Lead Nurse Salaries in California
How Much Does a Lead Nurse Make in California?
Updated March 01, 2025
As of March 01, 2025,
the average annual pay of Lead Nurse in California is $109,765.
While Salary.com is seeing that Lead Nurse salary in CA can go up to $131,295
or down to $93,596, but most earn between $101,301 and $121,034.
Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors,
including education, certifications, additional skills, and your experience levels.
With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Related Job Titles to Lead Nurse
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Similar Job Salaries to Lead Nurse by Company
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| Company | average base salary in (usd) | range |
|---|---|---|
|
Tulare County, CA
Public Health Lead Nurse
|
$100,355/yr
|
RANGE: $89,714 - $110,995
|
|
Stability Direct
Advanced Practice Nurse Lead
|
$143,561/yr
|
RANGE: $127,380 - $159,742
|
|
Horizon Services, Inc.
Lead Nurse Coordinator-LVN
|
$100,832/yr
|
RANGE: $90,392 - $111,271
|
|
Pinnacle Treatment Brand
Lead Nurse - LPN/LVN
|
$53,844/yr
|
RANGE: $48,451 - $59,237
|
|
Western Consulting & Ancillary Service,
Lead Registered Nurse
|
$107,675/yr
|
RANGE: $95,321 - $120,028
|
|
Incredible Health
Clinical Lead Nurse
|
$149,851/yr
|
RANGE: $131,967 - $167,734
|
|
Incredible Health
Senior Registered Nurse Lead
|
$117,032/yr
|
RANGE: $103,878 - $130,186
|
|
Incredible Health
Nurse Manager Lead
|
$157,589/yr
|
RANGE: $139,206 - $175,972
|
|
TULARE COUNTY HHSA
Public Health Lead Nurse
|
$90,620/yr
|
RANGE: $81,011 - $100,228
|
Top 10 Highest Paying Cities For Lead Nurse Jobs in California
It is important to understand how location impacts your career prospects in the United States.
There are some cities where a Lead Nurse can find a job easily with a greater salary paid then achieve a higher standard of living.
Below is the top cities list for Lead Nurse job salaries in California.
Some cities can pay higher salaries for Lead Nurse jobs, which can indicate that there is a large demand for Lead Nurse positions in this city.
The following table shows top 10 cities where the Lead Nurse salary is higher than other cities in California.
San Jose takes first place in this list, followed by Santa Clara, Fremont.
The Lead Nurse salary is $124,891 in San Jose,
which is higher than the national average. There are 76 cities' Lead Nurse salary higher than national average in California.
The average salary for a Lead Nurse in California is $109,765,
but we found that the city with the highest salary for Lead Nurse jobs is San Jose, CA, and it is higher than Santa Clara.
Lead Nurse jobs in San Jose can have the opportunity to earn higher salaries than in other cities in California.
| CITY | ANNUAL SALARY | MONTHLY PAY | WEEKLY PAY | HOURLY WAGE |
| San Jose | $124,891 | $10,408 | $2,402 | $60 |
| Santa Clara | $124,891 | $10,408 | $2,402 | $60 |
| Fremont | $124,692 | $10,391 | $2,398 | $60 |
| San Francisco | $124,393 | $10,366 | $2,392 | $60 |
| Daly City | $124,393 | $10,366 | $2,392 | $60 |
| Berkeley | $121,408 | $10,117 | $2,335 | $58 |
| Oakland | $121,408 | $10,117 | $2,335 | $58 |
| Hayward | $121,209 | $10,101 | $2,331 | $58 |
| Antioch | $114,641 | $9,553 | $2,205 | $55 |
| Vallejo | $111,954 | $9,330 | $2,153 | $54 |
What Does a Lead Nurse Do?
Depending on the role they shoulder, lead nurses are often less involved in clinical nursing and more involved in management on a clinical level.
Updated December 22, 2021
Lead nurses, sometimes called charge nurses, coordinate nursing care for a specific unit or department within a medical facility.
Updated December 14, 2021
Lead nurses are usually at pay band 8a, but can reach up to 8b/8c, which corresponds to H grade under the Whitley system, which was officially retired with the Agenda for Change system but may still be used in the working parlance.
Updated December 12, 2021
The Lead Nurse is in charge of the nursing staff aboard the cruise ship and reports to the ship�s Physician, ship's Chief Doctor as well as to the Fleet Chief Nursing Officer at the head office of the cruise line.
Updated November 28, 2021
Lead nurses don’t usually provide direct patient care, but they do monitor the quality of care offered by their departments.
Updated November 21, 2021
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Explore JobArchitectFrequently Asked Questions About a Lead Nurse Salaries
What is the average of a Lead Nurse in California?
The Lead Nurse salary range is from $101,301 to $121,034, and the average Lead Nurse salary is $109,765/year in California.
The Lead Nurse's salary will change in different locations.
Which location pays the highest Lead Nurse salary in the United States?
The Lead Nurse salary in San Jose, CA is $124,891
which is the highest in the US.
What kinds of reasons will influence the Lead Nurse's salary?
Besides the location, employees' education degree, related skills, and work experience also will influence the salary.
Try to improve your skills and experience to get a higher salary for the position of Lead Nurse.
What is the growth rate of the Lead Nurse's salary?
If you are thinking of becoming a Lead Nurse or planning the next step in your career, find the detailed salary report of a Lead Nurse.
