CA · Santa Barbara · Updated October 15, 2026

Nurse Case Manager jobs in Santa Barbara, CA

Pay for nurse case managers in the Santa Barbara area centers on $64.17 per hour, or about $133,470 a year. The lower quarter earns under $54.03 and the upper quarter over $69.25. That ranks 14th of 379 U.S. metro areas for nurse case manager pay, and 21st of 335 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Santa Barbara. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Santa Barbara.

Nurse Case Manager pay in Santa Barbara, 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 3,140 registered nurses employed in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area, 15.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.73).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$50.08$104,17011% above U.S. median
Lower quartile$54.03$112,38020% above U.S. median
Median$64.17$133,47043% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$69.25$144,04054% above U.S. median
Top 10%$78.58$163,45075% above U.S. median

How Santa Barbara ranks

  • 14th of 379 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 21st of 335 after adjusting for local prices
  • 12th of 23 California metro areas

BLS does not publish a separate figure for nurse case manager. 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 Santa Barbara

  • Overall prices in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara run 9% above the U.S. average (index 108.8, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 51% above the U.S. average (index 151.4).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $64.17 median hour buys what $58.98 buys at the national price level, 31% 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.

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Named employers near Santa Barbara, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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Estimate your Santa Barbara paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$2,310
  • Per year: $115,506
  • Per month: $9,626

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Santa Barbara

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$214
Meals and incidentals per day$92
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$2,142
13-week assignment$27,846

Travel nurse case manager 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).

Open Nurse Case Manager roles in California

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Santa Barbara as they open.

PermanentPosted today

Case Manager, RN

Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System · Salinas, CA

$73.62–$89.49/ hour
  • Full time
  • Req SVH-103602
Top 25% payNew this week
View role
PermanentPosted 2 days ago

Case Manager RN

San Antonio Regional Hospital · Upland, CA

$51.58–$77.36/ hour
  • FULL_TIME
  • Req 16266
New this week
View role

All Nurse Case Manager jobs in California

Hospitals in Santa Barbara

CMS lists 3 hospitals in Santa Barbara, 2 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of nurse case managers.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital
Santa Barbara, CA
Acute careNonprofit5 of 5Yes
Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital
Santa Barbara, CA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Santa Barbara County Psychiatric Health Facility
Santa Barbara, CA
PsychiatricGovernment and federalNot ratedNo

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Primary care shortage areas in Santa Barbara County

HRSA lists 9 active primary care shortage designations that include Santa Barbara County (1 population-group, 8 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 18 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.

Nurse Case Manager pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
San Buenaventura, CA28 mi$61.79/hr109,831
Oxnard, CA32 mi$61.79/hr200,616
Camarillo, CA41 mi$61.79/hr69,881
Thousand Oaks, CA50 mi$61.79/hr124,229
Santa Maria, CA55 mi$64.17/hr111,346
Simi Valley, CA56 mi$61.79/hr125,778

Nurse Case Manager jobs in California · Nurse Case Manager jobs nationwide

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.

California state guide · Nurse Licensure Compact guide

Other healthcare roles in Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do nurse case managers make in Santa Barbara, CA?

Nurse Case Managers in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area have a median pay of $64.17 per hour, about $133,470 a year. The middle half earn between $54.03 and $69.25 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Santa Barbara a good place for nurse case managers once cost of living is counted?

Santa Maria-Santa Barbara ranks 21st of 335 metro areas for nurse case manager pay after adjusting for local prices, and 14th of 379 before adjusting. Overall prices run 9% above the U.S. average.

Where do nurse case managers work in Santa Barbara?

CMS lists 3 hospitals in Santa Barbara, led by Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a California license to work in Santa Barbara as a nurse case manager?

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 Santa Barbara in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 9 active primary care shortage designations that include Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara?

The federal per diem benchmark in Santa Barbara is $214 a night for lodging and $92 a day for meals and incidentals, about $2,142 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place nurse case managers in Santa Barbara?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Santa Barbara and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Santa Barbara.

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What do employers near Santa Barbara pay nurse case managers? Get the report.

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    Pay for your role at other hospitals

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    What they are offering now

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Pay report · Case Manager near Santa Barbara, CA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your Case Manager pay reportSanta Barbara, CA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • Emanate HealthGlendora, CA · 3 postings$84.00/ hr$84–$84
  • ScionHealthSan Leandro, CA · 2 postings$66.47/ hr$47–$94
  • Trinity HealthCalifornia · 2 postings$65.14/ hr$53–$77
  • Kaweah Delta Health Care DistrictVisalia, CA · 2 postings$58.05/ hr$46–$70

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.

2What they are offering now

Low$47Median$64.81High$84

16 Case Manager postings with published pay in California, 14 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 16 Case Manager roles

  1. Case Manager, RNPermanent
    $73.62–$89.49/ hour
    Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System · Salinas, CA · posted today
  2. RN Case Manager ED Full TimePermanent
    $53.18–$77.11/ hour
    Trinity Health · California · posted yesterday

+ 14 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.
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