PermanentPosted today
Clinical Nurse BU - NICU - Sharp Mary Birch - Night Shift - Full-time 0.9 FTE
Sharp HealthCare · San Diego, CA
$64.21–$72.97/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
NICU nurse jobs in San Diego, CA
Registered Nurses in the San Diego area earn a median of $63.99 per hour, about $133,090 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $58.52 and $78.58. That ranks 16th of 379 U.S. metro areas for registered nurse pay, and 25th of 335 once local prices are factored in. 6 open roles with published pay are listed for San Diego. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near San Diego.
- $63.99median pay per hour, San Diego
- $59–$79typical range per hour
- 27,660registered nurses employed in the metro area
- 6open roles with published pay
Open NICU nurse roles in San Diego
PermanentPosted today
Clinical Nurse BU - NICU - Sharp Mary Birch - Night Shift - Full-time 0.9 FTE
Sharp HealthCare · San Diego, CA
$64.21–$72.97/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
For youUpdated weekly
1,100+ more healthcare roles for you in San Diego, CA
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PermanentPosted today
Clinical Nurse BU - NICU - Sharp Mary Birch - Night Shift - Full-time 0.9 FTE
Sharp HealthCare · San Diego, CA
$64.21–$72.97/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
PermanentPosted yesterday
Clinical Nurse BU - NICU - Sharp Mary Birch - Night Shift - FT 0.9 FTE
Sharp HealthCare · San Diego, CA
$64.21–$72.97/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
PermanentPosted yesterday
Clinical Nurse BU - NICU - Sharp Mary Birch - Night Shift - Full-time 0.9 FTE
Sharp HealthCare · San Diego, CA
$64.21–$72.97/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
PermanentPosted 10 days ago
Clinical Nurse BU - NICU - Sharp Mary Birch - Night Shift - Full-time 0.9 FTE
Sharp Healthcare · San Diego, CA
$64.21–$72.97/ hour
Top 25% pay
Get the San Diego NICU nurse pay report
Named employers near San Diego, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWho is hiring NICU nurses near San Diego
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| Sharp HealthCare | 5 | $68.59 |
| Sharp Healthcare | 1 | $68.59 |
Registered Nurse pay in San Diego, 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 San Diego 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 NICU 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 San Diego
- 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 San Diego 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 San Diego
| 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 NICU 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 San Diego
CMS lists 9 hospitals in San Diego, 5 of the 5 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of NICU nurses.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uc San Diego Health Hillcrest - Hillcrest Med Ctr San Diego, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Va San Diego Healthcare System San Diego, CA | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Sharp Memorial Hospital San Diego, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Nmc San Diego San Diego, CA | Acute Care - Department of Defense | Government and federal | Not rated | Yes |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA | Children's | Nonprofit | Not rated | No |
| Aurora San Diego San Diego, CA | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
| Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital San Diego, CA | Psychiatric | Nonprofit | Not rated | No |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Mesa, CA | 7 mi | $63.99/hr | 60,767 |
| Oceanside, CA | 30 mi | $63.99/hr | 170,941 |
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 San Diego
San Diego city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do NICU nurses make in San Diego, 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 San Diego a good place for NICU 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 NICU nurses in San Diego?
We list 6 open roles with published pay from 2 employers in San Diego. Your free report adds named employers and pay near San Diego.
Do I need a California license to work in San Diego as an NICU 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 San Diego 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 San Diego?
The federal per diem benchmark in San Diego 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 NICU nurses in San Diego?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in San Diego and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near San Diego.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near San Diego pay NICU 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
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your RN pay reportSan Diego, CA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- Rady Children's HospitalSan Diego, CA · 3 postings$80.95/ hr$53–$108
- Military Treatment Facilities under DHASan Diego, CA · 5 postings$72.28/ hr$50–$107
- Veterans Health AdministrationSan Diego, CA · 4 postings$70.05/ hr$50–$91
- El Camino HealthMountain View, CA · 3 postings$108.25/ hr$94–$123
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.