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
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- 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.
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 #270 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 |
| 270 | 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 370 metros →
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 #270 of 370 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
- Psychiatrist — $239,200+
- Emergency Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Family Medicine Physician — $225,140
- General Internal Medicine Physician — $223,250
- Nurse Anesthetist — $223,150
- Physicians, All Other — $208,710
- Dentists, General — $184,540
- Pediatricians, General — $172,520
- Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other — $166,230
- Optometrist — $154,690
- Veterinarian — $154,350
- Pharmacist — $150,540