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2026 Salary Data — Sacramento, CA
Updated April 28, 2026

Registered Nurse Salary in Sacramento: $93K Median

Registered Nurses in Sacramento, CA earn between $69K and $143K per year.

That's +8% above the US national median of $86,070 for this role.

Quick Answer

As of April 2026, the median Registered Nurse salary in Sacramento, CA is $92,956 per year — +8% above the US national median of $86,070. Salaries range from $68,818 (entry, 25th percentile) to $143,294 (90th percentile). Registered Nurses in Sacramento earned approximately $14,084 in 2025, representing 560.0% year-over-year growth.

Median
$92,956
+560.0% YoY · $7,746/mo
Entry
$70,200
0–2 years
Experienced
$113,400
5+ years
Top 10%
$143,294
Senior/lead
Registered Nurse Salary — Sacramento vs Nearby
Sacramento
$93K
Los Angeles
$110K
-16% vs Sacramento
San Diego
$102K
-8% vs Sacramento
San Francisco
$133K
-30% vs Sacramento

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About Registered Nurses in Sacramento

Registered nurses (RNs) provide direct patient care, administer medications, coordinate care plans, and educate patients about health conditions.

Core Responsibilities

  • Patient assessment and care planning
  • Medication administration
  • Wound care and clinical procedures
  • Patient and family education
  • Care coordination with physicians

Education & Certifications

Typical path: BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) increasingly preferred over ADN

In-demand certifications

NCLEX-RNBLS/ACLSCCRN (critical care)CNOR (perioperative)Compact Nursing License

Sacramento Job Market

California state capital with growing tech sector.

Population
524K
Cost of Living
130
vs 100 US avg
Unemployment
4.5%
Median Home
$525K

Top Industries in Sacramento

GovernmentHealthcareTechEducationReal Estate

Top Employers Hiring Registered Nurses

Major employers active in Sacramento or hiring remotely from this metro.

HCA Healthcare
Kaiser Permanente
Mayo Clinic
Cleveland Clinic
CommonSpirit Health
Veterans Health

All major employers use ATS software.

Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo, and iCIMS auto-screen 75% of resumes before a human ever sees them. Scan your resume free to see your match rate.

2026 Hot Skills & Resume Keywords

Skills that command salary premiums and pass ATS keyword filters.

Hottest 2026 Skills

These appear in the highest-paying Registered Nurse listings.

TelehealthEpic EHRBSN credentialSpecialty certificationsNLC compact license

ATS Resume Keywords

Include these naturally throughout your resume.

patient caremedication administrationEHR (Epic, Cerner)critical thinkingBLSIV therapypatient education
Career Outlook
+6% Growth Projected (2024-2034)

RN employment projected to grow 6% through 2034, with 194,500 openings annually. Chronic shortage continues, driving competitive salaries and signing bonuses.

Registered Nurse Salary Breakdown — Sacramento

PeriodEntry (25th)Median (50th)Top (90th)
Annual$68,818$92,956$143,294
Monthly$5,735$7,746$11,941
Weekly$1,323$1,788$2,756
Hourly$33$45$69

Based on 2080 working hours/year. Local figures derived from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national median ($86,070) adjusted for Sacramento's cost-of-living multiplier (1.08×, sourced from BEA Regional Price Parities).

Registered Nurse Take-Home Pay in Sacramento

After federal, state and FICA taxes — single filer, standard deduction.

Net Annual Take-Home
$68,579.966
Per month$5,715
Biweekly paycheck$2,638
Effective tax rate26.2%

Tax Breakdown on $92,956

Gross salary$92,956
Federal income tax−$12,152.32
California state tax−$5,112.58
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)−$7,111.134
Take-home (net)$68,579.966

Estimates assume single filer, standard deduction ($14,600 for 2026), no 401(k)/HSA/dependents. Actual take-home varies with deductions, dependents, and benefits elections. Not tax advice.

Registered Nurse Salary by Experience — Sacramento

Career-stage progression for Registered Nurses in Sacramento.

ExperienceAnnual Salary
0–1 yr$64,584
2–3 yr$70,200
4–6 yr$91,800
7–10 yr$113,400
11–15 yr$133,812
15+ yr$128,347

Curve derived from BLS percentile data adjusted for Sacramento's 1.08× cost-of-living multiplier. Highlighted row = 7–10 year experienced level.

