What RNs earn in San Francisco
Registered nurses in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro earn a median of $186,610 a year, 91% above the national RN median of $97,550. The middle half of RNs here earn between $137,120 and $215,630, so experience, specialty and shift differentials can move you a long way inside that range. Among the 60 metro markets The RN Network tracks, San Francisco ranks #2 for median RN pay.
| Role | Median | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $186,610 | $137,120 – $215,630 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $219,080 | $176,490 – $241,910 |
| Nurse Midwife | $212,630 | $209,050 – $218,420 |
Powered by RN Workforce Insights™ · 2025 annual pay. Typical range is the 25th to 75th percentile.
Cost of living and the San Francisco nursing market
Pay only tells half the story. A two-bedroom apartment at fair market rent runs about $3,604 a month in San Francisco, which is roughly 23% of a median RN salary before taxes. That is a manageable share, but it is worth negotiating hard on base pay and differentials.
About 41,750 RNs work in this metro, the #14 largest RN workforce of the markets we track. The RN Network directory lists 176 healthcare employers in San Francisco, Oakland and Fremont, including 62 behavioral health facilities, 43 long-term care facilities, 27 dialysis centers and 22 hospitals.
Hospitals hiring nurses in San Francisco
Every hospital below has its own page with pay context, nearby openings and a direct line to its careers site.
Nursing jobs in San Francisco
Do not wait for the right posting to find you. Claim your free Talent Agent profile and get matched with San Francisco roles that fit your specialty.
Hiring nurses in San Francisco?
How long has your hardest San Francisco RN role been open? Every week a position sits empty costs your team extra shifts, overtime and the good nurses who start looking elsewhere. Pick the fastest way to fill it.
Reach nurses who are looking now
Put your opening in front of nurses searching for San Francisco jobs today.
Post a Job →Know this market before you hire
RN Workforce Insights™ shows time to fill, turnover and nurse supply for San Francisco, so you plan hiring around real numbers.
See San Francisco Workforce Intelligence →Fill the roles a posting won't
The RN Network's Recruiting Services team goes and gets them, finding and presenting qualified RNs for the roles that will not fill from a posting.
Start a Search →Run a facility in San Francisco? Feature it in the directory →
Career advice for San Francisco nurses
Watch the latest episode of Nursing Matters, the show that helps nurses find the right job, land the offer and grow their careers.
You Passed the NCLEX. Can You Lose This License? Nursing Matters Episode 102626
Latest article
Medical Surgical Nurse Career: The Leadership Roles Panels Count
Happy Medical-Surgical Nurses Week, which the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses celebrates November 1 through 7 and which opens today.
Read the article →Common questions about nursing in San Francisco
How much do registered nurses make in San Francisco?
The median RN salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro is $186,610 a year, and the middle half of RNs earn between $137,120 and $215,630.
What do nurse practitioners earn in San Francisco?
Nurse practitioners in the San Francisco metro earn a median of $219,080 a year.
Can a nurse afford to live in San Francisco?
A two-bedroom apartment at fair market rent costs about $3,604 a month in San Francisco, roughly 23% of a median RN salary before taxes.
Which hospitals hire nurses in San Francisco?
Hospitals in the San Francisco area include Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, California Pacific Medical Center - Mission Bernal, Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Fremont, Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Francisco, San Francisco VA Medical Center. See the full list in The RN Network facility directory.
How do I find a nursing job in San Francisco?
Browse current California openings on The RN Network job board, claim your free Talent Agent profile so employers hiring in San Francisco can find you, and compare pay using the California salary guide.