Travel Nursing in San Diego, CA

63 openings from $2,236–$3,729/week in San Diego, CA — CVOR, Telemetry, Peds - PACU. Pay by specialty, what it costs to live there, and 72 furnished places to stay.

63 openings from $2,236–$3,729/week right now.

Housing in San Diego

72 furnished rentals available for travel nurses.

Browse San Diego housing

Cost of living in San Diego

Prices in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) run 12% higher overall.

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

Rent in San Diego

The federal ceiling on tax-free lodging reimbursement in San Diego is $199–$237 per night, plus up to $86 a day for meals (GSA, FY2026). That is a maximum, not what agencies pay.

How San Diego pay compares

For the same specialties, San Diego pays about 11% above the national median, across 23 open listings. Once local prices are counted, that is worth about -1%. 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 San Diego

• CVOR RN — $3,448/week
• Telemetry RN — $2,982/week
• Peds - PACU RN — $2,329/week
• Progressive Care Unit RN — $2,236/week
• ICU RN — $2,390/week
• L&D RN — $2,813/week
• Cath Lab RN — $3,729/week
• PACU RN — $3,170/week

What San Diego pays by specialty

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

• ICU — $2,477/week median ($2,390–$2,564), 16 open
• Telemetry — $2,986/week median ($2,982–$3,324), 14 open
• Progressive Care Unit — $2,337/week median ($2,236–$2,442), 12 open
• L&D — $2,885/week median ($2,813–$2,957), 8 open

See all 63 openings in San Diego

Hospitals hiring in San Diego

4 hospitals in San Diego are hiring travel nurses, 54 openings in all. Each page lists the openings by specialty with advertised weekly pay, cost of living and housing nearby.

• Uc San Diego Health Hillcrest - Hillcrest Medical Center — 29 open · median $2,408/week advertised · 828 beds
• Sharp Memorial Hospital — 10 open · median $2,957/week advertised · 745 beds
• Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego — 8 open · median $3,155/week advertised · 596 beds
• Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego — 7 open · median $2,606/week advertised · 401 beds

Other cities in California

• San Leandro — 162 openings
• Sacramento — 114 openings
• Modesto — 105 openings
• Oakland — 79 openings
• Los Angeles — 77 openings
• Roseville — 65 openings
• Antioch — 56 openings
• Rancho Mirage — 53 openings

Resources

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

Common questions

How much do travel nurses make in San Diego, CA?

Open assignments in San Diego run $2,236 to $3,729 a week. Telemetry is highest at $2,986; Progressive Care Unit lowest at $2,337.

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 San Diego expensive for travel nurses?

Against the national average, San Diego runs housing 79% above, utilities 74% above and groceries and goods 8% above. The rest, services, sits within a few points of average. (BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024, where 100 is the national average.)

What is rent for a travel nurse in San Diego?

The market rate for a one-bedroom in San Diego is $2,530 a month (HUD Fair Market Rent, 2025, utilities included). CircleRN lists 72 furnished places here.

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

The federal ceiling on untaxed lodging in San Diego is $199–$237 a night, plus up to $86 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.