PermanentPosted 29 days ago
Clinical RN II- Critical Care
Palomar Health · Escondido, CA
$54.15–$78.82/ hour
ICU nurse jobs in Escondido, CA
Pay for registered nurses in the Escondido area centers on $63.99 per hour, or about $133,090 a year. The lower quarter earns under $58.52 and the upper quarter over $78.58. The CMS hospital directory lists 1 hospital in Escondido. That ranks 16th of 379 U.S. metro areas for registered nurse pay, and 25th of 335 once local prices are factored in. The free report below lists employers near Escondido and what they pay.
- $63.99median pay per hour, San Diego
- $59–$79typical range per hour
- 27,660registered nurses employed in the metro area
- 3open roles with published pay
Open ICU nurse roles in Escondido
PermanentPosted 29 days ago
Clinical RN - ICU
Palomar Health · Escondido, CA
$54.15–$78.82/ hour
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PermanentPosted 29 days ago
Clinical RN II- Intensive Care Unit
Palomar Health · Escondido, CA
$54.15–$78.82/ hour
Get the Escondido ICU nurse pay report
Named employers near Escondido, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportRegistered Nurse pay in Escondido, CA
The metro median is 5% below the California statewide median of $67.47 per hour. Nationally the median is $45.00 per hour. BLS counts about 27,660 registered nurses employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area, 18.0 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.85).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $49.60 | $103,170 | 10% above U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $58.52 | $121,720 | 30% above U.S. median |
| Median | $63.99 | $133,090 | 42% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $78.58 | $163,450 | 75% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $84.05 | $174,820 | 87% above U.S. median |
How Escondido ranks
- 16th of 379 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 25th of 335 after adjusting for local prices
- 14th of 23 California metro areas
BLS does not publish a separate figure for ICU nurse. These numbers are for the broader category it belongs to, Registered Nurses.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
What your pay buys in Escondido
- Overall prices in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad run 12% above the U.S. average (index 111.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 79% above the U.S. average (index 179.3).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $63.99 median hour buys what $57.19 buys at the national price level, 27% above the national median.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.
Estimate your Escondido paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$2,304
- Per year: $115,182
- Per month: $9,598
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Escondido
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $205 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $86 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $2,037 |
| 13-week assignment | $26,481 |
Travel ICU nurse assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.
Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).
Hospitals in Escondido
CMS lists 1 hospital in Escondido, 0 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of ICU nurses.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palomar Health Downtown Campus Escondido, CA | Acute care | Government and federal | 3 of 5 | Yes |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Primary care shortage areas in San Diego County
HRSA lists 25 active primary care shortage designations that include San Diego County (4 population-group, 21 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 20 on a 0 to 25 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.
Shortage areas are where demand for nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other clinicians is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.
Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.
Registered Nurse pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA | 22 mi | $63.99/hr | 1,404,452 |
| La Mesa, CA | 25 mi | $63.99/hr | 60,767 |
License and tax basics in California
California is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact as of October 15, 2026, so a nurse licensed elsewhere applies to the California board for a license by endorsement before working here.
California taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Escondido
Escondido city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do ICU nurses make in Escondido, CA?
BLS reports pay for registered nurses overall, not by specialty. Registered Nurses in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area have a median pay of $63.99 per hour, about $133,090 a year. The middle half earn between $58.52 and $78.58 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Escondido a good place for ICU nurses once cost of living is counted?
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad ranks 25th of 335 metro areas for registered nurse pay after adjusting for local prices, and 16th of 379 before adjusting. Overall prices run 12% above the U.S. average.
Who is hiring ICU nurses in Escondido?
We list 3 open roles with published pay from 1 employer in Escondido. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Escondido.
Do I need a California license to work in Escondido as an ICU nurse?
California is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact as of October 15, 2026, so a nurse licensed elsewhere applies to the California board for a license by endorsement before working here. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Escondido in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 25 active primary care shortage designations that include San Diego County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.
What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Escondido?
The federal per diem benchmark in Escondido is $205 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $2,037 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place ICU nurses in Escondido?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Escondido and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Escondido.
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What do employers near Escondido pay ICU nurses? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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2,300+ Registered Nurse roles in California, sent free by email
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your RN pay reportEscondido, CA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- Palomar HealthEscondido, CA · 34 postings$66.48/ hr$54–$89
- El Camino HealthMountain View, CA · 3 postings$108.25/ hr$94–$123
- MarinHealthGreenbrae, CA · 16 postings$106.18/ hr$59–$119
- Stanford Children's HealthPALO ALTO, CA · 8 postings$103.75/ hr$90–$113
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.
2What they are offering now
Low$50Median$66.48High$79
536 RN postings with published pay in California, 518 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 536 RN roles
- RN Float PoolPer diem$103.83–$112.14/ hour
- RN Physical RehabilitationPer diem$103.83–$112.14/ hour
+ 534 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.