Wage data
Registered Nurses Salary in San Francisco
The median Registered Nurses salary in San Francisco is $186,610 per year, with most earning between $137,120 and $215,630 (the 25th–75th percentile).
San Francisco wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $119,290 |
| 25th percentile | $137,120 |
| Median (50th) | $186,610 |
| 75th percentile | $215,630 |
| 90th percentile | $223,770 |
How San Francisco compares to the national average
The San Francisco median ($186,610) runs 91% above the national median of $97,550.
| San Francisco median | $186,610 |
| National median | $97,550 |
Pay by experience level
Pay within an occupation varies by experience. In the government data for Registered Nurses in San Francisco:
- Entry-level Registered Nurses in San Francisco (0–2 years) typically sit in the 10th–25th percentile — roughly $119,290 to $137,120.
- Early-career Registered Nurses in San Francisco (3–5 years) typically sit in the 25th–50th percentile — roughly $137,120 to $186,610.
- Mid-career Registered Nurses in San Francisco (6–10 years) typically sit in the 50th–75th percentile — roughly $186,610 to $215,630.
- Senior Registered Nurses in San Francisco (11+ years) typically sit in the 75th–90th percentile — roughly $215,630 to $223,770.
About the role
Key skills: Social Perceptiveness, Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Coordination, Service Orientation.
In-demand tools: Microsoft Teams, Google Meet.
Typical education: Bachelor's Degree (56%), Post-Secondary Certificate (23%), Associate's Degree (19%).
Related occupations: Acute Care Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Psychiatrists, Paramedics, Psychiatric Technicians.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median Registered Nurses salary in San Francisco?
The median Registered Nurses salary in San Francisco is $186,610 per year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025). Most earn between $137,120 and $215,630 — the 25th to 75th percentile.
What do the top 10% of Registered Nurses earn in San Francisco?
The 90th percentile Registered Nurses wage in San Francisco is $223,770 per year — the top 10% of the published distribution earn at or above that figure.
How does Registered Nurses pay in San Francisco compare to the national average?
The San Francisco median ($186,610) runs 91% above the national median of $97,550. All figures are from the federal wage survey (OEWS May 2025).
How do I know if a Registered Nurses salary offer in San Francisco is competitive?
Compare the offer against these percentiles: an offer near the median is at market for a typical hire, while your experience level shifts the band you should be judged against. The free counter calculator places a specific number in this distribution, and the full analysis adds live market data and the exact range to counter with.
Have an offer in hand? See exactly where it stands against this data — with your experience level, live market ranges, and the specific range to counter with.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Estimates are market-informed, not guarantees. How we read this data.
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