Registered Nurses pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $80,750 a year or less, while the top 10% make $132,900 or more. The middle half of registered nurses in Washington earn between $84,610 and $119,620.
- $81K10th
- $85K25th
- $103KMedian
- $120K75th
- $133K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $104,590 | $8,716 | $50.28 |
| Median | $102,710 | $8,559 | $49.38 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $84,610 | $7,051 | $40.68 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $119,620 | $9,968 | $57.51 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Registered Nurses pay in Washington vs. Washington, D.C. and the U.S.
Registered nurses in Washington earn about the same as the Washington, D.C. average ($106,980) and 3% more than the U.S. average ($101,420). At the median the gap is +5% against the U.S. median of $97,550.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $104,590 | $102,710 | $80,750 | $132,900 | 46,830 |
| Washington, D.C. | $106,980 | $102,540 | $79,390 | $151,170 | 11,440 |
| United States | $101,420 | $97,550 | $68,940 | $137,470 | 3,379,720 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Registered Nurses salary after taxes in Washington
On the average salary of $104,590, a single filer in Washington takes home about $76,487 a year, or $6,374 a month and $2,942 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $78,508 | $6,542 |
| Working in MD | $77,650 | $6,471 |
| Working in VA | $77,209 | $6,434 |
| Working in DC | $76,487 | $6,374 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for registered nurses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $104,590 buys what about $96,056 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 5.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Registered Nurses salary in nearby metro areas
- Hagerstown, MD$93,170
- Baltimore, MD$99,100
- Winchester, VA$95,540
- Lexington Park, MD$93,420
- Gettysburg, PA$88,880
- Chambersburg, PA$93,750
Highest-paying cities for registered nurses
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($194,950).
- San Jose, CA$194,950
- Vallejo, CA$182,820
- San Francisco, CA$176,900
- Santa Rosa, CA$170,000
- Sacramento, CA$164,200
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Registered Nurses salary in Washington: questions
How much do registered nurses make an hour in Washington?
$50.28 an hour on average, and $49.38 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level registered nurses salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $80,750 a year and the 25th percentile is $84,610, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the registered nurses take-home pay in Washington?
About $76,487 a year ($6,374 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $104,590.
Do registered nurses earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% more than the U.S. average for this job ($101,420).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-1141; area Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.69, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.69).
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