How Much Does an NP Make in Washington in 2026?

A typical nurse practitioner in Washington earns about $75.05 per hour ($156,100 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Calculated from that annual figure, pay works out to roughly $13,008 a month and $3,002 a week. These figures describe the state's typical NP position rather than entry-level or top-earning pay, which differ substantially. Washington's overall NP pay compares favorably with both the nation and its closest neighbors.

Washington's typical NP pay runs 18% above the national figure of $63.61 an hour ($132,300 a year). That gap places Washington third among the 51 states and jurisdictions ranked for NP pay. About 6,700 nurse practitioners work in Washington, compared with 323,040 nationwide. That workforce size gives the state figure a solid footing rather than a handful of outlier salaries.

Entry-level nurse practitioner positions in Washington typically offer around $58.86 an hour, or about $122,420 a year. That figure reflects the lower range of the market, often tied to a first NP role or a smaller employer. Pay tends to move toward the state's typical $156,100 within the first several years of practice. Additional certifications, specialty focus, and employer type all play a part in how quickly that happens.

Experienced nurse practitioners in Washington often earn upwards of $81.49 an hour, close to $169,500 a year. The top 10% of earners make over $90.02 an hour, or roughly $187,240 a year. That leaves a spread of $64,820 between entry-level and top-tier pay in the state. Setting, years of experience, and city all factor into where an individual NP falls within that range.

Washington NP pay rose from $102,910 in 2015 to $156,100 in 2025. That is a gain of $53,190, or 52%, over ten years. The increase was not perfectly steady; pay dipped slightly in 2024 before climbing again in 2025. Even with that pause, the overall decade trend moved consistently upward.

Nationally, NP pay rose 35% over the same ten years, well below Washington's gain. That difference means Washington's typical pay grew faster than the country as a whole, not just higher in dollar terms. For someone entering the field now, the decade of data shows pay has moved up substantially, though past growth does not guarantee future increases. Local cost of living and employer budgets, rather than past trends, will shape pay going forward.

Nurse practitioner pay runs highest in the Bellevue metro area, where the typical NP earns $160,090 a year, or $76.97 an hour, about 3% above the state figure. Seattle and Tacoma report the same typical pay, since Bellevue, Seattle, and Tacoma share overlapping metro-area wage data. Vancouver and Hillsboro follow close behind at $158,890 a year. These figures cover each city's full metro area, not just its downtown core.

Walla Walla posts the lowest typical NP pay in the state, at $130,380 a year, or $62.69 an hour. That is a spread of $29,710 between Washington's highest- and lowest-paying metro areas. Vancouver, part of the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro metro, has the largest NP workforce among Washington's cities, with 1,390 employed there. Higher pay in Bellevue and Seattle generally tracks a higher cost of living, while Walla Walla typically costs less to live in as well.

Washington's typical NP pay of $156,100 closely matches Oregon's $155,680, a difference of less than 1%. Alaska pays close behind at $155,170, about 1% lower. Idaho trails furthest, at $132,540 a year, roughly 15% below Washington's figure. Nursing licenses can often be endorsed or transferred between neighboring states, which can simplify a move for NPs weighing pay differences across state lines.

Nurse practitioners in Washington typically earn $156,100 a year, a figure that has climbed 52% over the past decade. That places Washington's pay well above the national figure and among the higher-paying states in the country. Readers weighing a move or a new license should check Washington's state nursing board for licensing requirements, and review city-level pages for local pay figures before deciding where to practice.