Registered Nurses Salary in San Diego County, California: $139,520 Median Pay (May 2025 estimates)

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Median annual pay

$139,520 / year

43.0% above the national median

$69.74

Mean hourly wage

$145,060

Mean annual wage

28,680

Jobs in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

$67.08

Median hourly wage

About county-level data. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish nursing wages by county. All figures on this page are May 2025 estimates (released April 2026) BLS estimates for the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, which includes San Diego County. Use them as a regional benchmark, not a county-specific measurement.

Nursing pay in San Diego County by role

Median annual pay for each nursing role — the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area BLS estimates, May 2025 estimates.

Role	Median annual pay
Registered Nurses	$139,520
Nurse Practitioners	$163,860
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses	$79,720
Nursing Assistants	$48,070

Registered Nurses pay in San Diego County, California: the full picture

Registered nurses in San Diego County, California earn a median of $139,520 per year ($67.08 per hour). These are May 2025 estimates BLS estimates for the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, which includes San Diego County — the BLS does not publish nursing wages at the county level. That puts the area 43.0% above the national median of $97,550.

Measure	Pay
Mean hourly wage	$69.74
Median annual wage	$139,520
Mean annual wage	$145,060
Median hourly wage	$67.08
Total employment	28,680

Cities and towns in San Diego County

57 incorporated cities, towns, and census-designated places in San Diego County, per the U.S. Census Bureau.

AlpineCDP
BonitaCDP
BonsallCDP
Borrego SpringsCDP
BostoniaCDP
BoulevardCDP
Camp Pendleton MainsideCDP
Camp Pendleton SouthCDP
CampoCDP
Carlsbadcity
Casa de Oro-Mount HelixCDP
Chula Vistacity
Coronadocity
CrestCDP
Del DiosCDP
Del Marcity
DescansoCDP
El Cajoncity
Elfin ForestCDP
Encinitascity
Escondidocity
Eucalyptus HillsCDP
Fairbanks RanchCDP
FallbrookCDP
Granite HillsCDP
Harbison CanyonCDP
Harmony GroveCDP
Hidden MeadowsCDP
Imperial Beachcity
JacumbaCDP
JamulCDP
JulianCDP
La Mesacity
La PresaCDP
Lake San MarcosCDP
LakesideCDP
Lemon Grovecity
Mount LagunaCDP
National Citycity
Oceansidecity
PalaCDP
Pine ValleyCDP
PotreroCDP
Powaycity
RainbowCDP
RamonaCDP
Rancho San DiegoCDP
Rancho Santa FeCDP
San Diegocity
San Diego Country EstatesCDP
San Marcoscity
Santeecity
Solana Beachcity
Spring ValleyCDP
Valley CenterCDP
Vistacity
Winter GardensCDP

Frequently asked questions

How much do registered nurses make in San Diego County?

The median annual wage is $139,520 ($67.08/hour), based on May 2025 estimates (released April 2026) BLS estimates for the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, which includes San Diego County.

Why does this page show metro area data instead of San Diego County-specific figures?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes nursing wages for states and metro areas, not counties. We show the smallest BLS geography that contains the county and label it clearly — we never invent county-level numbers.

Where does this data come from?

All figures are May 2025 estimates (released April 2026) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), retrieved 2026-10-09. They are survey estimates, not job offers.

Keep exploring

More Registered Nurses salary data and other nursing roles in San Diego County, California.

Sources & methodology. All figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates (released April 2026), retrieved 2026-10-09. "Median" is the 50th percentile — half of workers earn more, half earn less. "Mean" is the arithmetic average. Annual figures assume full-time, year-round work (2,080 hours). Employment estimates exclude the self-employed. Figures are rounded survey estimates, not job offers — actual pay varies by employer, shift, experience, and certifications.