Travel Nurse Salary in California 2026
Travel nurses in California earn about $2,850 per week on average in 2026 (a typical total-package range of $2,600–$3,000), among the highest of any large US market. The top of the range — roughly $3,450–$4,450/week — goes to high-acuity roles (ICU, L&D, RN First Assist), remote Northern California assignments, and correctional (CDCR) contracts. The premium over the ~$2,150/week national average is driven by California's mandatory nurse-to-patient ratio law (Title 22), high cost of living, and constant demand from the CDCR (California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation), which staffs prisons statewide.
Last updated 2026-07-30
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California Travel Nurse Pay at a Glance
California is among the highest-paying travel nurse markets in 2026 and has the deepest volume of assignments of any state. The average California travel RN package runs about $2,850/week — roughly 30% above the ~$2,150/week national average — with a typical range of $2,600–$3,000. The top of the market (about $3,450–$4,450/week) goes to high-acuity roles, remote Northern California facilities, and correctional contracts. California's mandatory nurse-to-patient ratios, high cost of living, expansive correctional system (CDCR), and major academic medical centers create sustained demand that keeps weekly pay above most other states. Figures below are total weekly packages (taxable base plus tax-free housing and meals stipends).
| Role / Specialty | CA Weekly Package | Annual Equivalent | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average travel RN | $2,850 | ~$148,000 | ~30% above national avg |
| Typical range (middle 50%) | $2,600 – $3,600 | $135k – $187k | Most assignments land here |
| ICU / Critical Care | $2,400 – $3,400 | up to ~$177k | Title 22 1:2 ratios |
| ER | $2,750 – $3,050 | — | 1:4 ratio mandate |
| L&D | $2,100 – $4,000 | up to ~$207k | Wide range by facility |
| Operating Room / RNFA | $2,150 – $4,450 | up to ~$231k | RNFA tops the CA market |
| Correctional (CDCR) | $2,400 – $3,550 | up to ~$185k | Remote facilities pay the most |
| Med-Surg / Tele | $2,270 – $3,000 | — | Largest job pool |
CatSol shows the full pay breakdown on every listing — base rate, housing stipend, meals stipend, and overtime. No surprises.
See transparent job listings →Why California Pays the Most — Title 22 Nurse Ratios
California is the only US state with a law mandating minimum nurse-to-patient ratios in every hospital. Enacted as AB 394 in 1999 and implemented through Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations starting in 2004, this law forces hospitals to maintain strict staffing levels at all times. When a single nurse calls out sick, the hospital must replace them or face state penalties — and that's where travel nurses come in. The result is constant, predictable demand that other states simply don't have.
| Unit | Required Nurse:Patient Ratio | Travel Demand Impact |
|---|---|---|
| ICU / NICU | 1:2 | Highest demand — 1:1 for ventilated patients |
| Step-Down / PCU | 1:3 | Very high demand |
| ER | 1:4 (1:1 for trauma) | Constant turnover, premium pay |
| L&D (Active Labor) | 1:2 | High demand at peak times |
| Postpartum (Mother+Baby) | 1:4 couplets | Steady demand |
| Med-Surg | 1:5 | Largest job pool, broad demand |
| Telemetry | 1:4 | High demand at academic centers |
| Psych | 1:6 | Growing demand in behavioral health |
| OR | 1:1 per patient | Specialty-driven, premium for CVOR |
Pay by California City — Where Travelers Earn the Most
Pay varies across California's 480-mile north-south span, and the pattern surprises most travelers: in CatSol's live California book, the highest weekly packages are in remote Northern California and at correctional facilities — where distance and staffing scarcity drive a premium — not the coastal metros. The ranges below reflect real CatSol placements and current market data (total weekly package). Bay Area and San Diego metros carry high costs of living that offset gross pay, so take-home value is often strongest in the Central Valley and inland markets.
