Registered Nurse Salary in Olympia, WA
Registered Nurses in the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metro area earn a median $125,020 a year — 28% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $96,717 take-home, or $8,060 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$18,739
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,751
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,813
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$96,717
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Olympia, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $83,300 | $40.05 | $67,432 | $5,619 |
| 25th percentile | $97,750 | $47.00 | $77,597 | $6,466 |
| Median (50th) | $125,020 | $60.11 | $96,717 | $8,060 |
| 75th percentile | $127,450 | $61.27 | $98,378 | $8,198 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $151,610 | $72.89 | $114,891 | $9,574 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $125,020 buys in Olympia, WA
Prices in Olympia, WA are 3.7% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.17× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median registered nurse's $96,717 take-home pay has the buying power of $93,293 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 Olympia, WA than nationally (location quotient 0.79), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Olympia, WA ranks #8 of 370 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 | Santa Cruz, CA | $170,960 | $114,225 | $103,939 |
| 7 | Yuba City, CA | $149,320 | $101,728 | $97,597 |
| 8 | Olympia, WA | $125,020 | $96,717 | $93,293 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 370 metros →
Registered Nurse salaries elsewhere in Washington
- Walla Walla, WA — $116,970
- Seattle, WA — $128,260
- Spokane, WA — $111,750
- Yakima, WA — $102,950
- Wenatchee, WA — $112,280
- Kennewick, WA — $106,410
- Mount Vernon, WA — $106,730
- Bremerton, WA — $107,220
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Olympia, WA?
The median registered nurse salary in the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metro area is $125,020 a year, or about $60.11 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $97,750 and $127,450.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Olympia, WA?
On the median $125,020 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $96,717 a year ($8,060 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Olympia, WA a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 28% above the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 3.7% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $93,293 would in a typical U.S. city. Olympia, WA ranks #8 of 370 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Olympia, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Olympia, WA is $1,682 a month ($1,960 for two bedrooms) — 21% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.