Registered Nurse salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Registered Nurses in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $102,710 a year ($49.38 an hour), based on BLS data for 46,830 workers.
Pay ranges from $80,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $132,900 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $97,550. Pay here is about the same as the District of Columbia statewide median of $102,540. There are 15 registered nurses per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.69). The average (mean) salary is $104,590, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for registered nurses in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $80,750 | $38.82 |
| 25th percentile | $84,610 | $40.68 |
| Median | $102,710 | $49.38 |
| 75th percentile | $119,620 | $57.51 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $132,900 | $63.89 |
| Average (mean) | $104,590 | $50.28 |
Half of registered nurses earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,559.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,279.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,950.38 |
| Weekly | $1,975.19 |
| Hourly | $49.38 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $102,710 salary, see how much house you can afford in District of Columbia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Registered Nurse salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $101,180 | 73,790 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $99,550 | 30,930 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $99,320 | 3,040 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $95,650 | 1,630 |
| Salisbury, MD | $94,880 | 1,620 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $94,780 | 930 |
| Richmond, VA | $93,580 | 15,700 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $92,770 | 2,240 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $92,390 | 1,500 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $89,450 | 16,870 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $81,230 | 1,330 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $81,010 | 5,580 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $80,450 | 2,200 |
| Charleston, WV | $80,230 | 4,320 |
| Morgantown, WV | $80,130 | 4,510 |
| Roanoke, VA | $80,090 | 4,670 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $79,000 | 910 |
| Beckley, WV | $78,680 | 1,320 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $78,280 | 1,680 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $77,400 | 1,190 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $76,730 | 2,660 |
Highest-paying states for registered nurses
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $140,270 |
| Hawaii | $136,320 |
| Oregon | $129,010 |
| Washington | $124,200 |
| Alaska | $109,480 |
| New York | $109,440 |
| New Jersey | $106,500 |
| Massachusetts | $104,550 |
| Nevada | $103,670 |
| Connecticut | $102,740 |
See Registered Nurse pay in every state or the District of Columbia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Physicians, All Other | $208,710 | $100.34 |
| Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other | $166,230 | $79.92 |
| Pharmacist | $150,540 | $72.38 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,980 | $49.51 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $134,840 | $64.83 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $99,960 | $48.06 |
| Dentists, General | $184,540 | $88.72 |
| Physician Assistant | $148,200 | $71.25 |
| Occupational Therapist | $102,960 | $49.50 |
| Dental Hygienist | $119,170 | $57.30 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $101,990 | $49.03 |
| Veterinarian | $154,350 | $74.21 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $225,140 | $108.24 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $223,250 | $107.33 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1141. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for registered nurses in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $102,710 a year, or $49.38 an hour. Pay ranges from $80,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $132,900 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid registered nurses make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of registered nurses in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $132,900 a year. The top 25% earn $119,620 or more.
What is the starting pay for registered nurses in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $80,750 a year, and a quarter of registered nurses earn $84,610 or less.
How many registered nurses work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 46,830 registered nurses are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.