| City / Region | Weekly Package | Annual Equivalent | Take-Home Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crescent City (Pelican Bay area) | $3,400 – $3,550 | $177,000+ | Highest in book — remote far-north premium |
| Chico (Enloe) | $2,900 – $4,450 | up to $231,000 | RNFA + Cath Lab drive the top end |
| Susanville (High Desert area) | $3,370 – $3,430 | $176,000+ | Remote northeastern CA premium |
| Eureka / Arcata (North Coast) | $2,270 – $3,980 | up to $207,000 | Providence + Mad River; coastal North |
| Soledad (Salinas Valley area) | $2,985 – $3,040 | $156,000+ | Central Coast correctional demand |
| Santa Rosa (Wine Country) | $2,160 – $3,500 | up to $182,000 | Providence Santa Rosa Memorial |
| San Jose / South Bay | $2,900 – $3,100 | $153,000+ | Highest COL; take-home offset by rent |
| Los Angeles Metro | $2,575 – $3,420 | $150,000+ | Most contract volume; COL varies by area |
| San Diego | $2,990 – $3,000 | $156,000+ | Lifestyle premium; steady demand |
| Apple Valley / Inland Empire | $2,710 – $3,190 | $150,000+ | Providence St. Mary; lower COL, good value |
CatSol shows the full pay breakdown on every listing — base rate, housing stipend, meals stipend, and overtime. No surprises.
See transparent job listings →CDCR Travel Nursing — California Department of Corrections
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) operates roughly three dozen adult prisons across the state and is one of the largest single employers of travel nurses in California. In CatSol's live book, CDCR RN packages run about $2,400–$4,100/week depending on the facility's remoteness and contract type — the most remote prisons pay the highest — with predictable 12-hour shifts, no on-call, and structured patient loads. Unlike hospital floors, CDCR nurses perform med passes, sick call, chronic care, and emergency response in a controlled correctional environment. CatSol places nurses at CDCR facilities statewide with active credentialing relationships across many of the state's prisons. This is where CatSol's California pay data is uniquely strong — we have direct visibility into real CDCR contract rates that aggregator sites like Indeed and Nomad don't see.
| CDCR Facility | Region | Pay Tier (Weekly Package) | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pelican Bay State Prison | NW California (Crescent City) | Top — $3,000 – $4,100 | Most remote, highest premium |
| High Desert State Prison | NE California (Susanville) | Top — $2,800 – $4,000 | Remote northeastern premium |
| Salinas Valley State Prison | Central Coast (Soledad) | High — $2,900 – $4,100 | Level III/IV, high acuity |
| Avenal / Wasco State Prisons | Central Valley | Mid–High — $2,700 – $3,900 | Reception / general population |
| Mule Creek State Prison | Sierra Foothills (Ione) | Mid — $2,600 – $3,400 | Steady contracts |
| Folsom State Prison | Sacramento Area | Standard — $1,900 – $2,700 | Historic facility, lower band |
| Corcoran State Prison | Central Valley | Standard — $1,900 – $3,000 | Level IV security |
| CA Institution for Women | Inland Empire (Corona) | Standard — $2,000 – $3,000 | Women's facility |
CDCR Pay by Region — Remote Facilities Pay the Most
CDCR travel nurse contracts typically run 13 weeks with common extensions to 26 weeks, days only, no on-call. The clearest pattern in real contract data is that remoteness drives pay: the far-north and northeastern prisons (Pelican Bay, High Desert) sit at the top of the range, while facilities near major metros pay less on gross but can offer better take-home once a nurse's tax-free housing stipend is set against lower rent. The ranges below reflect real CatSol placement data (total weekly package).
