Bay area RN indeed pays much higher than rest of nation.

RN is probably one of a very few professions which pay much higher in bay area. In general, RN in bay area get paid at $45-60 per hour with full benefit, depending on experience level. It is about $53/per hour on average which translates to 52*36*53 ~= 100k per year. If one wants to work during weekend and/or night, there is nontrivial amount of weekend/night/holiday differential. Some RNs may work second job on per diem basis. So 150k per year is on high end. 100k is about the average.

Interestingly, most other professions in bay area do not get paid significantly better.