get paid the most?+

The 90th percentile Registered Nurse salary in San Francisco is around $189,400. These typically include senior, lead, or specialist roles at major employers.

Are you being paid fairly in San Francisco?

Run a free comparison against BLS data — see if your salary is below, at, or above the San Francisco median.

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