Registered Nurse pay in San Francisco, by the numbers
After a simplified 18% national tax estimate that is about US$12,800 a month, in a metro with a cost-of-living index of 100.
San Francisco vs the national and CA picture
San Jose leads at US$216,740, 16% above San Francisco, while Jacksonville sits at US$83,520. The neighbours in the ranking are San Jose and San Diego.
Across CA, the 4 observed metros average US$169,600; San Francisco is 10% above that and 2nd in the state. The others: Los Angeles (US$135,560), San Diego (US$139,520) and San Jose (US$216,740).
Cost of living and take-home in San Francisco
Price levels in San Francisco (index 100) neither inflate nor shrink the paycheck much; adjusted for costs it is worth about US$186,600.
Cash rank and buying-power rank match for San Francisco: 2nd of 21.
Take-home on the median comes to roughly US$12,800 monthly (18% effective tax in our simplified model). Rent for a modeled 1-bedroom is 13% of it, and the single-adult budget ends about US$9,260 in the black.
Other CA options for registered nurses
Los Angeles (also in CA) pays US$135,560, 27% less than San Francisco; modeled monthly leftover is US$3,230 lower.
A registered nurse moving from San Francisco to San Diego (also in CA) would see the median fall 25% to US$139,520, with US$2,980 less left over monthly in our model.
In New York — similar cost level, COL 100 — the median is US$119,720 (-36% vs San Francisco), and the modeled budget leaves US$4,240 less each month.
Where Registered Nurse ranks among San Francisco jobs
Lawyer is the best-paid tracked role in San Francisco at US$212,500; registered nurse comes 3rd of 9.
Closest neighbours in the San Francisco list: Software Engineer at US$186,640 (0%) and Data Scientist at US$170,110 (-9%).
Entry-level vs senior registered nurse pay in San Francisco
Entry and senior pay rank the same in San Francisco: 2nd of 21 at both the 10th and the 90th percentile.
For the top 10% of earners, San Jose leads with US$235,190 at the 90th percentile, +5% against San Francisco.
Spread between low and high registered nurse pay in San Francisco
From the 10th percentile (US$119,290) to the 90th (US$223,770) is only 1.9×, a narrower spread than many roles.