Year-Over-Year Trend

+560.0% vs 2025

2025 median:$14,084
2026 median:$92,956
Change:+$78,872

Healthcare sector growth driven by demand for Telehealth and Epic EHR.

Is This A Good Salary?

Livable middle-class

Cost-adjusted, this is a workable middle-class salary. Budgeting matters - dual-income households fare materially better, and saving for a down payment will take discipline.

COL-Adjusted Purchasing Power
$71,505
Tight on the median. Housing eats a disproportionate share of take-home pay and savings rates suffer without a partner income or higher-percentile salary.

How to Negotiate Your Registered Nurse Salary in Sacramento

Walk-away anchor: $84,505 (offers below this are below market for Sacramento).

Leverage Points

  • Specialty certifications (CCRN, OCS, BCPS, FNP) command 8-15% premiums
  • Compact license / multi-state authority and willingness to float between units
  • Night, weekend, and holiday shift differentials add up to $10K-$25K annually
  • Critical-shortage specialties (ICU, ER, NICU, oncology) have the most leverage

Beyond Base Salary, Negotiate

Sign-on bonus ($10K-$30K, often $50K+ for hard-to-fill roles)Tuition reimbursement and certification stipendsLoan repayment programs (especially federal/HRSA-eligible)Shift differentials (nights +15%, weekends +10%)Relocation package and housing stipend

What To Say

"Given the current shortage in this specialty and my certifications, I'm looking for $X base plus shift differential and a sign-on bonus. What flexibility do you have on those line items?"

Anchor on $113K–$143K for experienced roles, citing Sacramento market data and your specific Telehealth/Epic EHR expertise.

