Registered Nurse Salary in Washington, DC
Registered Nurses in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $102,710 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $75,325 take-home, or $6,277 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,766
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,368
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,489
- District of Columbia income tax$5,762
- Take-home pay$75,325
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.50% 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 →
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $80,750 | $38.82 | $61,742 | $5,145 |
| 25th percentile | $84,610 | $40.68 | $64,130 | $5,344 |
| Median (50th) | $102,710 | $49.38 | $75,325 | $6,277 |
| 75th percentile | $119,620 | $57.51 | $85,783 | $7,149 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $132,900 | $63.89 | $93,775 | $7,815 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $102,710 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 registered nurse's $75,325 take-home pay has the buying power of $69,179 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Registered Nurse jobs are less concentrated in Washington, DC than nationally (location quotient 0.69), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #148 of 206 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $216,740 | $142,511 | $129,059 |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $203,290 | $134,031 | $123,555 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $174,550 | $116,298 | $107,899 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $171,460 | $114,514 | $107,353 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $186,610 | $123,394 | $106,730 |
| 6 | Bend, OR | $135,010 | $92,480 | $89,260 |
| 7 | Bakersfield, CA | $128,810 | $89,883 | $89,094 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $128,260 | $98,932 | $89,021 |
| 148 | Washington, DC | $102,710 | $75,325 | $69,179 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 206 metros →
About the job: registered nurses
Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.6% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Washington, DC?
The median registered nurse salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $102,710 a year, or about $49.38 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $84,610 and $119,620.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $102,710 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $75,325 a year ($6,277 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,762 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $69,179 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #148 of 206 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse 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) — 32% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Washington, DC
- Physicians, All Other — $208,710
- Dentists, General — $184,540
- Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other — $166,230
- Pharmacist — $150,540
- Physician Assistant — $148,200
- Nurse Practitioner — $134,840
- Physical Therapist — $102,980
- Occupational Therapist — $102,960
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $99,960
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $97,390
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $75,860
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $70,300