What to Pay a Travel Nurse in San Francisco, CA (2026)
How to set your Travel Nurse pay range in San Francisco
Three pay positions, modeled against current San Francisco market data. Pick the one that matches your comp philosophy and the role's strategic value.
Travel Nurse salary percentile distribution in San Francisco, CA
Where the San Francisco market actually sits for Travel Nurse base pay.
Most San Francisco employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($182,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $155,000 and a max of $215,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.
California pay transparency compliance for Travel Nurse job postings
What you must post when hiring a Travel Nurse in California.
| Requirement | Applies When | Penalty for Non-Compliance |
|---|---|---|
| Pay scale in job posting | 15+ employees, ≥1 in California | $100–$10,000 per violation |
| Good-faith range (no inflated bands) | All covered postings | $100–$10,000 per violation; escalates for repeat |
| Include bonuses and incentive pay (SB 642) | All covered postings from 2026 | Same penalty schedule |
| Provide pay scale to current employees on request | Any covered employer | $100–$10,000 per violation |
| Maintain wage history records for 3 years | All employers | Presumption against employer in disputes |
For a Travel Nurse role in San Francisco, a compliant good-faith range looks like $155,000 to $215,000. A good-faith range for this role is $155,000–$215,000. Ranges wider than ~50% have been challenged under CA enforcement actions.
Top Travel Nurse employers in San Francisco — who you're competing against
Top healthcare employers hiring Travel Nurses in the San Francisco metro and what they're posting.
| Employer | Type | Disclosed Range | Sign-on Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aya Healthcare | Travel agency | $175K–$220K | Common (per contract) |
| Cross Country Healthcare | Travel agency | $172K–$215K | Common |
| Trusted Health | Travel agency / tech-driven | $178K–$225K | Common |
| Direct contracts (UCSF, Stanford) | Academic hospital direct | $192K–$240K | Hospital-direct premium |
| Sutter Health (internal travel pool) | Health system internal | $175K–$218K | Internal pool premium |
Travel Nurse talent supply and hiring difficulty in San Francisco
How hard is it to fill a Travel Nurse role in San Francisco.
Skill premiums Travel Nurse candidates command in San Francisco, CA
| Skill / Credential | Pay Premium | Demand Signal |
|---|---|---|
| ICU (CCRN) | +18–28% | Very high — Bay Area shortage acute |
| ER (CEN) | +15–22% | Very high |
| OR / L&D | +15–22% | Very high |
| Crisis surge bonus | +40–100% during | Episodic, very high value |
Travel Nurse total compensation in San Francisco — what candidates expect beyond base
Total rewards mix for Travel Nurses in San Francisco. "Prevalence" reflects share of San Francisco disclosed-range postings including each element.
| Component | Typical Value | Prevalence in San Francisco Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Taxed hourly base | $65–$90/hr (~$2,600–$3,600/wk) | 100% |
| Housing stipend (untaxed) | $2,400–$4,200/wk | ~100% |
| Meals & incidentals | $350–$575/wk | ~100% |
| Travel reimbursement | $800–$2,000 per contract | ~88% |
| Completion bonus | $1,000–$4,000 per 13-wk | ~68% |
| Estimated total comp benchmark | ~$215K–$265K (annualized) | — |
Shift differentials and sign-on bonuses are typically table stakes rather than differentiators. Tuition reimbursement for LPN-to-RN bridge programs is increasingly the lever that wins competitive offers, particularly for early-career candidates.
Travel Nurse pay by setting in San Francisco — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health
Where the Travel Nurse range splits by employer type in the San Francisco metro.
| Setting | Median | Competitive Range | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICU | $205,000 | $185K–$240K | Very high |
| ER | $198,000 | $178K–$232K | Very high |
| OR | $202,000 | $182K–$235K | Very high |
| L&D | $195,000 | $175K–$228K | Very high |
| Med-surg | $168,000 | $152K–$192K | High |
Travel Nurse salary in San Francisco vs. other California and nearby metros
What you'd pay if you hired in a nearby metro instead.
| Location | Median Base | vs. San Francisco | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco–Oakland–Hayward, CA | $182,000 | — | Very tight |
| Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CA | $152,000 | −16.5% | Very tight |
| San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA | $185,000 | +1.6% | Very tight |
| Sacramento–Roseville, CA | $162,000 | −11.0% | Tight |
| California statewide | $155,000 | −14.8% | — |
| U.S. national | $118,000 | — | — |
FAQ: hiring a Travel Nurse in San Francisco, CA
Related Travel Nurse pay benchmarks — California metros and nearby nursing roles
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Data refreshed May 15, 2026. Next scheduled update: August 15, 2026.
© 2026 BetterComp. Market data informational only — not legal advice.