Registered Nurses pay range in San Luis Obispo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $100,560 a year or less, while the top 10% make $199,540 or more. The middle half of registered nurses in San Luis Obispo earn between $106,250 and $187,670.
- $101K10th
- $106K25th
- $139KMedian
- $188K75th
- $200K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $147,410 | $12,284 | $70.87 |
| Median | $138,820 | $11,568 | $66.74 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $106,250 | $8,854 | $51.08 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $187,670 | $15,639 | $90.23 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Registered Nurses pay in San Luis Obispo vs. California and the U.S.
Registered nurses in San Luis Obispo earn about the same as the California average ($150,280) and 45% more than the U.S. average ($101,420). At the median the gap is +42% against the U.S. median of $97,550.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Luis Obispo | $147,410 | $138,820 | $100,560 | $199,540 | 2,180 |
| 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 San Luis Obispo
On the average salary of $147,410, a single filer in San Luis Obispo takes home about $102,404 a year, or $8,534 a month and $3,939 every two weeks. Taxes take 31% 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 Luis Obispo a good place for registered nurses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Luis Obispo area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.6), so the average $147,410 buys what about $135,742 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.7 times the median wage of all jobs in San Luis Obispo ($50,770). A typical home costs $909,699, or 6.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Registered Nurses salary in other California cities
San Luis Obispo ranks 8th 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
- San Diego$145,060
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 San Luis Obispo: questions
How much do registered nurses make an hour in San Luis Obispo?
$70.87 an hour on average, and $66.74 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level registered nurses salary in San Luis Obispo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $100,560 a year and the 25th percentile is $106,250, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the registered nurses take-home pay in San Luis Obispo?
About $102,404 a year ($8,534 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $147,410. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do registered nurses earn more in San Luis Obispo than elsewhere?
The average here is 45% 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 San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA (42020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.6%.
- 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 0.82, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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