Last Updated: June 2026
UCSF RN Salary 2026: CNA Contract, Step Scale & Differentials
Quick Answer
UCSF Health RNs earn $155,000–$170,000/year under the California Nurses Association (CNA) union contract — with senior RNs reaching $191,000–$208,000. Night shift differentials of $8.50–$11.00/hr stack on top of base. UCSF is consistently one of the highest-paying hospital nursing employers in the United States.
UCSF Health — comprising UCSF Medical Center (Parnassus and Mission Bay campuses), UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals, and affiliated sites — is a top-5 ranked academic medical center. Its nurses are represented by the California Nurses Association, which has negotiated one of the strongest step-progression contracts in the country, combining high base pay, stacked differentials, a UC pension, and mandatory nurse-to-patient ratios.
Reporting Note: Figures below are derived from CNA contract step-scale data, BLS OEWS May 2024 San Francisco metro figures ($154,230 mean), and nurse-reported compensation from public forums (2024–2025). Individual pay depends on step placement, shift, and specialty unit.
UCSF Nurse Full Compensation Package
UCSF Health — Full Compensation Breakdown
San Francisco, CA · 2026 Est.| Pay element | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Base hourly (Step 1 — New Grad) | Around $66–$72/hr | CNA union scale; Step 1 entry per current contract |
| Base hourly (Step 6 — ~5 yrs exp) | Around $80–$88/hr | Step progression tied to years at UCSF |
| Base hourly (Step 10+ — Senior RN) | Around $92–$100/hr | Top of CNA step scale at UCSF |
| Night shift differential | Around $8.50–$11.00/hr additional | Among highest in the US; CNA-negotiated |
| Weekend differential | Around $4.00–$6.50/hr additional | Stackable with night differential |
| Charge RN differential | Around $3.50–$5.00/hr additional | Per shift when serving as charge |
| PTO accrual | 20–30 days/yr | Increases with years of service |
| Retirement (UC Pension) | Defined benefit (UCRP) | Vests after 5 years; significant long-term value |
| Tuition assistance | Up to $5,250/yr | IRS maximum for employer education benefit |
Data compiled from publicly available job postings and reported compensation trends. Individual offers will vary by unit, experience, and negotiation.
UCSF RN Salary by Step / Experience (2026)
UCSF RN Salary by Step / Experience
| Step / Experience Level | Annual Salary (Day Shift) | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|
| New Grad / Step 1 | Around $137,000–$150,000/yr | ~$66–$72/hr (day shift) |
| Step 3–4 (~2–3 yrs) | Around $152,000–$165,000/yr | ~$73–$79/hr |
| Step 6 (~5 yrs) | Around $166,000–$183,000/yr | ~$80–$88/hr |
| Step 8–9 (~7–9 yrs) | Around $180,000–$198,000/yr | ~$87–$95/hr |
| Step 10+ (10+ yrs) | Around $191,000–$208,000/yr | ~$92–$100/hr |
Source: Derived from CNA contract step scale data and BLS OEWS May 2024 San Francisco metro mean ($154,230). Day shift base only — differentials additional. Rounded to nearest $1,000.
UCSF RN Salary by Specialty (2026)
UCSF RN Salary by Specialty (Total Compensation Estimate)
| Specialty | Total Compensation (Est.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CRNA | Around $265,000–$310,000/yr | UCSF CRNA program; top APRN compensation nationally |
| ICU / CVICU | Around $175,000–$210,000/yr | Step differentials + night + charge stacking |
| OR / Perioperative | Around $170,000–$205,000/yr | High surgical volume; call pay additional |
| ER / Emergency | Around $168,000–$200,000/yr | Level I trauma; night/weekend stacking common |
| L&D / NICU | Around $165,000–$195,000/yr | UCSF Benioff Children's; high NICU acuity |
| Med-Surg / Tele | Around $150,000–$175,000/yr | Base step scale; lower specialty differential |
Source: Estimated from CNA step-scale base + specialty differentials + night/weekend add-ons where typical. Rounded to nearest $1,000. CRNA from AANA 2024 survey.
UCSF vs. Other San Francisco Hospitals
RN Salary: UCSF vs. San Francisco Area Hospitals (2026)
| Hospital / System | Annual Salary Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| UCSF Health | Around $155,000–$170,000/yr | CNA union; academic medical center premium |
| Kaiser SF (CNA) | Around $148,000–$163,000/yr | Strong union contract; extensive benefits |
| Stanford Health Care | Around $140,000–$158,000/yr | Palo Alto; CRONA union |
| CPMC / Sutter Health SF | Around $130,000–$148,000/yr | SEIU-UHW represented |
| SF Metro Mean (BLS May 2024) | $154,230/yr | BLS OEWS San Francisco MSA mean |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024 San Francisco metro ($154,230 mean) + union contract data + job posting analysis. Rounded to nearest $1,000.
Negotiation at UCSF: Step Placement Is Everything
The CNA contract limits base salary negotiation, but step placement at hire is negotiable and matters significantly. Each step represents roughly $3–$5/hr, or $6,000–$10,000/year.
- Negotiate your starting step. If you have 5 years of ICU experience, push for Step 5 or 6 placement rather than Step 1. Each step gained at hire compounds for your entire UCSF tenure.
- Night shift is the largest total-comp lever. A Step 6 RN on nights earns $25,000–$35,000/year more than the same step on days.
- Factor in the UC pension. A UCSF RN vesting into UCRP after 5 years builds a retirement asset worth $500,000–$1,000,000+ over a 20-year career. Most private hospitals offer only 401k matches.
- Internal transfers are easier. Starting at another UC campus (Davis, Irvine, San Diego) can make UCSF transfer more accessible than external hire.
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources
Methodology
UCSF salary figures are derived from BLS OEWS May 2024 San Francisco–Oakland–Hayward metro mean ($154,230) and CNA contract step-scale data. Step-specific estimates are approximations based on publicly available contract information and nurse-reported compensation. Individual pay depends on step placement, shift, specialty unit, and applicable premiums. All figures are estimates — verify with UCSF HR.
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