State comparison · 2025
Registered Nurses salary: California vs South Dakota
Registered Nurses in California earn a median of $140,270. In South Dakota, $78,060. After cost-of-living, the gap is 43.8% — not 79.7%.
Nominal pay gap
+79.7%
California vs South Dakota
COL-adjusted gap
+43.8%
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%
South Dakota
Registered Nurses
- Median
- $78,060
- p25
- $65,070
- p75
- $84,280
- p10
- $54,040
- p90
- $98,220
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 88.6
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -17%
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.