Base in the South Bay — San Jose, Salinas, or Monterey — and work at the Soledad correctional complex down Highway 101. Salinas Valley State Prison and the Correctional Training Facility are among the most consistently staffed CDCR sites in Northern California.
Quick Answer
Travel nurses near San Jose can work at 1 correctional facility cluster within 70 miles. Pay ranges from $2,900 to $2,900 per week.
| Facility | City | Drive | Avg Pay | Roles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP) & Correctional Training Facility (CTF) | Soledad | 1 hr 15 min | $2,900/wk | RN, LVN, CNA |
Detailed info on pay, duties, housing, and what to expect at each facility.
Safer staffing ratios
Correctional facilities follow structured nurse-to-patient ratios, unlike many hospital settings.
Predictable schedules
12-hour shifts, 3 days per week. Minimal mandatory overtime compared to acute care.
Premium pay packages
Correctional assignments frequently pay more than comparable hospital positions.
Long contracts
13-week contracts with frequent extension opportunities. Less frequent relocation.
Varied clinical experience
Correctional nursing covers chronic care, urgent care, psych, and intake screenings.
High job security
Government-operated facilities have consistent staffing demand regardless of economic cycles.
CatSol recruiters specialize in CDCR placements. We handle the background check, credentialing, and onboarding.
The closest CDCR facilities to San Jose are in Soledad, about 70 miles south down Highway 101 (roughly 1 hour 15 minutes): Salinas Valley State Prison and the Correctional Training Facility (CTF). Salinas itself is only ~20 miles from the prisons.
Travel RN correctional pay at the Soledad facilities currently reaches about $2,900/week, with LVN and CNA roles lower. Packages include a housing stipend sized to help with Bay Area / Central Coast costs.
Many travelers base in San Jose, Gilroy, Salinas, or Monterey and commute to the Soledad prisons. On a 3–4 day work week the ~1 hour 15 minute drive from San Jose is very manageable, and living closer in Salinas cuts it to about 25 minutes.
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