How much is the hospice nurse vs home health nurse pay gap in California?

The estimated gap in California is about $1,340 a year, or roughly 1% more for hospice nurses. Your actual pay depends on experience, specialty, shift, and employer — use the calculator to compare both for your situation.

Are these California figures exact?

No — they're modeled estimates, not verified California wages. They start from each role's national pay and adjust for California's cost of labor, and they update to verified numbers when official state data is loaded.

Why are some figures verified and others estimates?

National pay for the main nursing roles — registered nurses, LPNs/LVNs, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, nurse midwives, and nursing assistants — comes from verified public wage data. State, city, and specialty figures that aren't reported on their own start from that national pay and are labeled "Estimated" or "Specialty estimate." We never show an estimate as a verified figure.

California · CA

Hospice Nurse vs Home Health Nurse salary in California

In California, hospice nurses earn more — an estimated $133,270 a year versus $131,930 for home health nurses, a gap of about $1,340 (roughly 1% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for California.

Hospice Nurse — California

Specialty estimate

Median annual pay

$133,270

+38% vs national

Hourly

$64.07/hr

Median $133,270

$94,190Middle 50%: $109,750–$153,490$187,810

Typical range: $109,750–$153,490; What most nurses earn
High end: $187,810; Top earners
Entry level: $94,190; Newer nurses

Home Health Nurse — California

Specialty estimate

Median annual pay

$131,930

+38% vs national

Hourly

$63.43/hr

Median $131,930

$93,230Middle 50%: $108,640–$151,940$185,910

Typical range: $108,640–$151,940; What most nurses earn
High end: $185,910; Top earners
Entry level: $93,230; Newer nurses

Why the gap in California

Hospice and home health nurses earn comparable pay, as both are community-based RN specialties drawing on the same registered nurse wage base. The practical differences are the setting and structure of the work: hospice centers on end-of-life comfort care while home health delivers skilled visits, with on-call expectations varying by employer. The California figures apply the same local pay adjustment to both roles, so the gap here mirrors the national picture, shifted for California's cost of labor. Actual pay varies with experience, specialty, shift, and employer — compare the national Hospice Nurse vs Home Health Nurse comparison or personalize the calculator.

Hospice Nurse vs Home Health Nurse in California — FAQ

Do hospice nurses or home health nurses earn more in California?: In California, hospice nurses earn more — an estimated $133,270 a year versus $131,930 for home health nurses, a gap of about $1,340 (roughly 1% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for California's local pay level.
How much is the hospice nurse vs home health nurse pay gap in California?: The estimated gap in California is about $1,340 a year, or roughly 1% more for hospice nurses. Your actual pay depends on experience, specialty, shift, and employer — use the calculator to compare both for your situation.
Are these California figures exact?: No — they're modeled estimates, not verified California wages. They start from each role's national pay and adjust for California's cost of labor, and they update to verified numbers when official state data is loaded.
Why are some figures verified and others estimates?: National pay for the main nursing roles — registered nurses, LPNs/LVNs, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, nurse midwives, and nursing assistants — comes from verified public wage data. State, city, and specialty figures that aren't reported on their own start from that national pay and are labeled "Estimated" or "Specialty estimate." We never show an estimate as a verified figure.

Source & confidence— An estimate for a specialty that public pay data does not list on its own. A ballpark to start from, not an exact figure.

Modeled estimate (BLS national × state wage index)

California figures are estimated by adjusting the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS national median for local pay levels (a state adjustment of 1.38×).

Source year 2025. Last reviewed July 3, 2026. Full methodology

Estimated figures for California. Last reviewed July 3, 2026.