Clinical research nurse salary in California
Open clinical research nurse jobs in California post a median of $65 an hour, the middle half $58.75–$69 (about $135,200 a year full time), $16 above the national posted median. From 12 jobs at 3 employers that state their pay.
The jobs themselves: Clinical research nurse jobs in California · Clinical research nurse pay nationwide
What clinical research nurses are paid in California
Each bar counts the open jobs posting an hourly rate in its step of pay (a range at its midpoint).
Posted on open jobs in California
Middle half of 9 employer rates (each employer's advertised range once), median $65. 60% of the 20 open clinical research nurse jobs in California state an hourly rate.
Research nurse in California: new openings every week
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Clinical research nurse pay by town in California
Towns where at least three open jobs state an hourly rate, the towns with the most such jobs first.
| Town | Median posted | Posted range | Jobs (employers) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $59 | $39.60–$82.75 | 6 (1) |
Median of employers' rates in the town, the lowest and highest rate posted, and the jobs and employers behind them. A town opens its own job page.
Clinical research nurse pay by employer in California
What each employer posts for clinical research nurses here, the employers with the most jobs stating pay first.
| Employer | Median posted | Posted range | Jobs stating pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedars-Sinai | $58.75 | $39.60–$82.75 | 7 |
| Stanford Health Care | $100.50 | $83.98–$114.61 | 4 |
| Providence | $69 | $54.05–$83.90 | 1 |
Median of each employer's jobs in California (a range at its midpoint), and its lowest and highest rate here. An employer's name opens its pay for clinical research nurses nationwide when it has such a page.
Best-paid open clinical research nurse jobs in California
The open jobs posting the highest hourly rates tonight, at most two from one employer.
Oncology Research Nursing Professional (RN), Bone Marrow Transplant / Cellular Therapy
Stanford Health Care · Palo Alto, CA· 1w ago
$86.50–$114.61/hrOncology Research Nursing Professional (RN) - Early Drug Development
Stanford Health Care · Palo Alto, CA· 1w ago
$86.50–$114.61/hr
Clinical Research RN - Research Projects
Providence · Orange, CA· 2mo ago
$54.05–$83.9/hr
Cedars-Sinai · Los Angeles, CA· 1y+ ago
$51.72–$82.75/hrResearch Nurse Coordinator III - Hybrid
Cedars-Sinai · Los Angeles, CA· 2mo ago
$50.03–$80.05/hr
What BLS measures in California
What people employed in the occupation earned in the state, at every level of experience, from the BLS survey. A posting advertises what a new hire is offered.
| BLS occupation | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses (29-1141) | $48.68 (source: BLS OEWS, Registered Nurses, opens in a new tab) | $58.87 (source: BLS OEWS, Registered Nurses, opens in a new tab) | $67.44 (source: BLS OEWS, Registered Nurses, opens in a new tab) | $83.25 (source: BLS OEWS, Registered Nurses, opens in a new tab) | $102.56 (source: BLS OEWS, Registered Nurses, opens in a new tab) | 338,940 (source: BLS OEWS, Registered Nurses, opens in a new tab) |
BLS median by metro area
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$65.18/hr (source: BLS OEWS, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, opens in a new tab)
- San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$89.71/hr (source: BLS OEWS, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, opens in a new tab)
- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$64.40/hr (source: BLS OEWS, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA, opens in a new tab)
- San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$67.08/hr (source: BLS OEWS, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA, opens in a new tab)
- Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$82.43/hr (source: BLS OEWS, Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA, opens in a new tab)
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$104.20/hr (source: BLS OEWS, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, opens in a new tab)
- Fresno, CA$60.30/hr (source: BLS OEWS, Fresno, CA, opens in a new tab)
- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$63.06/hr (source: BLS OEWS, Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA, opens in a new tab)
Clinical research nurse salary in California: common questions
How much does a clinical research nurse make in California?
Open clinical research nurse jobs in California that state an hourly rate post a median of $65, the middle half $58.75–$69 (12 jobs from 3 employers). Full time that is about $135,200 a year. BLS measured a median of $67.44/hr ($140,270 a year) for people employed in the occupation in California (May 2025).
Which employers in California pay clinical research nurses the most?
Among employers stating a rate on at least three open jobs here: Stanford Health Care ($100.50) and Cedars-Sinai ($58.75).
How does California compare with the rest of the country?
The posted median in California ($65) is $16 above the national posted median of $49. In the BLS survey California ranks 1 of 52 by median wage.
Where do these figures come from?
From the pay open jobs state, read every night from each employer's own job board: 12 of 20 open clinical research nurse jobs in California (60%) state an hourly rate. No pay is estimated for a job that states none; "up to" ceilings and weekly travel rates are left out.
Clinical research nurse pay in other states
Sources and method
- CareJobs.Now job board: the pay open jobs state, read nightly from each employer's own careers site, published October 24, 2026
- BLS OEWS May 2025: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141), every state, published May 15, 2026
- BLS OEWS May 2025: Registered Nurses, national, published May 15, 2026
- BLS OEWS May 2025: Registered Nurses by metropolitan area, published May 15, 2026
Cite this page
CareJobs.Now. (2026). Clinical research nurse salary in California. Data as of October 24, 2026. https://carejobs.now/salaries/research-nurse/california