As of April 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Correctional Nurse in California is $74,256, equivalent to $36 per hour, $1,428 weekly, or $6,188 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Correctional Nurse in cities like Santa Clara, San Jose, and Fremont.

Annually Salaries for Correctional Nurse in California vary widely, spanning from $59,650 to $90,951. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($66,611) and 75th percentile ($82,995), while top earners (90th percentile) make $90,951 per year. This $16,384 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Planning or Pediatric, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, California Correctional Nurse often earn 10.3% higher than national averages due to demand from Fortune 16 companies. However, California currently ranks 2 nationwide for Correctional Nurse job salary. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Correctional Nurse Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Correctional Nurse Salary $59,650 CA April 01, 2026
25th Percentile Correctional Nurse Salary $66,611 CA April 01, 2026
50th Percentile Correctional Nurse Salary $74,256 CA April 01, 2026
75th Percentile Correctional Nurse Salary $82,995 CA April 01, 2026
90th Percentile Correctional Nurse Salary $90,951 CA April 01, 2026
25% $66,611 10% $59,650 90% $90,951 75% $82,995 $74,256 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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Correctional Nurse (Rn) 2317 (Rev 07-09-25)

City of Los Angeles, CA - Los Angeles, CA

Lead Correctional Nurse Supervisor

California Correctional Health Care Services - Imperial, CA

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What is a Correctional Nurse ?

Correctional nursing, sometimes called forensic nursing, is a specialized field of nursing that involves caring for the medical and mental health needs of detainees and inmates. These nurses work in a variety of settings such as jails, prisons, and juvenile detention centers. In these correctional settings, nurses are the primary healthcare providers....

Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/25/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

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Location Avg. Salary Date Updated
Location Coachella, CA Avg. Salary $71,456 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Acampo, CA Avg. Salary $72,929 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Acton, CA Avg. Salary $75,064 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Adelanto, CA Avg. Salary $71,401 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Adin, CA Avg. Salary $69,744 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Agoura Hills, CA Avg. Salary $74,081 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Aguanga, CA Avg. Salary $71,551 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Ahwahnee, CA Avg. Salary $67,930 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Alameda, CA Avg. Salary $83,289 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Alamo, CA Avg. Salary $83,098 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Job Openings for Correctional Nurse in California

Career Path for this job

  1. This Job:

    Correctional Nurse

    0 - 2 years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

  2. Up a level:

    Staff Nurse - RN II

    2 - 4 years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

Jobs with a similar salary range to Correctional Nurse : Graduate Rn, Rn Part Time, Register Nurse