| Region | CDCR Facility | Weekly Package | Take-Home Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crescent City (remote NW) | Pelican Bay State Prison | $3,000 – $4,100 | Top of CDCR — remote premium |
| Susanville (remote NE) | High Desert State Prison | $2,800 – $4,000 | Remote premium; rural low rent |
| Soledad (Central Coast) | Salinas Valley State Prison | $2,900 – $4,100 | Level III/IV acuity |
| Central Valley | Avenal / Wasco State Prisons | $2,700 – $3,900 | Reception / general population |
| Ione (Sierra Foothills) | Mule Creek State Prison | $2,600 – $3,400 | Steady contracts; low COL |
| Sacramento Area | Folsom State Prison | $1,900 – $2,700 | Lower band; metro convenience |
| Central Valley | Corcoran State Prison | $1,900 – $3,000 | Lower COL; strong savings rate |
| Solano County | CA Medical Facility (Vacaville) | $1,900 – $2,700 | Medical/psych hub |
San Francisco Bay Area Travel Nurse Pay 2026
San Francisco is one of the highest-cost healthcare markets in the country. In the cooled 2026 travel market, published benchmarks put Bay Area travel RN total packages at roughly $2,800–$3,800/week, with high-acuity academic-center roles at the top. CatSol's current California book is concentrated in Northern California, the Central Coast, and correctional facilities rather than SF hospitals, so we list the systems that drive Bay Area demand below rather than quote facility rates we haven't placed. The Bay Area's GSA housing per diem is among the highest in California, so tax-free stipends stretch further here even against steep rents.
| SF Bay Area Hospital | Specialty Focus | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| UCSF Medical Center (Parnassus) | ICU, NICU, Transplant | Academic center; 1:2 ratios |
| UCSF Mission Bay | Pediatric, Cardiac, Cancer | Newest UCSF campus |
| Zuckerberg SF General (ZSFG) | ER (Level I trauma), Trauma ICU | Highest-acuity ER in SF |
| CPMC Van Ness / Mission Bernal | Med-Surg, Tele, L&D | Sutter Health flagship |
| Kaiser San Francisco | Med-Surg, ICU, ER | Steady year-round demand |
| Saint Francis Memorial | Burn ICU, Ortho | CommonSpirit; burn specialty |
| San Quentin (CDCR) | Corrections RN | Marin County correctional |
Los Angeles Travel Nurse Pay 2026 — Hospital & County
Los Angeles has the most contract volume of any California metro — over 90 acute-care hospitals plus three Level I trauma centers (LAC+USC, Harbor-UCLA, Ronald Reagan UCLA). In real placement data, LA travel RN total packages run about $2,600–$3,600/week, with Cedars-Sinai and the academic centers at the top of that band. GSA housing stipends vary by county, so take-home depends heavily on where in the metro you land. The systems below anchor LA demand.
| LA / OC Hospital | Specialty Focus | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Center | ICU, CVOR, Transplant, L&D | Private academic; CatSol-verified to ~$3,600/wk |
| Ronald Reagan UCLA | CVOR, NSICU, Neuro | Westwood academic center |
| LAC+USC Medical Center | ER (Level I trauma), Trauma ICU | County trauma flagship |
| Kaiser Sunset / Los Angeles | ICU, Med-Surg, L&D | High volume, consistent demand |
| Hoag Hospital (Newport Beach) | CVOR, Cath Lab, NICU | OC cardiac specialty hub |
| Long Beach Memorial | NICU Level IV, Trauma | Major Long Beach system |
| Providence Saint Joseph (Burbank) | Cardiac, Ortho | Suburban LA |
| CA Institution for Women (Corona) | Corrections RN | CDCR — Inland Empire |
San Diego Travel Nurse Pay 2026 — Scripps, Sharp & UC San Diego
San Diego offers a 'lifestyle premium' of consistent year-round contracts. Published market benchmarks put San Diego travel RN total packages at roughly $2,900–$3,500/week in 2026. San Diego County's GSA housing stipend is among the highest in California outside the Bay Area, and rent in mid-tier neighborhoods (Hillcrest, North Park, La Jolla) can stay within stipend coverage. CatSol's current book is lighter in San Diego than in Northern California, so the systems below are the market's demand anchors rather than facilities we quote rates for. Scripps Health, Sharp HealthCare, UC San Diego Health, and Rady Children's anchor the market; Naval Medical Center San Diego adds federal volume.
