Job title · California

Public Health Nurse in California

California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) lists 5 job classes for this work in the California state pay plan: Public Health Nurse I–II, Public Health Nurse I, Correctional Facility, Public Health Nurse I, Departments of Mental Health and Developmental Services, Public Health Nurse II, Correctional Facility.

$89,136 – $177,144
state pay plan range, a year
5
classes in the state plan
$140,270
median pay in CA, all employers
338,940
workers in CA (SOC 29-1141)

Sources: California Department of Human Resources (CalHR), California State Civil Service Pay Scales — Section 17 Schematic Listing (with Section 16 Schematic Arrangement of Classes); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.

California state pay plan Sourced

Published rates for each class, lowest first, effective September 14, 2026. These are the ranges California sets for its own state employees; cities, counties and school districts have their own pay plans.

Class and gradePublished rate
Public Health Nurse I
Class 8213
Grade 8213 Range A
$7,428.00 – $9,757.00 a month
$89,136 – $117,084 a year
Grade 8213 Range B
$8,101.00 – $10,656.00 a month
$97,212 – $127,872 a year
Grade 8213 Range T
$10,020.00 – $12,547.00 a month
$120,240 – $150,564 a year
Public Health Nurse I, Correctional Facility
Class 9274
Grade 9274 Range A
$7,428.00 – $9,757.00 a month
$89,136 – $117,084 a year
Grade 9274 Range B
$8,101.00 – $10,656.00 a month
$97,212 – $127,872 a year
Grade 9274 Range J
$10,524.00 – $13,172.00 a month
$126,288 – $158,064 a year
Grade 9274 Range K
$11,600.00 – $14,522.00 a month
$139,200 – $174,264 a year
Public Health Nurse I, Departments of Mental Health and Developmental Services
Class 8297
Grade 8297 Range A
$7,428.00 – $9,757.00 a month
$89,136 – $117,084 a year
Grade 8297 Range T
$10,020.00 – $12,547.00 a month
$120,240 – $150,564 a year
Public Health Nurse II
Class 8210
Grade 8210 Range A
$7,701.00 – $10,135.00 a month
$92,412 – $121,620 a year
Grade 8210 Range B
$8,405.00 – $11,076.00 a month
$100,860 – $132,912 a year
Grade 8210 Range T
$10,188.00 – $12,752.00 a month
$122,256 – $153,024 a year
Public Health Nurse II, Correctional Facility
Class 9345
Grade 9345 Range A
$7,701.00 – $10,135.00 a month
$92,412 – $121,620 a year
Grade 9345 Range B
$8,405.00 – $11,076.00 a month
$100,860 – $132,912 a year
Grade 9345 Range J
$10,697.00 – $13,390.00 a month
$128,364 – $160,680 a year
Grade 9345 Range K
$11,789.00 – $14,762.00 a month
$141,468 – $177,144 a year

Schedule: Civil Service Pay Scale (Section 17, by schematic code). Rates are as the plan publishes them; "a year" figures are conversions. Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).

Source: California Department of Human Resources (CalHR), California State Civil Service Pay Scales — Section 17 Schematic Listing (with Section 16 Schematic Arrangement of Classes). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Pay in California, all employers Sourced

Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141) in California, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.

MeasureCA
Workers338,940
10th percentile$101,260
Median$140,270
90th percentile$213,320
National median, government employers$100,490

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Free practice tests for California

Source: Open Exam Prep, Open Exam Prep free practice tests. Data captured October 1, 2026. Each link was opened and its exam title checked on the date shown.

More about this job

Requirements, hiring process, training, schedule and day-to-day work are on the national Public Health Nurse page.

Public Health Nurse in other states