Travel nurses in California have access to 1,041 furnished rental listings, 8 reviewed hospitals, and an average weekly pay of $2,771 based on 3 pay reports on CircleRN. All data is submitted by working travel nurses.
1,607 openings across 106 cities from $1,514–$4,070/week.
All 1,607 openings in California
133 hospitals in California are hiring travel nurses, 1,395 openings in all. Each page lists the openings by specialty with advertised weekly pay, cost of living and housing nearby.
1,041 furnished rentals with a median rent of $1,800/month.
For the same specialties, California pays about 12% above the national median, across 618 open listings. Each opening is compared with the national median for its own specialty. Once California prices are counted, that is worth about +1%.
Statewide, prices run 11% higher overall. Individual metros vary, so check the city page for where you are going.
| Category | Index | vs national |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 110.7 | 11% higher |
| Housing | 154.3 | 54% higher |
| Utilities | 158.9 | 59% higher |
| Groceries and goods | 106.1 | 6% higher |
| Services | 102.6 | 3% higher |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024, where 100 is the national average.
A two-bedroom runs about $2,640/month, the median across 428 California cities (HUD Fair Market Rent, 2025, utilities included).
The federal ceiling on tax-free lodging reimbursement across California runs $110–$279 per night depending on the area, plus up to $92 a day for meals (GSA, FY2026). That is a maximum, not what agencies pay.
California is not a Nurse Licensure Compact state, so you need a California license to work here even if you hold a multistate license.
Hospitals in California reviewed by travel nurses
Travel nurses in California earn an average of $2,771 per week based on 3 pay reports.
Of the 15 nursing specialties with open contracts in California, PICU pays the most at $3,367 per week and Med-Surg the least at $2,231.
| Specialty | Open contracts | Median weekly |
|---|---|---|
| L&D | 127 | $3,047 |
| ER | 106 | $2,443 |
| ICU | 92 | $2,611 |
| Med-Surg | 44 | $2,231 |
| Telemetry | 32 | $2,298 |
| NICU | 32 | $3,236 |
| PACU | 28 | $2,696 |
| Case Management | 25 | $3,022 |
| OR | 23 | $3,040 |
| Cath Lab | 23 | $3,079 |
| Oncology | 17 | $2,761 |
| PCU | 12 | $2,466 |
| PICU | 11 | $3,367 |
| Mother-Baby | 10 | $2,815 |
| CVICU | 10 | $3,150 |