Nurse Practitioner salary in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Nurse Practitioners in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median of $163,860 a year ($78.78 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,340 workers.
Pay ranges from $131,380 for the lowest-paid 10% to $215,640 for the top 10%. That is 24% higher than the national median of $132,300. Pay here is 3% lower than the California statewide median of $168,520. There are 1.5 nurse practitioners per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.73). The average (mean) salary is $164,870, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for nurse practitioners in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $131,380 | $63.16 |
| 25th percentile | $135,410 | $65.10 |
| Median | $163,860 | $78.78 |
| 75th percentile | $181,120 | $87.08 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $215,640 | $103.67 |
| Average (mean) | $164,870 | $79.27 |
Half of nurse practitioners earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $13,655 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,827.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,302.31 |
| Weekly | $3,151.15 |
| Hourly | $78.78 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $163,860 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Nurse Practitioner salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $231,560 | 1,580 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $219,080 | 3,110 |
| Vallejo, CA | $182,370 | 180 |
| Napa, CA | $176,270 | 60 |
| Modesto, CA | $173,380 | 380 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $172,010 | 1,170 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $169,920 | 1,710 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $168,540 | 70 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $167,190 | 190 |
| Chico, CA | $167,080 | 140 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $167,040 | 280 |
| Fresno, CA | $166,570 | 570 |
| Salinas, CA | $166,090 | 140 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $165,580 | 430 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $165,580 | 200 |
| Yuba City, CA | $165,020 | 70 |
| El Centro, CA | $164,700 | 70 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $162,950 | 140 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $161,470 | 10,060 |
| Redding, CA | $160,480 | 120 |
| Visalia, CA | $159,430 | 250 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $159,150 | 280 |
| Merced, CA | $158,750 | 100 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $148,800 | 320 |
Highest-paying states for nurse practitioners
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $168,520 |
| New Jersey | $159,310 |
| Washington | $156,100 |
| Oregon | $155,680 |
| Alaska | $155,170 |
| New York | $153,510 |
| Massachusetts | $142,440 |
| Nevada | $140,670 |
| Connecticut | $138,470 |
| New Hampshire | $137,550 |
See Nurse Practitioner pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $139,520 | $67.08 |
| Physicians, All Other | $323,050 | $155.31 |
| Pharmacist | $165,130 | $79.39 |
| Physical Therapist | $113,850 | $54.74 |
| Dental Hygienist | $123,790 | $59.52 |
| Dentists, General | $158,160 | $76.04 |
| Occupational Therapist | $121,680 | $58.50 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $119,690 | $57.55 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $105,040 | $50.50 |
| Physician Assistant | $165,160 | $79.41 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $295,530 | $142.08 |
| Veterinarian | $159,750 | $76.80 |
| Chiropractor | $51,990 | $25.00 |
| Pediatricians, General | $262,650 | $126.28 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1171. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a nurse practitioner make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The median salary for nurse practitioners in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $163,860 a year, or $78.78 an hour. Pay ranges from $131,380 for the lowest-paid 10% to $215,640 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid nurse practitioners make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The top 10% of nurse practitioners in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn at least $215,640 a year. The top 25% earn $181,120 or more.
What is the starting pay for nurse practitioners in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $131,380 a year, and a quarter of nurse practitioners earn $135,410 or less.
How many nurse practitioners work in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
About 2,340 nurse practitioners are employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.