Nurse Practitioners Salary in California
In California, nurse practitioners earn $166,610 at the median — $80.1 an hour. The range runs from $124K at the entry level to $235K for experienced workers.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $167K get you in California?
About nurse practitioners
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level nurse practitioners (10th percentile) start around $124K. Mid-career wages sit at $167K.Top earners bring in $235K or more - a $110K spread from bottom to top.
Nurse Practitioners pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $167K | +29% | 20,980 |
| New Jersey | $150K | +16% | 9,590 |
| Alaska | $145K | +13% | 570 |
| New York | $145K | +13% | 20,430 |
| Oregon | $145K | +12% | 2,430 |
| Washington | $140K | +9% | 4,790 |
| Connecticut | $139K | +8% | 3,680 |
| Massachusetts | $139K | +7% | 8,920 |
| New Mexico | $138K | +7% | 1,870 |
| Arizona | $134K | +4% | 7,540 |
| Montana | $134K | +3% | 1,050 |
| New Hampshire | $132K | +2% | 1,790 |
| District of Columbia | $131K | +2% | 790 |
| Hawaii | $131K | +1% | 470 |
| Rhode Island | $131K | +1% | 1,200 |
Track nurse practitioners salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
How much do nurse practitioners make in California?
The median is $166,610 a year - that works out to about $80.1 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $124,330, and experienced nurse practitioners can clear $234,800. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $167K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,417/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom in this state rents for about $2,201/month (median of metro areas), which eats 23.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a nurse practitioners salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median nurse practitioners salary is worth about $166,610 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do nurse practitioners get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.