salary$102,710 a year$49 an hour · median pay in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV area
Lower pay (bottom 10%)$80,750per year
Top pay (top 10%)$132,900per year
Jobs in the area46,830people work this job
Can a registered nurse afford Washington?
OK. Rent of $2,370 a month takes 27.7% of the median registered nurse salary. That is under the 30% rule, so one paycheck covers rent comfortably.
Registered Nurse pay in similar cities
Other jobs in Washington
Nurse PractitionerLicensed Practical NurseNursing AssistantMedical AssistantPharmacistPhysician AssistantDental HygienistElementary School TeacherSoftware DeveloperComputer Systems AnalystAccountantMarket Research AnalystOperations ManagerLawyer
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Washington, DC?
The median pay for a registered nurse in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV area is $102,710 a year ($49 an hour). Most earn between $80,750 and $132,900.
Can a registered nurse afford to live in Washington?
Typical rent of $2,370 a month takes 27.7% of the median registered nurse salary, which we rate OK.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area.