Registered Nurses pay range in Los Angeles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $100,980 a year or less, while the top 10% make $174,200 or more. The middle half of registered nurses in Los Angeles earn between $112,070 and $167,800.
- $101K10th
- $112K25th
- $136KMedian
- $168K75th
- $174K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $140,370 | $11,698 | $67.49 |
| Median | $135,560 | $11,297 | $65.17 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $112,070 | $9,339 | $53.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $167,800 | $13,983 | $80.67 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Registered Nurses pay in Los Angeles vs. California and the U.S.
Registered nurses in Los Angeles earn 7% less than the California average ($150,280) and 38% more than the U.S. average ($101,420). At the median the gap is +39% against the U.S. median of $97,550.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $140,370 | $135,560 | $100,980 | $174,200 | 109,360 |
| California | $150,280 | $140,270 | $101,260 | $213,320 | 338,940 |
| United States | $101,420 | $97,550 | $68,940 | $137,470 | 3,379,720 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Registered Nurses salary after taxes in Los Angeles
On the average salary of $140,370, a single filer in Los Angeles takes home about $98,246 a year, or $8,187 a month and $3,779 every two weeks. Taxes take 30% 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 Los Angeles a good place for registered nurses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Los Angeles area are 14% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 113.6), so the average $140,370 buys what about $123,602 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Los Angeles ($55,850). A typical home costs $968,608, or 6.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Registered Nurses salary in other California cities
Los Angeles ranks 12th of 24 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($194,950).
- San Jose$194,950
- Vallejo$182,820
- San Francisco$176,900
- Santa Rosa$170,000
- Sacramento$164,200
- Santa Cruz$159,830
- Yuba City$150,970
- San Luis Obispo$147,410
- Stockton$145,400
- Los Angeles$140,370
Highest-paying cities for registered nurses
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($194,950).
- San Jose, CA$194,950
- Vallejo, CA$182,820
- San Francisco, CA$176,900
- Santa Rosa, CA$170,000
- Sacramento, CA$164,200
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Registered Nurses salary in Los Angeles: questions
How much do registered nurses make an hour in Los Angeles?
$67.48 an hour on average, and $65.18 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level registered nurses salary in Los Angeles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $100,980 a year and the 25th percentile is $112,070, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the registered nurses take-home pay in Los Angeles?
About $98,246 a year ($8,187 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $140,370. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do registered nurses earn more in Los Angeles than elsewhere?
The average here is 38% more than the U.S. average for this job ($101,420).
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 29-1141; area Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (31080). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.5%.
- 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 0.80, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.80).
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