| San Diego Hospital | Specialty Focus | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| UC San Diego Health (Jacobs/Hillcrest) | ICU, CVOR, NSICU | Only Level I trauma in region |
| Scripps La Jolla | CVOR, Cath Lab, ICU | Cardiac surgery destination |
| Scripps Mercy San Diego | ER (Level II trauma), Med-Surg | Downtown SD; high volume |
| Sharp Memorial Hospital | NICU, L&D, Cardiac | Largest Sharp facility |
| Sharp Grossmont (La Mesa) | ER, Med-Surg, Behavioral Health | East County |
| Rady Children's Hospital | PICU, NICU IV, Pediatric Cardiac | Only freestanding peds in region |
| Naval Medical Center San Diego | Med-Surg, ICU, ER | Federal — Balboa Park |
Sacramento Travel Nurse Pay 2026 — Best Take-Home Value in CA
Sacramento is one of California's best take-home-value markets — gross pay runs lower than the coastal metros, but rent is roughly half, so nurses often keep more. Real placement data puts Sacramento-area travel RN total packages at about $2,600–$3,400/week, with UC Davis and the academic and cardiac programs at the top of that band. 1-bedroom rentals in Midtown, East Sacramento, and Land Park run well below Bay Area levels, delivering a high savings rate. UC Davis Medical Center (the region's only Level I trauma center), Sutter, Kaiser (South Sacramento and Roseville), Mercy General, and Methodist anchor the market, and nearby CDCR facilities (Folsom, Mule Creek, CMF Vacaville) add steady correctional volume.
| Sacramento Area Hospital | Specialty Focus | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| UC Davis Medical Center | CVOR, Trauma ICU, Burn, NSICU | Only Level I trauma; academic — top of local band |
| Sutter Medical Center Sacramento | Cardiac, L&D, ICU | Largest Sutter facility in region |
| Kaiser South Sacramento | Med-Surg, ICU, ER | High-volume Kaiser flagship |
| Kaiser Roseville | Cardiac, NICU, L&D | Placer County |
| Mercy General Hospital | Cardiac, Neuro, Ortho | CommonSpirit; heart institute |
| Methodist Hospital of Sacramento | Med-Surg, Ortho | Suburban South Sacramento |
| Folsom State Prison (CDCR) | Corrections RN | Historic CDCR — standard pay band |
| CMF Vacaville (CDCR, 35 mi W) | Corrections RN, Medical/Psych | Medical/psych hub — Solano County |
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California RN Licensing — California Is NOT a Compact State
Important: California is NOT a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). You cannot use a compact license from another state to work in California — you must obtain a separate California RN license through the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN). This is the single biggest barrier for nurses considering California assignments, and it's why California pay stays so high (the licensing friction limits supply). The BRN process takes 6–12 weeks for nurses with US licenses and longer for international graduates. CatSol's licensing team helps candidates navigate this — including the fingerprinting (Live Scan), transcripts verification, and application fees.
| Requirement | Detail | Typical Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Application + Fees | $350 application + $150 fingerprint | Submit immediately |
| Live Scan Fingerprints | In-person at approved CA site | 1 week |
| Transcripts Verification | Direct from nursing school to BRN | 2–4 weeks |
| BRN Processing | Background check + verification | 6–10 weeks |
| Total Time (US RN) | Endorsement from another state | 6–12 weeks |
| Total Time (Intl Grad) | CGFNS evaluation required | 6–12 months |
Cost of Living vs. Real Take-Home — What You Actually Keep
California pay looks great on paper, but cost of living matters. A $3,300/week assignment in San Francisco doesn't necessarily beat a $2,900/week assignment in Sacramento once you factor in housing, food, and state income tax (CA has among the highest in the US, up to 13.3%). The math changes again with the tax-free housing stipend — a Bay Area assignment with a high GSA-rate stipend can put more in your pocket than a higher-gross job in a cheaper metro. Compare net take-home, not gross weekly pay. The figures below are illustrative.
