Nurse Practitioners pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $131,380 a year or less, while the top 10% make $215,640 or more. The middle half of nurse practitioners in San Diego earn between $135,410 and $181,120.
- $131K10th
- $135K25th
- $164KMedian
- $181K75th
- $216K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $164,870 | $13,739 | $79.26 |
| Median | $163,860 | $13,655 | $78.78 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $135,410 | $11,284 | $65.10 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $181,120 | $15,093 | $87.08 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Nurse Practitioners pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Nurse practitioners in San Diego earn 7% less than the California average ($176,760) and 20% more than the U.S. average ($137,300). At the median the gap is +24% against the U.S. median of $132,300.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $164,870 | $163,860 | $131,380 | $215,640 | 2,340 |
| California | $176,760 | $168,520 | $120,340 | $240,830 | 25,120 |
| United States | $137,300 | $132,300 | $101,340 | $174,420 | 323,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Nurse Practitioners salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $164,870, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $112,714 a year, or $9,393 a month and $4,335 every two weeks. Taxes take 32% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Diego a good place for nurse practitioners? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $164,870 buys what about $147,354 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.8 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 5.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Nurse Practitioners salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 19th of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($225,610).
- San Jose$225,610
- San Francisco$215,430
- Vallejo$196,780
- Napa$188,720
- Modesto$187,690
- Sacramento$177,260
- Santa Rosa$172,330
- Santa Maria$172,240
- Riverside$171,680
- San Diego$164,870
Highest-paying cities for nurse practitioners
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($225,610).
- San Jose, CA$225,610
- San Francisco, CA$215,430
- Vallejo, CA$196,780
- Napa, CA$188,720
- Modesto, CA$187,690
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Nurse Practitioners salary in San Diego: questions
How much do nurse practitioners make an hour in San Diego?
$79.27 an hour on average, and $78.78 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level nurse practitioners salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $131,380 a year and the 25th percentile is $135,410, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the nurse practitioners take-home pay in San Diego?
About $112,714 a year ($9,393 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $164,870. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do nurse practitioners earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% more than the U.S. average for this job ($137,300).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-1171; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.73, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.73).
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