Travel Nurse Salary in California (2025 Guide): Pay by City & Specialty

By:
Nomad Health
October 1, 2025
Reading time:
9 min
Travel Nurse Salary in California

If you're an RN with some experience, or already a travel nurse, this guide gives you a realistic look at how much travel nurses like you make in California. From city breakdowns to specialty pay and comparisons with staff nurses, we bring data and insights together so you can make informed career decisions.

Why California Nurse Salaries Matter

California has some of the highest RN compensation in the U.S.—but the cost of living and demand create unique dynamics. For travel nurses, understanding how pay varies by city and specialty is crucial.

With data from both official sources (BLS, CA BRN) and Nomad Health’s own job listings, we provide, trends, and tips to maximize your earning potential salary ranges.

Average Staff Nurse Salary in California

Let’s ground expectations with state averages:

  • Median annual RN salary in California: ~$120,000 to $130,000+ depending on region

  • Hourly equivalent: ~$58–$65/hr for staff RNs

  • Compared to national average, California RNs often earn 25–40% more, reflecting high demand and cost pressures

These figures set the baseline. Travel nurse salaries are usually quoted in weekly gross compensation, reflecting shift premiums, differential pay, stipends, and overtime.

Travel Nurse Salary in California: Weekly Pay by City & Specialty

Here are real ranges based on recent Nomad Health listings (gross before taxes):

City / Region

Low

Mid

High

Common Specialties

Los Angeles / Orange County

$2,800

$4,200

$5,800+

ICU, ER, Med-Surg, OR

San Francisco / Bay Area

$3,200

$4,800

$6,500+

ICU, CVOR, Trauma

San Diego

$2,900

$4,400

$6,000+

ICU, Cardiac, OR

Riverside / Inland Empire

$2,500

$3,800

$5,500

Med-Surg, Postpartum, ICU

Sacramento / Northern CA

$2,700

$3,900

$5,500

ICU, Neuro, Med-Surg

Central Valley / Rural CA

$2,300

$3,500

$5,000

Med-SurgER

Notes:

  • These numbers are estimates and exclude housing stipends, overtime, or shift differentials unless explicitly noted.

  • High-end assignments often include bonus pay, relocation, and premium shifts.

  • Pay tends to skew higher in cities with high cost of living or shortage of staff (SF, Bay Area, LA).

Top-Paying Nursing Specialties in California

Using job count and pay data from Nomad:

Specialty

Median Weekly Pay

Typical Job Count

Cardiac / CVOR

$4,800

120+ postings

OR / Surgical

$4,600

130+ postings

ICU / Trauma

$4,500

200+ postings

ER / Critical Care

$4,300

180+ postings

L&D / Mother-Baby

$4,100

140+ postings

Med-Surg / Telemetry

$3,800

300+ postings

Postpartum / Mother-Baby

$3,900

110+ postings

Specialties like Cardiac, OR, and Trauma/ICU often top the charts, but they often require advanced experience and certification.

Travel Nurse vs Staff Nurse Salaries in California

Role

Pay Basis

Sample Range

Staff RN

Hourly wage, benefits

$58–$65/hr

Travel RN (weekly)

Gross weekly salary + stipends

$3,500 – $6,500+

As a travel nurse, you typically earn more per hour (especially with overtime and shift differentials) and can supplement pay with housing & travel stipends which staff roles often don’t provide.

What Makes Up a Travel Nurse Pay Package?

Here’s what is often included or factored:

  • Base weekly rate (gross pay for shifts)

  • Shift differentials / overtime

  • Housing stipend or free housing (taxable or non-taxable)

  • Travel reimbursement

  • Meal / per diem allowances

  • Certifications, license reimbursements

Always clarify your full package, not just the base rate.

Why California Pays More for Nurses

Several structural and market drivers push California pay above the national average:

  • High cost of living (housing, transportation, utilities)

  • Union influence & staffing laws (safe staffing ratios)

  • High demand in urban centers and nurse shortage in rural areas

  • Premium pay for specialty units (ICU, OR, trauma)

Understanding these will help you assess whether an offer is fair or generous.

How to Get Started as a Travel Nurse in California

  1. Secure a valid California RN license (via endorsement or initial license)

  2. Gain clinical experience (usually 1–2 years in your specialty)

  3. Obtain relevant certifications (e.g., TNCC, ACLS, CCRN)

  4. Create a Nomad profile and browse CA-based assignments

  5. Compare pay packages, not just base rates

  6. Check tax & stipend treatment to understand net pay

Nomad helps you filter CA travel jobs and gives full pay transparency before you apply.

FAQs About California Travel Nurse Salary

Depending on location and specialty, travel nurses in CA can earn anywhere from $3,000 to $6,500+ per week, before stipends.
Top-paying specialties often include Cardiac, OR, ICU, Trauma, and CVOR.
Major metro areas like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Bay Area, and San Diego tend to top salary charts.
Yes. New grads typically land staff roles first. Travel rates require experience, so pay for grads is significantly lower initially.
Even high pay can be tempered by expensive housing, taxes, and commuting costs. Always analyze net pay after costs.

Author profile

Nomad Health
Nomad Health is transforming the way clinicians discover rewarding career opportunities through an easy-to-use platform with personalized job matches, industry-leading pay, and on-the-job support. Offering healthcare staffing technology backed by human support for the entire journey – from profile creation to assignment completion – Nomad Health removes every obstacle between clinicians and the patients they care for.

https://www.linkedin.com/company/nomad_health

Published: Sep. 29, 2025
Modified: Oct. 1, 2025