| City | Weekly Package | GSA Housing Stipend | Est. Monthly Rent | Net Take-Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $3,300 | $3,400/mo | $3,200 (1BR) | Stipend roughly covers rent |
| Los Angeles | $3,000 | $2,400/mo | $2,400 (1BR) | Break-even on housing |
| San Diego | $3,000 | $2,800/mo | $2,200 (1BR) | Pocket ~$600/mo on housing |
| Sacramento | $2,900 | $1,800/mo | $1,600 (1BR) | Pocket ~$200/mo + lower COL |
| Fresno | $2,700 | $1,200/mo | $1,100 (1BR) | Highest savings rate |
Highest Paying California Specialties
High-acuity and procedural specialties sit at the top of the California pay range, driven by Title 22 ratios and academic medical center demand. In the cooled 2026 market, the realistic top of the total-package range is roughly $3,500–$4,500/week for the highest specialties — below the 2021–2022 peak, when some of these roles briefly cleared $5,000+. Behavioral health is a fast-growing category as California's Mental Health Services Act expands inpatient psych capacity. Ranges below reflect real CatSol placements where available and conservative market benchmarks otherwise.
| Specialty | CA Weekly Package | Why CA Pays More |
|---|---|---|
| RN First Assist (RNFA) | $3,000 – $4,450 | Surgical specialty; tops CatSol CA book |
| Cath Lab / EP | $2,750 – $3,500 | Procedural specialty premium |
| ICU / Critical Care | $2,400 – $3,400 | Title 22 1:2 (1:1 for ventilated) |
| L&D | $2,100 – $4,000 | Active-labor 1:2 mandate |
| ER | $2,750 – $3,300 | Mandated 1:4 ratio + trauma demand |
| Operating Room | $2,150 – $3,500 | CVOR commands the top of the range |
| CDCR Corrections | $2,400 – $4,100 | Remote facilities pay the most |
| Behavioral Health | $2,000 – $3,450 | MHSA-driven inpatient expansion |
| CRNA | Rare in travel | No open CatSol CRNA contracts; market varies |
| Case Manager | $2,700 – $3,050 | Steady utilization-review demand |
California Pay by Specialty — ICU, NICU, ER, PACU, CVOR (2026)
California's mandatory nurse ratios keep specialty pay above most other states, though the current market sits below the 2021–2022 peak. The table below gives realistic 2026 total-package ranges by specialty, anchored to CatSol placement data where available and conservative market benchmarks where we don't currently staff a specialty.
| Specialty | CA Weekly Package | Demand Level |
|---|---|---|
| CRNA | Rare in travel — market varies | Critical shortage; few travel contracts |
| CVOR (Cardiac OR) | $2,900 – $3,600 | Very High — CABG/valve volume |
| Cath Lab / EP | $2,750 – $3,500 | Very High — interventional demand |
| RN First Assist (RNFA) | $3,000 – $4,450 | High — tops CatSol CA book |
| Trauma ICU / SICU | $2,500 – $3,500 | High — Level I trauma centers |
| CVICU / Cardiac ICU | $2,500 – $3,500 | High — heart surgery programs |
| ICU / MICU | $2,400 – $3,400 | High — Title 22 1:2 ratios |
| NICU (Level III/IV) | $2,600 – $3,600 | High — 35+ Level III NICUs in CA |
| NSICU / Neuro ICU | $2,600 – $3,600 | High — academic centers |
| PICU (Pediatric ICU) | $2,600 – $3,600 | High — limited PICU programs |
| ER / Emergency | $2,750 – $3,300 | High — 1:4 ratio mandate |
| PACU | $2,500 – $3,300 | High — all surgical facilities |
| L&D (Labor & Delivery) | $2,100 – $4,000 | High — 1:2 active-labor ratio |
| Telemetry / Step-Down | $2,400 – $3,200 | Very High — 1:4 ratio |
| Med-Surg / General | $2,270 – $3,000 | Highest volume |
| Psych / Behavioral Health | $2,000 – $3,450 | Very High — MHSA expansion |
| CDCR Corrections (RN) | $2,400 – $4,100 | Very High — remote facilities pay most |
Seasonal Trends — When to Take a California Contract
California pay peaks in two seasons: winter (December–February) for snowbird-driven Southern California demand, and summer (June–August) for Bay Area academic medical center turnover. Crisis pay also spikes during wildfire season (August–November) when evacuations strain hospital systems in fire-prone counties. The lowest pay months are typically March–May, when staff nurses return from winter breaks and hospital census drops. If you're flexible on timing, target winter or summer for the best rates.
