State comparison · 2025
Registered Nurses salary: California vs North Carolina
Registered Nurses in California earn a median of $140,270. In North Carolina, $84,350. After cost-of-living, the gap is 41.7% — not 66.3%.
Nominal pay gap
+66.3%
California vs North Carolina
COL-adjusted gap
+41.7%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Registered Nurses
- Median
- $140,270
- p25
- $122,440
- p75
- $173,170
- p10
- $101,260
- p90
- $213,320
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -86%
North Carolina
Registered Nurses
- Median
- $84,350
- p25
- $78,770
- p75
- $102,040
- p10
- $67,660
- p90
- $110,220
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 94.3
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -12%
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.