Travel Nurse Pay in California
Discover average travel nurse pay rates, stipends, and take-home calculations for California. Use our free calculator below to estimate your earnings.
Data reviewed July 3, 2026 · 50 states, 221 cities, FY2026 GSA rates
Pay figures on this page are our own editorial estimates, reviewed July 31, 2026 — not survey or government wage data. How we produce these numbers.
Calculate Your Pay in California
Use our calculator to estimate your take-home pay in California, including cost of living analysis to see your true discretionary income.
Travel Nurse Pay Breakdown
Estimate your take-home pay, taxes, and blended rate in seconds.
Federal tax applies to wages after the $16,100 standard deduction; FICA applies to all wages. Tax-free stipends are excluded from both.
Same-state assignment — you file one resident return in your home state.
State income tax not included
We do not yet have a sourced bracket schedule for this state, so we are not estimating its income tax. A wrong state figure is worse than none. Federal and FICA figures above are complete and sourced; your true net pay will be lower than gross by more than the amounts shown, so we are not displaying a net figure for this state.
Overtime (Optional)
Blended Hourly Rate
$125.78
Based on 36 hours in CA.
Gross Weekly Pay
$4,528
Taxable Weekly Income
$1,980
Estimated Weekly Taxes
—
True Net Weekly Pay
—
Assignment Projections
13-Week Assignment
—
Net Pay
26-Week Assignment
—
Net Pay
Annual (52 weeks)
—
Net Pay
Take Home vs Taxes
Take Home
—
per week
Taxes
—
per week
Total Gross: $4,528 per week
🏠 Housing Stipend Analysis
Your Weekly Housing Stipend
$1,904
≈ $8,244/month
Est. 1BR Rent in California
$2,300
Monthly average
✅ Potential Tax-Free Pocket Money
+$5,944
Your stipend covers rent with $5,944 left over each month.
Find apartments under $2,300/month in San Francisco:
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Average Travel Nurse Pay in California
These are average pay rates for travel nurses in California. Actual pay varies by specialty, experience, and facility. Use our pay calculator to estimate your specific take-home pay.
Hourly Rate
$55/hr
Weekly Gross
$2,200
Annual
$114,400
GSA Per Diem Rates for California
Lodging
$272/night
Meals
$92/day
Incidentals
$/day
These rates determine the maximum tax-free stipend amounts for travel nurses in California.
Tax Information for California
Cost of Living in California
Cost of Living Index
151.7
Above national average
Housing
Very High
Utilities
High
Travel Nurse Pay Data — CA
Data Source: This data is aggregated from anonymous submissions by travel nurses. Data is updated regularly as more submissions are received. Sample sizes are shown for each category.
Note: These are averages and should be used as general guidance. Actual pay varies by facility, experience, and contract terms.
Average Hourly Rate
$53/hr
↑ $2 from previous period
Average Weekly Pay
$2,120
Based on 36-hour contracts
Total Submissions
230+
Anonymous data points
Average Pay by Specialty
$55/hr
n=45 submissions
$54/hr
n=42 submissions
$56/hr
n=38 submissions
$48/hr
n=52 submissions
$52/hr
n=28 submissions
$53/hr
n=25 submissions
CA vs. Top States
$58/hr
n=78 submissions
$59/hr
n=65 submissions
$51/hr
n=82 submissions
$50/hr
n=71 submissions
$57/hr
n=48 submissions
$58/hr
n=42 submissions
More Visualizations Coming Soon
- Pay trends over time
- City-specific pay data
- Experience level comparisons
- Contract type analysis (13-week, 26-week, etc.)
- Interactive filters and comparisons
As we collect more anonymous salary data, we'll add more detailed visualizations and insights.Submit your pay data to help build this database.
Popular Cities for Travel Nurses in California
These are the most popular cities for travel nurse assignments in California. Click on any city to see detailed pay information, cost of living, and job opportunities. Use our state comparison tool to compare pay across different states.
Anaheim
Avg Pay: $58/hr
1BR Rent: $2100/mo
View city guide →
Fresno
Avg Pay: $54/hr
1BR Rent: $1300/mo
View city guide →
Long Beach
Avg Pay: $57/hr
1BR Rent: $1900/mo
View city guide →
Los Angeles
Avg Pay: $58/hr
1BR Rent: $2450/mo
View city guide →
Oakland
Avg Pay: $59/hr
1BR Rent: $2400/mo
View city guide →
Sacramento
Avg Pay: $56/hr
1BR Rent: $1500/mo
View city guide →
San Francisco
Avg Pay: $64/hr
1BR Rent: $3200/mo
View city guide →
San Diego
Avg Pay: $57/hr
1BR Rent: $2200/mo
View city guide →
San Jose
Avg Pay: $60/hr
1BR Rent: $2600/mo
View city guide →
Santa Ana
Avg Pay: $58/hr
1BR Rent: $2000/mo
View city guide →
View all state pay guides or search for specific cities using our calculator.
California Pay by Nursing Specialty
Pay varies significantly by specialty. Select a specialty to see detailed salary data for California:
ICU
$61/hr
~$2,196/wk
Very High DemandER
$59/hr
~$2,124/wk
Very High DemandOR
$62/hr
~$2,232/wk
High DemandLabor & Delivery
$58/hr
~$2,088/wk
High DemandMed-Surg
$55/hr
~$1,980/wk
Very High DemandPACU
$59/hr
~$2,124/wk
High DemandNICU
$59/hr
~$2,124/wk
High DemandPICU
$61/hr
~$2,196/wk
High DemandPsychiatric
$56/hr
~$2,016/wk
Moderate DemandOncology
$58/hr
~$2,088/wk
High DemandCardiac
$59/hr
~$2,124/wk
High DemandTelemetry
$57/hr
~$2,052/wk
High DemandCRNA
$130/hr
~$4,680/wk
Very High DemandCath Lab
$62/hr
~$2,232/wk
High DemandTop Hospitals in California
- UCSF Medical Center
- Cedars-Sinai
- Stanford Health Care
Nursing License Requirements for California
Cost of Living in California
Average 1BR Rent
$2,300/mo
Cost of Living Index
151.7
National avg = 100
Housing Cost
Very High
Tip: Use our pay calculator to see how your take-home pay compares to the cost of living in California. Consider that rent in California is higher than the national average.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do travel nurses make in California?
Travel nurses in California typically earn between $50 and $65 per hour in taxable wages, with an average of $55/hr. When including tax-free stipends, the blended hourly rate ranges from $65-80 per hour.
What are the GSA rates for California?
The GSA per diem rates for California are: Lodging: $272/night, Meals: $92/day, and Incidentals: $undefined/day. These rates determine the maximum tax-free stipend amounts travel nurses can receive. For official rates, visit [GSA.gov](https://www.gsa.gov/travel/plan-book/per-diem-rates).
Is California tax-friendly for travel nurses?
California has a state income tax rate of 13.3%, making it less tax-friendly for travel nurses. However, you'll still pay federal taxes on your taxable wages.
What is the cost of living in California?
The cost of living index in California is 151.7, which is above the national average. Housing costs are very high, and utilities are high.
Do I need a separate license to work in California?
California is NOT part of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so you will need to obtain a separate California nursing license. The license costs $350 and typically takes 4-6 weeks to process.