CDCR · San Quentin, CA
San Quentin State Prison is California's oldest correctional facility, founded in 1852 on the shores of San Francisco Bay in Marin County. Just 20 minutes north of San Francisco, it's the closest CDCR facility to the Bay Area. San Quentin functions as a reception center for Northern California and houses approximately 3,400 inmates. It also operates California's only death row (now being repurposed under recent legislation).
Quick Answer
Travel nurses at San Quentin State Prison earn $2,900–$3,700 per week. RN, LVN, CNA positions available. Located in San Quentin, CA — 20 min north from San Francisco.
Location
San Quentin, CA
Marin County
Security Level
Level II (Reception Center)
System
CDCR
Capacity
3,400 beds
Opened
1852
Nearest Major City
San Francisco
20 min north
Intake health screenings (high volume as a reception center), chronic disease management, urgent care, mental health support, and medication administration. The volume of intake makes this an excellent setting for nurses who like fast-paced clinical work.
12-hour shifts. Day shifts have higher intake volume; night shifts are more clinical/maintenance focused.
Bay Area housing is expensive ($2,400–$3,500/month for furnished 1BR in Marin or East Bay). Many travel nurses commute from East Bay (Oakland, Berkeley) where stipend goes further.
San Quentin is about 12 miles north of San Francisco across the Golden Gate Bridge — approximately 20 minutes via Highway 101.
Reception centers process newly committed inmates: intake health assessments, classification, and placement. This means high-volume intake nursing work — assessments, vaccinations, baseline labs.
California has paused executions and is dismantling death row. The facility is being repurposed for rehabilitation programs under recent legislation. Day-to-day nursing work is unaffected.
Range: $2,900–$3,700/week depending on role and shift
Roles Available
RN, LVN, CNA
Contract Length
13 weeks
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