Nurse Manager & Leadership salary in California
Nurse Manager & Leaderships in California earn a median of $65.62 per hour, about $136,500 a year, 16% above the U.S. median of $56.71. The middle half earn between $43.65 and $97.79 per hour. The highest median among California metro areas is in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, at $81.13 per hour. Source: BLS, May 2024.
- $65.62median pay per hour
- $136,500median pay per year
- 68,800employed in California
- #5of 50 states by median pay
Nurse Manager & Leadership pay in California: percentiles
| Level | California per hour | California per year | U.S. per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $30.39 | $63,210 | $33.50 |
| Lower quartile | $43.65 | $90,790 | $42.58 |
| Median | $65.62 | $136,500 | $56.71 |
| Upper quartile | $97.79 | $203,400 | $78.09 |
| Top 10% | $115+ | $239,200+ | $105.33 |
Figures marked $115+ are the BLS top-coded maximum.
Nurse Manager & Leadership pay by metro area in California
| Metro area | Median / hr | Median / year | Employed | vs California median | After cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $81.13 | $168,750 | 11,210 | 24% above | $70.17 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $80.51 | $167,460 | 4,510 | 23% above | $72.91 |
| Vallejo, CA | $79.93 | $166,260 | 760 | 22% above | $73.68 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $77.23 | $160,640 | 5,830 | 18% above | $69.02 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $74.83 | $155,640 | 840 | 14% above | $69.43 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $71.99 | $149,730 | 4,110 | 10% above | $67.49 |
| Modesto, CA | $67.32 | $140,020 | 770 | 3% above | $64.66 |
| Chico, CA | $67.04 | $139,450 | 350 | 2% above | $66.25 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $65.40 | $136,030 | 440 | in line with | $59.51 |
| Fresno, CA | $65.11 | $135,420 | 1,820 | 1% below | $63.73 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $63.51 | $132,110 | 870 | 3% below | $60.43 |
| Salinas, CA | $63.21 | $131,470 | 480 | 4% below | $57.97 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $62.96 | $130,970 | 5,290 | 4% below | $59.15 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $62.95 | $130,930 | 700 | 4% below | $57.86 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $61.71 | $128,360 | 1,110 | 6% below | $61.17 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $60.97 | $126,810 | 1,150 | 7% below | $55.16 |
| El Centro, CA | $60.69 | $126,230 | 160 | 8% below | — |
| Yuba City, CA | $59.94 | $124,660 | 180 | 9% below | $57.51 |
| Redding, CA | $59.79 | $124,370 | 330 | 9% below | $59.38 |
| Visalia, CA | $58.13 | $120,910 | 530 | 11% below | $58.23 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $58.04 | $120,720 | 140 | 12% below | $57.12 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $54.31 | $112,960 | 430 | 17% below | $50.01 |
| Merced, CA | $50.90 | $105,870 | 230 | 22% below | $51.79 |
Metro areas with 30 or more workers in the BLS sample. After cost of living divides the median by the BEA regional price index (U.S. = 100).
Nurse Manager & Leadership pay in states next to California
What employers are posting in California
- 57roles with published pay
- $71.37median pay per hour
- $50–$102typical published range
- 15employers hiring
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| Central Maine Healthcare Corporation | 12 | $58.03 |
| ScionHealth | 8 | $56.59 |
| CommonSpirit Health | 7 | $79.32 |
| Kaweah Delta Health Care District | 6 | $72.08 |
| El Camino Health | 4 | $121.16 |
| Sharp HealthCare | 4 | $71.95 |
| Veterans Health Administration | 3 | $80.49 |
| Acadia Healthcare | 3 | $55 |
Midpoints of pay ranges in 57 postings collected October 15, 2026. Posted pay is a different measure from the BLS survey above and can run higher or lower.
Nurse Manager & Leadership jobs in California · Nurse Manager & Leadership salary nationwide · California state guide · California licensing guide
Common questions
How much does a nurse manager & leadership make in California?
The median is $65.62 per hour, about $136,500 a year. The lowest 10% earn under $30.39 and the top 10% earn over $115+ (BLS, May 2024).
Which California city pays nurse manager & leaderships the most?
Among California metro areas, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA has the highest median at $81.13 per hour. See the metro table for the rest and for pay after cost of living.
Where does California rank for nurse manager & leadership pay?
California ranks 5th of 50 states by median nurse manager & leadership pay.
Is this the same as the pay in job postings?
No. BLS figures come from a survey of employers and cover all workers in the occupation. Posted pay is the range an employer lists on one open role. Both are useful: use the survey for the market and the posting for a specific job.
What do employers near you pay nurse manager & leaderships? Get the report.
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- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
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Your Nurse Leader pay reportCalifornia · 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
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.