Nurse Practitioners pay in California
In California, the median pay for nurse practitioners is $81.02 an hour ($168,520 a year). About 25,120 people work in this job there.
That is 27% higher than the U.S. median ($132,300). California ranks 1st of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for nurse practitioners in California
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $57.86 | $120,340 |
| 25% of workers | $70.18 | $145,980 |
| Half of workers (median) | $81.02 | $168,520 |
| 75% of workers | $100.65 | $209,350 |
| 90% of workers | $115.78 | $240,830 |
Nurse Practitioners pay in California metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $231,560 | 1,580 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $219,080 | 3,110 |
| Vallejo | $182,370 | 180 |
| Napa | $176,270 | 60 |
| Modesto | $173,380 | 380 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $172,010 | 1,170 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $169,920 | 1,710 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $168,540 | 70 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $167,190 | 190 |
| Chico | $167,080 | 140 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $167,040 | 280 |
| Fresno | $166,570 | 570 |
| Salinas | $166,090 | 140 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $165,580 | 430 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $165,580 | 200 |
| Yuba City | $165,020 | 70 |
| El Centro | $164,700 | 70 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $163,860 | 2,340 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $162,950 | 140 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $161,470 | 10,060 |
| Redding | $160,480 | 120 |
| Visalia | $159,430 | 250 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $159,150 | 280 |
| Merced | $158,750 | 100 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $148,800 | 320 |
California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for nurse practitioners
- Typical education to start: Master's degree (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 1 to 2 years (O*NET)
- Job outlook: +41% over ten years, much faster than average · about 29,400 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | $140,270 |
| Physician Assistants | $165,650 |
| Pediatricians, General | $214,140 |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | $313,890 |
| Paramedics | $74,590 |
| Obstetricians and Gynecologists | $301,240 |
| Nurse Midwives | $203,840 |
| Pharmacists | $164,610 |
Other job titles for this job
Open nurse practitioners jobs on JAI Bot
No open jobs in this field right now. Search all jobs or set up a free job alert.
Hiring nurse practitioners? Use the free hiring guide for a job description and interview questions, then post the job on JAI Bot. Every job shows typical pay to job seekers.
Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.