Clinical Nurse Specialists Salary in Santa Cruz, CA

In the 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS dataset, Clinical Nurse Specialists in Santa Cruz, CA have a median annual salary of $170,960, with 1,750 recorded jobs in this area. Recorded earnings range from $97,980 at the 10th percentile to $210,870 at the 90th percentile.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · Data year: 2025 · Last updated: 2026-09-22

Salary overview

Median annual salary

$170,960

Data year: 2025

Hourly median

$82.19

Employment

1,750

Source

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS

Salary distribution

$97,980
10th
$122,310
25th
$170,960
Median
$210,360
75th
$210,870
90th

Local compared with national

Santa Cruz, CA

$170,960

Median annual · 2025

United States

$97,550

Median annual · 2025

The Santa Cruz, CA median is 75.3% above the national median in the available dataset (a difference of $73,410).

Top skills

  1. 1.SpeakingImportance 4.1
  2. 2.Reading ComprehensionImportance 4.0
  3. 3.Critical ThinkingImportance 4.0
  4. 4.Active LearningImportance 4.0
  5. 5.MonitoringImportance 4.0
  6. 6.Social PerceptivenessImportance 4.0
  7. 7.Service OrientationImportance 4.0
  8. 8.Judgment and Decision MakingImportance 4.0
  9. 9.Active ListeningImportance 3.9
  10. 10.WritingImportance 3.9
  11. 11.CoordinationImportance 3.9
  12. 12.Complex Problem SolvingImportance 3.9

Career information

Education and experience

Typical education
Master's Degree
Experience
Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
Job zone
5

Technology used

  • Allscripts Professional EHR
  • Amkai AmkaiCharts
  • Bizmatics PrognoCIS EMR
  • Cerner Millennium
  • ChartWare EMR
  • e-MDs software
  • eClinicalWorks EHR software
  • Email software
  • GE Healthcare Centricity EMR
  • Medscribbler Enterprise
  • MicroFour PracticeStudio.NET EMR
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint

Common tasks

  • Provide specialized direct and indirect care to inpatients and outpatients within a designated specialty, such as obstetrics, neurology, oncology, or neonatal care.
  • Collaborate with other health care professionals and service providers to ensure optimal patient care.
  • Read current literature, talk with colleagues, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in nursing.
  • Develop, implement, or evaluate standards of nursing practice in specialty area, such as pediatrics, acute care, and geriatrics.
  • Maintain departmental policies, procedures, objectives, or infection control standards.
  • Instruct nursing staff in areas such as the assessment, development, implementation, and evaluation of disability, illness, management, technology, or resources.
  • Develop and maintain departmental policies, procedures, objectives, or patient care standards, based on evidence-based practice guidelines or expert opinion.
  • Evaluate the quality and effectiveness of nursing practice or organizational systems.
  • Observe, interview, and assess patients to identify care needs.
  • Provide coaching and mentoring to other caregivers to help facilitate their professional growth and development.

Related careers

Occupations recorded as related in the dataset. A relationship does not imply a guaranteed transition.

Clinical Nurse Specialists salary in other locations

Other occupations in Santa Cruz, CA