Psychiatric Nurse salary in California
A psychiatric nurse in California earns an estimated $144,480 a year ($69.46/hr) — about 44% above the U.S. average, with most between $126,110 and $178,370. State figures are estimates based on national pay for the role and local cost of living — a starting point, not a guaranteed local wage.
Psychiatric Nurse — California
Specialty estimateMedian annual pay
$144,480
+44% vs nationalHourly
$69.46/hr
- Typical range
- $126,110–$178,370
- What most nurses earn
- High end
- $219,720
- Top earners
- Entry level
- $104,300
- Newer nurses
Psychiatric Nurse pay by city in California
Estimated pay in the state's largest metro areas.
| City | Est. annual | Est. hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $139,630 | $67.13 |
| San Francisco | $192,210 | $92.41 |
| San Diego | $143,710 | $69.09 |
| Sacramento | $176,600 | $84.90 |
Psychiatric Nurse pay in nearby-paying states
How California compares to states with similar psychiatric nurse pay.
Other nursing roles in California
Compare estimated pay for related roles in this state.
What affects psychiatric nurse pay in California
Highest nurse pay in the U.S., offset by high cost of living. For a psychiatric nurse specifically, pay is shaped by the metro labor market, hospital vs clinic vs long-term-care setting, union presence, shift differentials, unit acuity, and years of experience. Certifications and a move into charge or advanced-practice roles raise pay further. Use the calculator to estimate your own.
How this estimate was calculated
Public wage data does not report Psychiatric Nurse separately. This figure starts from the wage the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics published for Registered Nurse in California (May 2025) and applies a 1.03× specialty adjustment.
Local pay can vary well beyond this by specialty, shift, union status, employer type, overtime, and care setting. Treat it as a starting point — not an official California wage.
Source year: 2025. Based on the national figure of $100,480 for this role.
Use this state estimate as a starting point
- It’s a starting point for California, based on national pay and local pay levels — not a guaranteed local wage.
- Your actual pay shifts with role and specialty, care setting, shift, overtime, union status, and years of experience — so compare a role-specific page and personalize the calculator.
- Reviewed salary submissions from nurses in California make this page more precise over time.
Psychiatric Nurse salary in California — FAQ
- How much does a psychiatric nurse make in California?
- A psychiatric nurse in California earns an estimated $144,480 a year — about $69.46 an hour, with most between $126,110 and $178,370. That's about 44% above the national average. This is an estimate based on national pay for the role and California's local pay level, not a guaranteed local wage.
- Is California a good state for psychiatric nurses?
- For pay, California sits about 44% above the national average for psychiatric nurses. A higher number often comes with a higher cost of living, so weigh the estimated $144,480 against local housing and expenses rather than the headline figure alone.
- Which city in California pays psychiatric nurses the most?
- Among California metros we track, San Francisco tends to have the highest estimated pay for psychiatric nurses, at roughly $192,210 a year. City figures are estimates based on the role's national pay and local cost of living.
- How does California psychiatric nurse pay compare to the national average?
- The national estimate for a psychiatric nurse is about $100,480 a year, versus an estimated $144,480 in California — about 44% above the national average. Use the calculator to factor in your experience, specialty, and shift.
- Why are some figures verified and others estimates?
- National pay for the main nursing roles — registered nurses, LPNs/LVNs, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, nurse midwives, and nursing assistants — comes from verified public wage data. State, city, and specialty figures that aren't reported on their own start from that national pay and are labeled "Estimated" or "Specialty estimate." We never show an estimate as a verified figure.
Source & confidence— An estimate for a specialty that public pay data does not list on its own. A ballpark to start from, not an exact figure.
Modeled specialty estimate (BLS state wage × specialty adjustment)
Public wage data does not report Psychiatric Nurse separately. This figure starts from the wage the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics published for Registered Nurse in California (May 2025) and applies a 1.03× specialty adjustment.
Source year 2025. Last reviewed July 17, 2026. Full methodology
Estimated figure — national psychiatric nurse pay adjusted for California. Last reviewed July 17, 2026.