How to Maximize Your California Travel Nurse Pay
Eight strategies specific to California: (1) Get your BRN license started 3 months before you want to start — this is the single biggest barrier. (2) Target Bay Area or LA Metro for highest gross pay, or Sacramento/Fresno for highest take-home value. (3) Stack CRNA, CCRN, CCHP (correctional), or NRP certifications — CA pays for credentials. (4) Consider CDCR contracts — predictable schedules, premium pay, and CatSol has dedicated CDCR placement specialists. (5) Maintain a tax home in another state to keep stipends tax-free (CA's 13.3% income tax makes this even more valuable). (6) Take winter contracts in SoCal or summer contracts in Bay Area for peak rates. (7) Extend successful contracts — California facilities often pay $200/week more for 26-week extensions. (8) Use CatSol's California pay calculator with GSA stipend rates baked in for every CA county.
CatSol-Verified California Hospital Placements
Beyond industry pay benchmarks, here is CatSol's actual California hospital placement book — direct contracts our team has staffed across recent contract cycles. These ranges reflect verified weekly pay (taxable base plus tax-free housing and meals stipends, per LaborEdge Week-1 Gross) at the specific named facilities listed. This is operational data unique to CatSol's direct credentialing relationships with these health systems — not market estimates.
| Facility | Region | CatSol Verified Weekly Range | Specialty Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence Saint Joseph Hospital | Eureka (North Coast) | $2,300 – $4,362 | Radiology, CT Tech, Cath Lab Tech, L&D, OR |
| Providence Santa Rosa Memorial | Santa Rosa (Wine Country) | $2,067 – $3,729 | L&D, OR, ICU, ER, NICU |
| MarinHealth Medical Center | Greenbrae (Marin / Bay Area) | $2,575 – $4,235 | Case Manager, ICU, L&D, OR |
| Providence Saint Mary Medical Center | Apple Valley (Inland Empire) | $1,847 – $3,370 | OR, L&D, ICU, Cardiac |
| Providence Saint John's Health Center | Santa Monica (LA County) | $1,943 – $3,631 | L&D, OR, ICU, Cath Lab |
| Providence-Mission Hospital | Mission Viejo (Orange County) | $2,220 – $3,439 | L&D, ICU, ER |
| Mad River Community Hospital | Arcata (Far North Coast) | $2,109 – $3,779 | OR, ICU, Manager |
| Enloe Medical Center | Chico (Far North) | $2,830 – $3,406 | Cath Lab, ICU, Cardiac |
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Center | Los Angeles | $2,200 – $3,595 | L&D, ICU, OR, Cath Lab Tech |
| Providence Saint Joseph Hospital Orange | Orange (OC) | $2,281 – $3,375 | OR, L&D, Cath Lab |
Pay Data Sources & Methodology
Pay ranges in this guide combine CatSol Healthcare Staffing's verified placement data with authoritative public sources. CatSol-verified ranges reflect contracts placed across 374 California RN positions in the prior 12 months, anchored by our active hospital book including Providence Saint Joseph Eureka, Providence Santa Rosa Memorial, Providence Saint John's Health Center, MarinHealth Medical Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and 33 CDCR correctional facilities. Industry pay benchmarks throughout this guide are sourced from: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024 wage data, GSA per-diem stipend rates (FY2026), the California Board of Registered Nursing, the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists CRNA salary survey, and California public hospital wage records via transparent.ca.gov. Pay data is reviewed quarterly. Last verified: 2026-07-30.
Frequently Asked Questions
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California is among the highest-paying travel nurse markets in 2026, with an average total package of about $2,850/week and a typical range of $2,600–$3,000. High-acuity roles, remote Northern California facilities, and correctional (CDCR) contracts reach roughly $3,450–$4,450/week — RN First Assist tops the book near $4,450. The premium (~30% over the ~$2,150/week national average) is driven by Title 22 mandatory nurse ratios, high cost of living, and CDCR correctional demand. California is NOT a compact license state — you need a separate BRN license (6–12 weeks). Remote Northern California and CDCR facilities pay the most on gross, while Sacramento and Fresno offer the best take-home value. CatSol places nurses across California regions including direct CDCR contracts that aggregator sites cannot match.
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