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Nurse Practitioner Salary in California
In May 2024, nurse practitioners in California earned a median annual wage of $166,610 ($80.10 an hour) and a mean annual wage of $173,190, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey. BLS counted 20,980 nurse practitioners working in California — about 6.8% of the 307,390 such jobs in the United States. This page breaks down how that pay compares with the national figures for the occupation, where California ranks among all states, and how pay is spread from entry-level to top earners inside the state. For wider context, the U.S. all-occupation median wage in the same survey was $23.80 an hour; the California page linked below puts this occupation alongside every other job BLS publishes for the state.
How California ranks for nurse practitioner pay
Among the 50 states and areas where BLS publishes a median for this occupation, California ranks #1 for nurse practitioner pay. The California median of $166,610 is 28.9% higher than the national median of $129,210, and the state mean of $173,190 compares with a national mean of $132,000 (31.2% higher). The highest-paying state, California, posts a median of $166,610, so California sits $0 behind the top of the market. For a nurse practitioner weighing a move, that gap has to be set against California's housing and living costs, which this wage survey does not measure.
The pay spread inside California
Not every nurse practitioner in California earns the median. The lowest-paid 10% earned $124,330 or less in May 2024, and the bottom quarter earned $140,260 or less. At the top of the distribution, the highest-paid quarter earned at least $205,400 and the top 10% earned at least $234,800. Experience, employer type, shift and overtime patterns, and metro-versus-rural location all push individual pay toward one end of that range. Statewide, the occupation is also a meaningful part of the California job market: by employment it ranks #191 among the occupations BLS publishes for the state — see the full California salary page for the state's complete tables.
Nurse Practitioner pay in California at a glance
| Measure | California | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $166,610 | $129,210 |
| Mean annual wage | $173,190 | $132,000 |
| Median hourly wage | $80.10 | $62.12 |
| 10th percentile | $124,330 | $97,960 |
| 25th percentile | $140,260 | $109,940 |
| 75th percentile | $205,400 | $149,570 |
| 90th percentile | $234,800 | $169,950 |
| Employment | 20,980 | 307,390 |
For the full state-by-state picture of this occupation, see the Nurse Practitioners salary by state page. For every occupation's pay in this state, see average salary in California.
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Nurse Practitioner in California FAQ
How much do nurse practitioners make in California?
The median wage for nurse practitioners in California was $166,610 a year ($80.10 an hour) in May 2024, and the mean was $173,190, across 20,980 jobs.
Is California a good-paying state for nurse practitioners?
California ranks #1 of 50 published states and areas for nurse practitioner median pay. Its median of $166,610 is 28.9% higher than the national median of $129,210.
How many nurse practitioners work in California?
BLS estimated 20,980 nurse practitioners jobs in California in May 2024 — about 6.8% of the 307,390 such jobs nationwide.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Figures checked October 2026.