PermanentPosted 24 days ago
Nurse Practitioner, Westside Internal Medicine
Sutter Health · Santa Cruz, CA
Pay range with your report
Nurse Practitioner jobs in Santa Cruz, CA
The median nurse practitioner pay in the Santa Cruz area is $76.49 per hour ($159,090 a year), with the typical range running from $64.52 to $92.98. That ranks 19th of 372 U.S. metro areas for nurse practitioner pay, and 45th of 336 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Santa Cruz. The free report below lists employers near Santa Cruz and what they pay.
- $76.49median pay per hour, Santa Cruz
- $65–$93typical range per hour
- 180nurse practitioners employed in the metro area
- 110cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
More open Nurse Practitioner roles in Santa Cruz
1 more open role from employers in Santa Cruz. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.
Nurse Practitioner pay in Santa Cruz, CA
The metro median is 5% below the California statewide median of $80.10 per hour. Nationally the median is $62.12 per hour. BLS counts about 180 nurse practitioners employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area, 1.8 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.92).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $58.65 | $121,990 | 6% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $64.52 | $134,200 | 4% above U.S. median |
| Median | $76.49 | $159,090 | 23% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $92.98 | $193,400 | 50% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $98.21 | $204,280 | 58% above U.S. median |
How Santa Cruz ranks
- 19th of 372 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 45th of 336 after adjusting for local prices
- 17th 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.
Get the Santa Cruz Nurse Practitioner pay report
Named employers near Santa Cruz, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWhat your pay buys in Santa Cruz
- Overall prices in Santa Cruz-Watsonville run 10% above the U.S. average (index 109.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 64% above the U.S. average (index 164.3).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $76.49 median hour buys what $69.60 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 Santa Cruz paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$2,754
- Per year: $137,682
- Per month: $11,474
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Santa Cruz
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $148 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $86 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,638 |
| 13-week assignment | $21,294 |
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 Cruz as they open.
PermanentPosted today
Advanced Practice Nurse
Veterans Health Administration · Monterey, CA
$154k–$225k/ year
New this week
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
230+ more Nurse Practitioner roles for you in California
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PermanentPosted 2 days ago
Nurse Practitioner-Surgery-Cardiac
Kaweah Delta Health Care District · Visalia, CA
$72.90–$109.36/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted 3 days ago
Cardiac Nurse Practitioner (NP) - Sharp Memorial Hospital - FT Day Shift
Sharp HealthCare · San Diego, CA
$80.44–$103.79/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
PermanentPosted 3 days ago
Nurse Practitioner (EVH) - Cardiac Programs - Sharp Grossmont Hospital - FT - 10Hr Days
Sharp HealthCare · La Mesa, CA
$80.44–$103.79/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
PermanentPosted 3 days ago
Nurse Practitioner - Trauma Ctr - Sharp Frost St - FT - Var shift
Sharp HealthCare · San Diego, CA
$80.44–$103.79/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
Hospitals in Santa Cruz
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Santa Cruz, 1 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of nurse practitioners.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominican Hospital Santa Cruz, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center Of Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | Not rated | No |
| Santa Cruz County Psychiatric Health Facility Santa Cruz, CA | Psychiatric | For-profit | 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 Cruz County
HRSA lists 4 active primary care shortage designations that include Santa Cruz County (1 population-group, 3 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 16 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watsonville, CA | 15 mi | $76.49/hr | 51,320 |
| Cupertino, CA | 24 mi | $108.52/hr | 58,710 |
| Gilroy, CA | 25 mi | $108.52/hr | 60,390 |
| San Jose, CA | 25 mi | $108.52/hr | 997,368 |
| Santa Clara, CA | 27 mi | $108.52/hr | 133,132 |
| Sunnyvale, CA | 28 mi | $108.52/hr | 156,792 |
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 Cruz
Santa Cruz city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do nurse practitioners make in Santa Cruz, CA?
Nurse Practitioners in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area have a median pay of $76.49 per hour, about $159,090 a year. The middle half earn between $64.52 and $92.98 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Santa Cruz a good place for nurse practitioners once cost of living is counted?
Santa Cruz-Watsonville ranks 45th of 336 metro areas for nurse practitioner pay after adjusting for local prices, and 19th of 372 before adjusting. Overall prices run 10% above the U.S. average.
Where do nurse practitioners work in Santa Cruz?
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Santa Cruz, led by Dominican Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a California license to work in Santa Cruz 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 Cruz in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 4 active primary care shortage designations that include Santa Cruz 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 Cruz?
The federal per diem benchmark in Santa Cruz is $148 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,638 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 Cruz?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Santa Cruz and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Santa Cruz.
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What do employers near Santa Cruz pay nurse practitioners? Get the report.
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- 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 Cruz, 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.