Average Registered Nurse Salary in Fresno, CA

The average Registered Nurse in Fresno, CA earns $133,780 per year. See how this compares to the national average and what it means for your budget.

Average Salary
$133,780
Median Salary
$131,390
vs. National
41.6% above
Real Pay (COL-adjusted)
$130,954

“Real pay” adjusts the average for Fresno’s cost of living (Regional Price Parity 102.158, U.S. average = 100) — what this salary is worth in national-average dollars.

What Registered Nurses actually earn in Fresno

The spread from entry-level (10th percentile) to top earners (90th), from BLS wage data.

10th (entry) $97,010
25th $104,290
Median $131,390
75th $157,650
90th (top) $181,210

8,300 Registered Nurses employed in the Fresno metro.

Am I underpaid? Check your exact percentile →

Can a Registered Nurse afford a home in Fresno?

Max home price under the 28% rule (housing ≤ 28% of gross), 10% down, 6.7% 30-yr rate. Median Fresno home: $348,500.

Earnings levelSalaryMax homeMedian home?
Entry (10th)$97,010$389,766Yes
Median$131,390$527,898Yes
Top (90th)$181,210$728,064Yes

What’s this salary worth in another city?

What you earn (or want to compare)

Take-home pay for a Registered Nurse in Fresno

Estimated pay after federal, FICA, and CA state taxes (2026). Prefilled with the local average — adjust for your situation.

Estimate only — not tax advice. Tax year 2026, federal + FICA + state (single or married filing jointly). Excludes local/city income taxes (e.g., NYC, Philadelphia) and individual credits. See our methodology.

Fresno at a glance

Population543,615
Median household income$66,804
Median home value$348,500
Median rent$1,324/mo
Cost of living (RPP, U.S.=100)102.158
Bachelor’s degree or higher16.7%
Poverty rate20.5%

In Fresno, CA, Registered Nurses earn a median of $131,390 a year - about 39% above the U.S. median of $94,480. Among the 50 metros tracked here for this role, that ranks #6.

What that pay is worth in Fresno

Local prices run 102 on the BEA cost-of-living index (U.S. = 100), so a $133,780 salary buys less than it looks - about $130,954 in national-average buying power.

Can Registered Nurses afford a home in Fresno?

A typical Fresno home runs about $348,500 - 2.6 times the average Registered Nurse salary, very affordable against the classic 3x rule of thumb. Median rent near $1,324/mo takes roughly 12% of gross pay - within the 30% comfort line.

The Registered Nurse pay ladder in Fresno

Entry-level (10th percentile) Registered Nurses earn about $97,010; the top 10% reach $181,210 - a $84,200 spread, wide for this field. Most of that gap comes down to experience, employer, and how hard you negotiate.

The Registered Nurse job market in Fresno

Fresno employs roughly 8,300 Registered Nurses. It’s a sizable local market to build a career in.

Compare Fresno with other cities

See the full Registered Nurse salary by city ranking to weigh Fresno against the other metros on both pay and cost-adjusted value, or use the cost-of-living calculator to compare any two cities directly.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Registered Nurses make in Fresno?

The average Registered Nurse in Fresno, CA earns about $133,780 per year, 41.6% above the national average of $94,480.

What is the take-home pay for Registered Nurses in Fresno after taxes?

After federal and CA taxes, this $133,780 salary is worth about $94,339 a year - roughly $7,861 a month in take-home pay, an effective tax rate near 29%.

What do the highest-paid Registered Nurses earn in Fresno?

The top 10% of Registered Nurses in Fresno earn about $181,210 a year, versus about $97,010 for the bottom 10%.

Can Registered Nurses afford a home in Fresno?

A typical Fresno home runs about $348,500 - roughly 2.6x this salary, within reach by the classic 3x rule of thumb.

Put your money to work

What it costs to live in Fresno

Fresno's cost of living is 2% above the US average. $100,000 here is worth about $97,888 nationally. Rent, homes and monthly costs.

Full Fresno cost-of-living breakdown →