CA · Carlsbad · Updated October 15, 2026

Nurse Practitioner jobs in Carlsbad, CA

Nurse Practitioners in the Carlsbad area earn a median of $77.90 per hour, about $162,030 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $62.92 and $87.03. That ranks 14th of 372 U.S. metro areas for nurse practitioner pay, and 44th of 336 once local prices are factored in. 11 open roles with published pay are listed for Carlsbad and its metro area. The free report below lists employers near Carlsbad and what they pay.

Open Nurse Practitioner roles near Carlsbad

Roles in other cities of the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area.

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

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Who is hiring nurse practitioners near Carlsbad

EmployerRolesMedian pay / hour
Sharp HealthCare6$92.12
Sharp Healthcare3$92.12
U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command1$67.22
Rady Children's Hospital1$88.48

Nurse Practitioner pay in Carlsbad, CA

The metro median is 3% below the California statewide median of $80.10 per hour. Nationally the median is $62.12 per hour. BLS counts about 2,790 nurse practitioners employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area, 1.8 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.91).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$50.07$104,15019% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$62.92$130,8701% above U.S. median
Median$77.90$162,03025% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$87.03$181,02040% above U.S. median
Top 10%$110.51$229,86078% above U.S. median

How Carlsbad ranks

  • 14th of 372 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 44th of 336 after adjusting for local prices
  • 13th of 24 California metro areas

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Nurse Practitioners (SOC 29-1171), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

What your pay buys in Carlsbad

  • 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 $77.90 median hour buys what $69.62 buys at the national price level, 12% 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 Carlsbad paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$2,804
  • Per year: $140,220
  • Per month: $11,685

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 Carlsbad

ItemFederal 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 nurse practitioner 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 the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area

CMS lists 18 hospitals in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area, 10 of the 13 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of nurse practitioners.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Uc San Diego Health Hillcrest - Hillcrest Med Ctr
San Diego, CA
Acute careNonprofit5 of 5Yes
Va San Diego Healthcare System
San Diego, CA
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal5 of 5Yes
Grossmont Hospital
La Mesa, CA
Acute careGovernment and federal4 of 5Yes
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego
San Diego, CA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Marcos
San Marcos, CA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Scripps Memorial Hospital - Encinitas
Encinitas, CA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Scripps Mercy Hospital
San Diego, CA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center
Chula Vista, CA
Acute careFor-profit4 of 5Yes
Sharp Coronado Hospital And Hlthcr Ctr
Coronado, CA
Acute careFor-profit4 of 5Yes
Sharp Memorial Hospital
San Diego, CA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes

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.

Nurse Practitioner pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Vista, CA5 mi$77.90/hr99,322
Encinitas, CA6 mi$77.90/hr61,137
Temecula, CA27 mi$78.11/hr112,431
San Clemente, CA29 mi$79.09/hr62,627
Murrieta, CA31 mi$78.11/hr112,539

Nurse Practitioner jobs in California · Nurse Practitioner 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 Carlsbad

Carlsbad city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do nurse practitioners make in Carlsbad, CA?

Nurse Practitioners in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area have a median pay of $77.90 per hour, about $162,030 a year. The middle half earn between $62.92 and $87.03 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Carlsbad a good place for nurse practitioners once cost of living is counted?

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad ranks 44th of 336 metro areas for nurse practitioner pay after adjusting for local prices, and 14th of 372 before adjusting. Overall prices run 12% above the U.S. average.

Who is hiring nurse practitioners in Carlsbad?

We list 11 open roles with published pay from 4 employers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Carlsbad.

Do I need a California license to work in Carlsbad as a nurse practitioner?

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 Carlsbad 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 Carlsbad?

The federal per diem benchmark in Carlsbad 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 nurse practitioners in Carlsbad?

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

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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 · NP near Carlsbad, CA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your NP pay reportCarlsbad, CA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • Montage HealthMonterey, CA · 2 postings$117.72/ hr$101–$135
  • Valley Children's HealthcareFresno, CA · 2 postings$103.69/ hr$85–$123
  • MarinHealthGreenbrae, CA · 4 postings$96.91/ hr$86–$108
  • Sharp HealthCareSan Diego, CA · 6 postings$92.12/ hr$80–$104

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

2What they are offering now

Low$69Median$91.13High$109

45 NP postings with published pay in California, 41 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 45 NP roles

  1. Advanced Practice NursePermanent
    $154k–$225k/ year
    Veterans Health Administration · Monterey, CA · posted today
  2. Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner)Permanent
    $122k–$158k/ year
    U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command · San Diego, CA · posted today

+ 43 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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