Nursing Assistant Salary in Washington, DC
Nursing Assistants in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $45,730 a year — 8% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,346 take-home, or $3,112 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median nursing assistant salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,308
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,835
- Medicare (1.45%)$663
- District of Columbia income tax$1,578
- Take-home pay$37,346
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Nursing Assistant pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,060 | $17.34 | $30,157 | $2,513 |
| 25th percentile | $39,020 | $18.76 | $32,357 | $2,696 |
| Median (50th) | $45,730 | $21.99 | $37,346 | $3,112 |
| 75th percentile | $48,980 | $23.55 | $39,763 | $3,314 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $55,390 | $26.63 | $44,528 | $3,711 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $45,730 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median nursing assistant's $37,346 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,299 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Nursing Assistant jobs are about as common in Washington, DC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.87).
Best-paying cities for nursing assistants, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #67 of 113 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $56,840 | $45,652 | $41,343 |
| 2 | Spokane, WA | $47,240 | $40,137 | $39,999 |
| 3 | Des Moines, IA | $43,940 | $36,468 | $39,768 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $51,990 | $43,954 | $39,551 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $56,080 | $45,097 | $39,007 |
| 6 | Milwaukee, WI | $45,690 | $37,663 | $38,853 |
| 7 | Scranton, PA | $43,980 | $36,168 | $38,659 |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $45,350 | $38,619 | $38,536 |
| 67 | Washington, DC | $45,730 | $37,346 | $34,299 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 113 metros →
About the job: nursing assistants
Provide or assist with basic care or support under the direction of onsite licensed nursing staff. Perform duties such as monitoring of health status, feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, or ambulation of patients in a health or nursing facility. May include medication administration and other health-related tasks.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.6% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a nursing assistant make in Washington, DC?
The median nursing assistant salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $45,730 a year, or about $21.99 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $39,020 and $48,980.
What is a nursing assistant’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $45,730 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $37,346 a year ($3,112 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,578 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a nursing assistant?
Pay here is 8% above the national median of $42,260. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,299 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #67 of 113 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 64% of a median nursing assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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