Registered Nurse Salary in Seattle, WA
Registered Nurses in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $128,260 a year — 31% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $98,932 take-home, or $8,244 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$19,516
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,952
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,860
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$98,932
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $99,020 | $47.61 | $78,491 | $6,541 |
| 25th percentile | $104,540 | $50.26 | $82,374 | $6,864 |
| Median (50th) | $128,260 | $61.66 | $98,932 | $8,244 |
| 75th percentile | $136,780 | $65.76 | $104,755 | $8,730 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $163,890 | $78.79 | $123,285 | $10,274 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $128,260 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median registered nurse's $98,932 take-home pay has the buying power of $89,021 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 about as common in Seattle, WA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.88).
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #15 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 |
| 15 | Seattle, WA | $128,260 | $98,932 | $89,021 |
*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
- Olympia, WA — $125,020
- Walla Walla, WA — $116,970
- 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 Seattle, WA?
The median registered nurse salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $128,260 a year, or about $61.66 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $104,540 and $136,780.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $128,260 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $98,932 a year ($8,244 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 31% above the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $89,021 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #15 of 370 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 25% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Seattle, WA
- Anesthesiologist — $239,200+
- General Internal Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Radiologist — $239,200+
- Physician Assistant — $167,290
- Veterinarian — $163,810
- Pharmacist — $162,870
- Dentists, General — $161,270
- Dental Hygienist — $133,740
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist — $130,460
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $129,960