PermanentPosted today
Registered Nurse- Assistant Nurse Manager-V2/Spinal Cord Injury
Veterans Health Administration · Long Beach, CA
$121k–$213k/ year
New this week
Nurse Manager & Leadership jobs in Santa Barbara, CA
The median nurse manager & leadership pay in the Santa Barbara area is $62.95 per hour ($130,930 a year), with the typical range running from $40.18 to $89.22. That ranks 40th of 377 U.S. metro areas for nurse manager & leadership pay, and 100th of 333 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Santa Barbara. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Santa Barbara.
- $62.95median pay per hour, Santa Maria
- $40–$89typical range per hour
- 700nurse manager & leaderships employed in the metro area
- 109cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Nurse Manager & Leadership pay in Santa Barbara, CA
The metro median is 4% below the California statewide median of $65.62 per hour. Nationally the median is $56.71 per hour. BLS counts about 700 medical and health services managers employed in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area, 3.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.94).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $30.66 | $63,770 | 46% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $40.18 | $83,570 | 29% below U.S. median |
| Median | $62.95 | $130,930 | 11% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $89.22 | $185,580 | 57% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $115+ | $239,200+ | 103% above U.S. median |
How Santa Barbara ranks
- 40th of 377 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 100th of 333 after adjusting for local prices
- 14th of 22 California metro areas
BLS does not publish a separate figure for nurse manager & leadership. These numbers are for the broader category it belongs to, Medical and Health Services Managers.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Medical and Health Services Managers (SOC 11-9111), all industries. Figures marked $115+ are the BLS top-coded maximum. 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 $62.95 median hour buys what $57.86 buys at the national price level, 2% 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.
Get the Santa Barbara Nurse Manager & Leadership pay report
Named employers near Santa Barbara, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Santa Barbara paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$2,266
- Per year: $113,310
- Per month: $9,443
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
| Item | Federal 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 manager & leadership 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 Manager & Leadership roles in California
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Santa Barbara as they open.
PermanentPosted today
Assistant Nurse Manager
CommonSpirit Health · San Luis Obispo, CA
$58.68–$89.32/ hour
New this week
For youUpdated weekly
230+ more Nurse Manager & Leadership roles for you in California
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PermanentPosted yesterday
Assistant Chief Nursing Officer (ACNO)
Central Maine Healthcare Corporation · Lynwood, CA
$148k–$190k/ year
New this week
PermanentPosted 2 days ago
Clinical Manager for PACU and OPS - FT - PACU @LG
El Camino Health · Los Gatos, CA
$98.83–$148.24/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
PermanentPosted 2 days ago
Asst Clinical Manager - FT - Eves - Critical Care Unit - CCU 3A @ MV
El Camino Health · Mountain View, CA
$89.63–$134.45/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
PermanentPosted 2 days ago
Assistant Nurse Manager- Cardiac Cath Lab
Kaweah Delta Health Care District · Visalia, CA
$55.40–$83.09/ hour
New this week
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 manager & leaderships.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital Santa Barbara, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Santa Barbara, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Santa Barbara County Psychiatric Health Facility Santa Barbara, CA | Psychiatric | Government and federal | 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 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 Manager & Leadership pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Buenaventura, CA | 28 mi | $60.97/hr | 109,831 |
| Oxnard, CA | 32 mi | $60.97/hr | 200,616 |
| Camarillo, CA | 41 mi | $60.97/hr | 69,881 |
| Thousand Oaks, CA | 50 mi | $60.97/hr | 124,229 |
| Santa Maria, CA | 55 mi | $62.95/hr | 111,346 |
| Simi Valley, CA | 56 mi | $60.97/hr | 125,778 |
Nurse Manager & Leadership jobs in California · Nurse Manager & Leadership 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.
Other healthcare roles in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do nurse manager & leaderships make in Santa Barbara, CA?
Nurse Manager & Leaderships in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area have a median pay of $62.95 per hour, about $130,930 a year. The middle half earn between $40.18 and $89.22 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Santa Barbara a good place for nurse manager & leaderships once cost of living is counted?
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara ranks 100th of 333 metro areas for nurse manager & leadership pay after adjusting for local prices, and 40th of 377 before adjusting. Overall prices run 9% above the U.S. average.
Where do nurse manager & leaderships 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 manager & leadership?
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 manager & leaderships 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 manager & leaderships? 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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230+ Nurse Manager & Leadership roles in California, sent free by email
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Nurse Leader pay reportSanta Barbara, CA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- El Camino HealthMountain View, CA · 4 postings$121.16/ hr$90–$148
- MarinHealthGreenbrae, CA · 2 postings$95.54/ hr$76–$115
- Shriners Hospitals for ChildrenSacramento, CA · 2 postings$94.05/ hr$59–$127
- Veterans Health AdministrationLong Beach, CA · 3 postings$80.49/ hr$48–$110
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.
2What they are offering now
Low$50Median$71.37High$102
57 Nurse Leader postings with published pay in California, 51 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 57 Nurse Leader roles
- Registered Nurse- Assistant Nurse Manager-V2/Spinal Cord InjuryPermanent$121k–$213k/ year
- Assistant Nurse ManagerPermanent$58.68–$89.32/ hour
+ 55 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.