PermanentPosted today
Advanced Practice Nurse
Veterans Health Administration · Monterey, CA
$154k–$225k/ year
New this week
Nurse Practitioner jobs in Santa Barbara, CA
Nurse Practitioners in the Santa Barbara area earn a median of $82.28 per hour, about $171,150 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $70.64 and $83.26. That ranks 4th of 372 U.S. metro areas for nurse practitioner pay, and 9th of 336 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Santa Barbara. The free report below lists employers near Santa Barbara and what they pay.
- $82.28median pay per hour, Santa Maria
- $71–$83typical range per hour
- 210nurse practitioners employed in the metro area
- 109cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Nurse Practitioner pay in Santa Barbara, CA
The metro median is 3% above the California statewide median of $80.10 per hour. Nationally the median is $62.12 per hour. BLS counts about 210 nurse practitioners employed in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area, 1.0 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.52).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $62.03 | $129,020 | in line with U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $70.64 | $146,930 | 14% above U.S. median |
| Median | $82.28 | $171,150 | 32% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $83.26 | $173,180 | 34% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $97.97 | $203,780 | 58% above U.S. median |
How Santa Barbara ranks
- 4th of 372 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 9th of 336 after adjusting for local prices
- 4th 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 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 $82.28 median hour buys what $75.63 buys at the national price level, 22% 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 Practitioner 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$2,962
- Per year: $148,104
- Per month: $12,342
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 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).
Open Nurse Practitioner roles in California
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Santa Barbara as they open.
PermanentPosted today
Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner)
U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command · San Diego, CA
$122k–$158k/ year
New this week
For youUpdated weekly
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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 practitioners.
| 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 Practitioner pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Buenaventura, CA | 28 mi | $74.73/hr | 109,831 |
| Oxnard, CA | 32 mi | $74.73/hr | 200,616 |
| Camarillo, CA | 41 mi | $74.73/hr | 69,881 |
| Thousand Oaks, CA | 50 mi | $74.73/hr | 124,229 |
| Santa Maria, CA | 55 mi | $82.28/hr | 111,346 |
| Simi Valley, CA | 56 mi | $74.73/hr | 125,778 |
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.
Other healthcare roles in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do nurse practitioners make in Santa Barbara, CA?
Nurse Practitioners in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area have a median pay of $82.28 per hour, about $171,150 a year. The middle half earn between $70.64 and $83.26 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Santa Barbara a good place for nurse practitioners once cost of living is counted?
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara ranks 9th of 336 metro areas for nurse practitioner pay after adjusting for local prices, and 4th of 372 before adjusting. Overall prices run 9% above the U.S. average.
Where do nurse practitioners 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 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 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 practitioners 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 practitioners? 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
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your NP pay reportSanta Barbara, 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
- Advanced Practice NursePermanent$154k–$225k/ year
- Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner)Permanent$122k–$158k/ year
+ 43 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.