California Operating Room Travel Nurse Jobs 2026
15 active hospital OR travel RN openings across California — Providence, Enloe, Saint Joseph, Marin Specialty Surgery. Average pay ~$2,571/week including tax-free housing and meals stipends.
Live California OR Openings
Travel OR RN — Cedars-Sinai Medical Center - Calabasas Surgery Center
Travel OR RN — Cedars-Sinai Medical Center - Calabasas Surgery Center
Travel OR RN — Providence Saint John's Health Center
Travel OR RN — Barstow Community Hospital
Travel OR RN — Marin Specialty Surgery Center
Travel OR RN — Providence Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital
Travel OR RN — Providence Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital
Top California Hospitals Hiring OR RNs
Based on live CatSol inventory as of July 16, 2026. Pay ranges include tax-free housing and meals stipends.
| Facility | City | Open Roles | Pay Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital | Santa Rosa, CA | 9 active | $2,162–$2,583/wk |
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Center - Calabasas Surgery Center | Calabasas, CA | 2 active | $2,979–$2,979/wk |
| Mad River Community Hospital | Arcata, CA | 1 active | $2,960.17–$2,960.17/wk |
| Providence Saint John's Health Center | Santa Monica, CA | 1 active | $2,755.5–$2,755.5/wk |
| Barstow Community Hospital | Barstow, CA | 1 active | $2,610–$2,610/wk |
| Marin Specialty Surgery Center | San Rafael, CA | 1 active | $2,589–$2,589/wk |
Why California OR Pays More
- •Title 22 1:1 ratio — California is the only state with mandatory OR nurse-to-patient ratios. Facilities cannot delay surgeries due to staffing shortages.
- •BRN licensing barrier — Non-compact state means limited supply, sustained demand, higher pay.
- •Premium pay — CA hospital OR averages ~$2,555/week vs $2,490 national. CVOR/Cardiac OR pays $4,800–$5,800/wk (highest in US).
- •Multiple flagship systems — Providence (16 hospitals statewide), Sutter, Kaiser, UCSF, UCLA, Cedars-Sinai all hire travel OR RNs.
California RN License Requirements
- •California BRN license — required (non-compact state)
- •Cost: $350 application + $150 Live Scan fingerprinting
- •Timeline: 6–12 weeks for endorsement from another US state
- •OR specialty: CNOR preferred, 2+ years recent OR experience, BLS + ACLS required at most facilities
- •CatSol assists with the BRN endorsement process — start 3 months ahead of your target California start date
Ready to talk about California OR contracts?
A CatSol RN recruiter will reach out within 24 hours with matched openings, pay packages, and licensing help.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Operating Room travel nurses make in California?
Hospital OR travel RNs in California earn $2,162–$2,979/week in 2026 (avg $2,571/week). Top-paying facilities include Enloe Medical Center in Chico ($3,106/wk), Providence Saint Joseph Hospital Orange and Burbank ($3,019/wk), and Marin Specialty Surgery Center in San Rafael ($2,605/wk). Pay includes tax-free housing and meals stipends.
Do I need CNOR certification to work as a travel OR nurse in California?
CNOR (Certified Perioperative Nurse) is preferred at most California OR programs but not always required. Most facilities require 2+ years of recent OR experience, BLS, ACLS, and California RN license. CNOR adds $100–$300/week premium and opens more facility options. CatSol can help match you to facilities based on your current certifications and pay expectations.
What is California Title 22 and how does it affect OR nursing?
California Title 22 is the only US state law mandating minimum nurse-to-patient ratios in hospitals. For Operating Room, the ratio is 1:1 per patient during procedures (one circulating nurse + one scrub per case minimum). This creates constant, predictable demand for OR travel nurses — facilities cannot delay surgeries due to staffing without state penalties. CatSol places OR RNs at California facilities under these mandates.
How long does it take to get a California RN license for OR travel jobs?
California is NOT a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) state. You need a separate California RN license through the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN). Endorsement from another US state license takes 6–12 weeks and costs ~$500 total (application + Live Scan fingerprinting). CatSol's licensing team helps with the BRN application, transcripts verification, and background check — plan to start 3 months before your target California start date.
What hospitals in California have the most OR travel openings?
Providence Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital currently has the highest CA OR travel inventory (8+ active openings, $2,134–$2,547/wk). Other active facilities: Providence Saint Joseph Hospital Orange (2 openings, $2,564–$3,019/wk), Enloe Medical Center Chico, Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center Burbank, and Marin Specialty Surgery Center in San Rafael. Inventory updates hourly.
Are California OR travel contracts day shift or do they include nights/call?
Most California hospital OR contracts are 8-hour or 12-hour day shifts (Monday–Friday primarily). Call requirements vary by facility — Providence Santa Rosa and Providence Orange contracts typically include 1–2 call shifts per week, while Marin Specialty Surgery Center is outpatient with no call. Specialty surgery centers (cardiac, orthopedic) tend to have more predictable schedules than Level I trauma centers.
Is California OR travel pay competitive with other states?
California OR travel pay averages 25–35% above the national OR travel RN average ($2,490/wk national vs ~$2,555 CA hospital avg). The premium reflects Title 22 ratio mandates, high cost of living, and the BRN licensing barrier that limits supply. For CVOR/Cardiac OR specifically, California pays $4,800–$5,800/week — the highest in the country.