salary$186,610 a year$90 an hour · median pay in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA area
Lower pay (bottom 10%)$119,290per year
Top pay (top 10%)$223,770per year
Jobs in the area41,750people work this job
Can a registered nurse afford San Mateo?
OK. Rent of $3,358 a month takes 21.6% of the median registered nurse salary. That is under the 30% rule, so one paycheck covers rent comfortably.
Registered Nurse pay in similar cities
Other jobs in San Mateo
Nurse PractitionerLicensed Practical NurseNursing AssistantMedical AssistantPharmacistPhysician AssistantDental HygienistElementary School TeacherSoftware DeveloperComputer Systems AnalystAccountantMarket Research AnalystOperations ManagerLawyer
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in San Mateo, CA?
The median pay for a registered nurse in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA area is $186,610 a year ($90 an hour). Most earn between $119,290 and $223,770.
Can a registered nurse afford to live in San Mateo?
Typical rent of $3,358 a month takes 21.6% of the median registered nurse salary, which we rate OK.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, for the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area.