Travel Nursing in Oakland, CA

79 openings from $2,464–$3,446/week in Oakland, CA — ICU, NICU, OB/GYN. Pay by specialty, what it costs to live there, and 9 furnished places to stay.

79 openings from $2,464–$3,446/week right now.

Housing in Oakland

9 furnished rentals available for travel nurses.

Browse Oakland housing

Cost of living in Oakland

Prices in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) run 16% higher overall.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024, where 100 is the national average.

Rent in Oakland

The federal ceiling on tax-free lodging reimbursement in Oakland is $145 per night, plus up to $92 a day for meals (GSA, FY2026). That is a maximum, not what agencies pay.

How Oakland pay compares

For the same specialties, Oakland pays about 20% above the national median, across 21 open listings. Once local prices are counted, that is worth about +4%. Each opening is compared with the national median for its own specialty, so the figure is not distorted by which specialties happen to be hiring here.

Licensing

California is not a Nurse Licensure Compact state, so you need a California license to work here even if you hold a multistate license.

Pay in CA

Average weekly package (base + stipends): $2,771 based on 3 reports.

View CA pay data

Open assignments in Oakland

• ICU RN — $3,046/week
• NICU RN — $3,297/week
• OB/GYN RN — $2,611/week
• Stepdown RN — $2,675/week
• L&D RN — $2,870/week
• Emergency Room RN — $2,568/week
• Operating Room RN — $2,845/week
• Pediatrics RN — $2,843/week

What Oakland pays by specialty

Weekly package on assignments open now, for specialties with at least three priced postings.

• L&D — $3,264/week median ($2,870–$3,264), 20 open
• ICU — $3,046/week median ($2,675–$3,046), 15 open
• NICU — $3,294/week median ($2,748–$3,297), 14 open

See all 79 openings in Oakland

Hospitals hiring in Oakland

3 hospitals in Oakland are hiring travel nurses, 16 openings in all. Each page lists the openings by specialty with advertised weekly pay, cost of living and housing nearby.

• Highland Hospital — 12 open · median $2,675/week advertised · 232 beds
• Alta Bates Summit Medical Center — 2 open · median $3,301/week advertised · 251 beds
• UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland — 2 open · median $3,002/week advertised · 163 beds

Other cities in California

• San Leandro — 162 openings
• Sacramento — 114 openings
• Modesto — 105 openings
• Los Angeles — 77 openings
• Roseville — 65 openings
• San Diego — 63 openings
• Antioch — 56 openings
• Rancho Mirage — 53 openings

Resources

• Travel nursing in California
• Travel nursing by state
• Hospitals in Oakland
• Housing across California
• Travel Nurse Housing Guide
• Travel Nurse Pay Explained
• Pay Calculator

Common questions

How much do travel nurses make in Oakland, CA?

Open assignments in Oakland run $2,464 to $3,446 a week. NICU is highest at $3,294; ICU lowest at $3,046.

Do I need a California nursing license?

California is not a Nurse Licensure Compact state, so you need a California license to work here even if you hold a multistate license.

Is Oakland expensive for travel nurses?

Against the national average, Oakland runs housing 95% above, utilities 73% above, groceries and goods 8% above and services 6% above. (BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024, where 100 is the national average.)

What is rent for a travel nurse in Oakland?

The market rate for a one-bedroom in Oakland is $1,920 a month (HUD Fair Market Rent, 2025, utilities included). CircleRN lists 9 furnished places here.

How much of a travel nurse package is tax-free in Oakland?

The federal ceiling on untaxed lodging in Oakland is $145 a night, plus up to $92 a day for meals (GSA, FY2026). That is a maximum, not what agencies pay, and stipends are only untaxed while you maintain a permanent tax home elsewhere.