Mental Health Nurse Salaries in California
How Much Does a Mental Health Nurse Make in California?
Updated April 01, 2025
As of April 01, 2025,
the average annual pay of Mental Health Nurse in California is $58,147.
While Salary.com is seeing that Mental Health Nurse salary in CA can go up to $66,171
or down to $49,343, but most earn between $53,539 and $62,347.
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 Mental Health Nurse
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Similar Job Salaries to Mental Health Nurse by Company
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| Company | average base salary in (usd) | range |
|---|---|---|
|
Ventura County
Mental Health Nurse Specialist
|
$84,074/yr
|
RANGE: $75,545 - $92,603
|
|
NHS Ayrshire & Arran
Mental Health Nurse - Inpatient
|
$86,294/yr
|
RANGE: $77,540 - $95,048
|
|
Solano County
Mental Health Nurse
|
$88,655/yr
|
RANGE: $79,652 - $97,658
|
|
Defense Health Agency
NURSE (MENTAL HEALTH)
|
$102,258/yr
|
RANGE: $92,076 - $112,440
|
|
CHE Behavioral Health Services
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
|
$146,724/yr
|
RANGE: $134,444 - $159,003
|
|
Gotham Enterprises Ltd
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
|
$143,397/yr
|
RANGE: $131,396 - $155,398
|
Top 10 Highest Paying Cities For Mental Health 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 Mental Health 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 Mental Health Nurse job salaries in California.
Some cities can pay higher salaries for Mental Health Nurse jobs, which can indicate that there is a large demand for Mental Health Nurse positions in this city.
The following table shows top 10 cities where the Mental Health Nurse salary is higher than other cities in California.
San Jose takes first place in this list, followed by Santa Clara, Fremont.
The Mental Health Nurse salary is $66,493 in San Jose,
which is higher than the national average. There are 76 cities' Mental Health Nurse salary higher than national average in California.
The average salary for a Mental Health Nurse in California is $58,147,
but we found that the city with the highest salary for Mental Health Nurse jobs is San Jose, CA, and it is higher than Santa Clara.
Mental Health 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 | $66,493 | $5,541 | $1,279 | $32 |
| Santa Clara | $66,493 | $5,541 | $1,279 | $32 |
| Fremont | $66,366 | $5,531 | $1,276 | $32 |
| San Francisco | $65,839 | $5,487 | $1,266 | $32 |
| Daly City | $65,839 | $5,487 | $1,266 | $32 |
| Berkeley | $64,379 | $5,365 | $1,238 | $31 |
| Oakland | $64,379 | $5,365 | $1,238 | $31 |
| Hayward | $64,273 | $5,356 | $1,236 | $31 |
| Antioch | $60,741 | $5,062 | $1,168 | $29 |
| Vallejo | $59,307 | $4,942 | $1,141 | $29 |
What Does a Mental Health Nurse Do?
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Updated December 18, 2021
A mental health nurse is a registered nurse who specialises in working with people who have a mental illness like.
Updated December 03, 2021
Psychiatric nurses meet the challenge of forming strong therapeutic relationships with people who have mental illnesses and often with their families as well.
Updated October 27, 2021
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Carrying out mental health specialist education programs that implement specialist mental health nursing services and care in improving the mental health of the community.
Updated October 10, 2021
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Explore JobArchitectFrequently Asked Questions About a Mental Health Nurse Salaries
What is the average of a Mental Health Nurse in California?
The Mental Health Nurse salary range is from $53,539 to $62,347, and the average Mental Health Nurse salary is $58,147/year in California.
The Mental Health Nurse's salary will change in different locations.
Which location pays the highest Mental Health Nurse salary in the United States?
The Mental Health Nurse salary in San Jose, CA is $66,493
which is the highest in the US.
What kinds of reasons will influence the Mental Health 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 Mental Health Nurse.
What is the growth rate of the Mental Health Nurse's salary?
If you are thinking of becoming a Mental Health Nurse or planning the next step in your career, find the detailed salary report of a Mental Health Nurse.