Registered Nurse Salary FAQ — Sacramento

What is the average Registered Nurse salary in Sacramento, CA?
The average Registered Nurse salary in Sacramento is $92,956 per year as of April 2026 — $7,746/month, $1,788/week, or about $45/hour. Salaries range from $68,818 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $143,294 (experienced, 90th percentile). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics adjusted for Sacramento's cost-of-living multiplier (1.08×).
Is $92,956 a good Registered Nurse salary in Sacramento?
Livable middle-class. Cost-adjusted, this is a workable middle-class salary. Budgeting matters - dual-income households fare materially better, and saving for a down payment will take discipline. Sacramento's cost-of-living index is 130 (vs 100 nationally), giving $92,956 a real purchasing power of approximately $71,505 in national terms. Tight on the median. Housing eats a disproportionate share of take-home pay and savings rates suffer without a partner income or higher-percentile salary.
Can you live on $92,956 in Sacramento?
Dual-income households are functionally required to raise a family at this cost level. Single earners on the median typically rent rather than buy and delay starting a family. Many residents spend 35-40% of pre-tax income on rent here, but the textbook target is still 30%. Going above 35% will materially crimp retirement and emergency savings. For Sacramento specifically (median home price $525,000), a $92,956 salary supports a comfortable lifestyle.
Is $92,956 enough for a single person in Sacramento?
A single adult in Sacramento typically needs ~$58,500 for a comfortable lifestyle (housing, food, transport, healthcare, modest savings). A $92,956 salary is well above that threshold — a single person can live comfortably with significant savings room.
Is $92,956 enough for a couple in Sacramento?
A couple (one earner) in Sacramento typically needs ~$93,600 for a comfortable lifestyle. A $92,956 salary as the sole household income is below the comfortable threshold — most couples at this level need both partners working or significant lifestyle adjustments. Two earners at $92,956 each ($185,912 household) provides solid middle-class comfort.
Is $92,956 enough for a family of 4 in Sacramento?
A family of 4 (one earner) in Sacramento typically needs ~$143,000 for a comfortable middle-class lifestyle (housing for 4, childcare/school, food, healthcare, transport, savings). A $92,956 salary as the sole household income is below the comfortable threshold — most families need a second income or to live in cheaper suburbs/exurbs of Sacramento. Childcare costs in Sacramento typically run $20K-$36K per child per year.
What is the take-home pay for a Registered Nurse in Sacramento?
On a $92,956 Registered Nurse salary in Sacramento, CA, you take home approximately $68,579.966 per year ($5,715/month, $2,638 per biweekly paycheck) after taxes. Breakdown: federal $12,152.32, state $5,112.58, FICA $7,111.134. Effective tax rate: 26.2%. (Single filer, standard deduction, no other adjustments.)
How much do Registered Nurses in Sacramento earn compared to the US average?
Registered Nurses in Sacramento earn approximately 8% more than the US national median for this role ($86,070 nationally vs $92,956 in Sacramento). However, Sacramento's cost-of-living index of 130 means real purchasing power is approximately $71,505 when adjusted for local prices.
What does an entry-level Registered Nurse earn in Sacramento?
Entry-level Registered Nurses in Sacramento typically start at around $70,200 (0–2 years experience). With 5+ years, Registered Nurses earn $113,400 or more. Top earners (90th percentile) reach $143,294+, typically at senior or lead levels with specialized skills.
Did Registered Nurse salaries in Sacramento increase in 2026?
Yes — Registered Nurse salaries in Sacramento grew approximately 560.0% year-over-year, from $14,084 in 2025 to $92,956 in 2026 (+$78,872). This reflects the broader Healthcare sector's compensation trend, driven by Telehealth and Epic EHR demand.
What's the job outlook for Registered Nurses in Sacramento?
RN employment projected to grow 6% through 2034, with 194,500 openings annually. Chronic shortage continues, driving competitive salaries and signing bonuses. Sacramento's top industries include Government, Healthcare, Tech, and the metro's current unemployment rate is 4.5% — steady demand for skilled workers.
What skills are most in demand for Registered Nurses in 2026?
The hottest 2026 skills for Registered Nurses are: Telehealth, Epic EHR, BSN credential, Specialty certifications, NLC compact license. ATS systems specifically scan for these keywords. Adding them to your resume — naturally and in context — significantly improves your match rate with employers in Sacramento.
Who are the top employers hiring Registered Nurses in Sacramento?
Top employers hiring Registered Nurses in or near Sacramento include: HCA Healthcare, Kaiser Permanente, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, CommonSpirit Health, Veterans Health. Most use ATS software (Workday, Greenhouse, Taleo, iCIMS) to screen resumes — meaning your resume must be ATS-optimized to even get a human reader.
How do I negotiate a higher Registered Nurse salary in Sacramento?
Given the current shortage in this specialty and my certifications, I'm looking for $X base plus shift differential and a sign-on bonus. What flexibility do you have on those line items? Key leverage points for Healthcare negotiations: Specialty certifications (CCRN, OCS, BCPS, FNP) command 8-15% premiums; Compact license / multi-state authority and willingness to float between units; Night, weekend, and holiday shift differentials add up to $10K-$25K annually. Beyond base salary, negotiate for: Sign-on bonus ($10K-$30K, often $50K+ for hard-to-fill roles), Tuition reimbursement and certification stipends, Loan repayment programs (especially federal/HRSA-eligible), Shift differentials (nights +15%, weekends +10%).
How can I increase my Registered Nurse salary in Sacramento?
Three highest-leverage moves: (1) Add 2026's hot skills (Telehealth, Epic EHR, BSN credential) — they command 15-30% premiums. (2) Get a recognized certification (e.g., NCLEX-RN or BLS/ACLS). (3) Tailor your resume to each role's keywords — CVCraft's ATS scanner shows you exactly what's missing.
What education do I need to become a Registered Nurse in Sacramento?
BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) increasingly preferred over ADN is the typical path. However, Sacramento's competitive market increasingly values demonstrable skills, portfolios, and certifications alongside (or in place of) traditional degrees — particularly for Healthcare roles.

Methodology & Sources

Registered Nurse salary figures for Sacramento are computed by adjusting the BLS national median ($86,070) by Sacramento's cost-of-living multiplier of 1.08× — a composite of regional wage data and price parities. Year-over-year change (560.0%) reflects the Healthcare sector's 2025-2026 wage growth per BLS Employment Cost Index trends. Last reviewed April 28, 2026.

Data Sources

Related Roles in Sacramento

Nurse Practitioner →Pharmacist →Physical Therapist →Occupational Therapist →Physician →Dentist →

Registered Nurse Salary in Other Cities

Los Angeles, CA$110KChicago, IL$90KHouston, TX$90KPhiladelphia, PA$90KSan Diego, CA$102KDallas, TX$90KSan Francisco, CA$133KDenver, CO$95K

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