How Much Does an RN Make in District of Columbia in 2026?
Typical pay for RNs in District of Columbia, from federal wage data (May 2025), with pay by city, the ten-year trend, and how the state compares.
BLS OES May 2025 · District of Columbia · typical annual pay from the lowest-paid tenth to the highest-paid tenth
A typical RN in the District of Columbia earns about $49.30 per hour, or $102,540 per year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That breaks down to roughly $8,545 a month. On a weekly basis, calculated from the annual figure, pay runs close to $1,972.
This is about 5% above the national figure of $97,550 a year, according to the same data. District of Columbia ranks 11th among all 51 states and jurisdictions for RN pay. About 11,440 RNs work in the district, compared with roughly 3,379,720 nationwide.
RN pay in District of Columbia at a glance
- RNs in the District of Columbia typically earn $49.30 per hour, or about $102,540 a year, according to May 2025 wage data.
- District of Columbia ranks 11th out of 51 states and areas, with RN pay running about 5% above the national figure.
- Washington, the district's only metro area, pays RNs $102,710 a year, a figure close to the district-wide pay level.
- Entry-level RNs typically start around $79,390 a year, while the top 10% of earners make over $151,170.
- RN pay in the district climbed 29% over the past decade, rising from $79,630 in 2015 to $102,540 in 2025.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an RN make in District of Columbia?
RN pay by career stage in District of Columbia
| Career stage | District of Columbia | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $79,390$38.17 an hour | $68,940$33.14 an hour |
| First years | $85,850$41.28 an hour | $80,330$38.62 an hour |
| Typical RN | $102,540$49.30 an hour | $97,550$46.90 an hour |
| Experienced | $127,800$61.44 an hour | $112,350$54.02 an hour |
| Top 10% | $151,170$72.68 an hour | $137,470$66.09 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · starting out is the 10th percentile, first years the 25th, typical the median, experienced the 75th, top 10% the 90th
RN pay by experience level in District of Columbia
Entry-level positions in the District of Columbia typically offer around $38.17 an hour, or about $79,390 a year, according to May 2025 data. Pay tends to rise toward the district's typical figure of $102,540 within the first few years on the job. New RNs can expect steady increases as they gain experience and take on more responsibility.
Experienced RNs in the district often earn upwards of $61.44 an hour, or about $127,800 a year. The top 10% of earners make over $151,170 a year, or $72.68 an hour. That leaves a spread of $71,780 between entry-level and top pay, a gap usually tied to years of experience, work setting, and which part of the district someone works in.
RN pay growth in District of Columbia
Typical (median) annual wage for RNs in District of Columbia · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
RN pay in the District of Columbia rose from $79,630 in 2015 to $102,540 in 2025, a gain of $22,910. That's a 29% increase over the decade, according to government wage data. The increase wasn't steady: pay dipped in 2020, peaked at $105,220 in 2023, then eased back over the following two years to the 2025 figure.
Nationally, RN pay rose 45% over the same decade, outpacing the district's gain. Pay in the District of Columbia has moved up over the past ten years, though the district's climb has been slower than the country's as a whole. That doesn't guarantee future increases, but it shows a history of pay moving higher for someone starting out now.
RN salary by city in District of Columbia
Pay for RNs in the District of Columbia doesn't vary much by location, since Washington is the district's only metro area for wage-reporting purposes. RNs there earn $102,710 a year, or $49.38 an hour, essentially matching the district-wide figure. Because the entire district falls within one metro area, pay for RNs is fairly uniform across the district.
Washington is also home to the district's entire reported RN workforce, with 46,830 RNs counted in the metro area, well above the district's total employment figure of 11,440 because the metro area extends into nearby Maryland and Virginia suburbs. Cost of living in and around the nation's capital is high, and pay here reflects that. The closeness between the city figure and the district figure reflects that single-metro structure, not a meaningful gap in pay.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs District of Columbia | RNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $102,710 | $49.38 | 0% | 46,830 |
Each row is one BLS metro area; cities that share a metro share its figures · BLS OES May 2025 · District of Columbia typical pay $102,540
How District of Columbia compares with nearby states
Neighboring Maryland pays RNs $99,790 a year, about 3% below the District of Columbia figure, while Virginia pays $93,600 a year, about 9% lower. Both states sit below the district's pay level, which tracks with the district's higher cost of living. RNs who hold a license in the District of Columbia can often transfer or endorse it into a nearby state, making a move across the region a realistic option.
| State | Typical pay | Vs District of Columbia |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $102,540 | baseline |
| Maryland | $99,790 | -3% |
| Virginia | $93,600 | -9% |
Bordering states, ranked by typical RN pay · BLS OES May 2025
Is District of Columbia a good state for RNs?
RNs in District of Columbia earn a competitive wage: typical pay is $102,540 a year, 5% above the national figure, ranking 11th of 51. For every 1,000 jobs in District of Columbia, about 16 are RN positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 22. That makes RNs a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates. Taken together, District of Columbia is one of the better-paying states for RNs.
Summary
RNs in the District of Columbia typically earn $102,540 a year, or $49.30 an hour, up 29% from a decade ago. That puts the district among the higher-paying places in the country for the profession. Anyone weighing a move or a new license should check the DC Board of Nursing for licensing requirements, and review city-level figures for Washington to see how local pay compares before deciding where to work.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an RN make in District of Columbia?
- RNs in the District of Columbia typically earn about $49.30 an hour, or $102,540 a year, according to May 2025 wage data. That's roughly 5% above the national figure of $97,550 a year, and pay can range from around $79,390 for entry-level roles to over $151,170 for top earners.
- How much does an RN make an hour in District of Columbia?
- Typical hourly pay for RNs in the District of Columbia is about $49.30, according to May 2025 wage data. That ranges from around $38.17 an hour for entry-level positions to over $72.68 an hour for the top 10% of earners.
- What is the starting pay for an RN in District of Columbia?
- Entry-level RNs in the District of Columbia typically start around $38.17 an hour, or about $79,390 a year, according to May 2025 wage data. Pay tends to move up toward the district's typical figure of $102,540 a year within the first few years on the job.
- Which city in District of Columbia pays RNs the most?
- Washington is the district's only metro area for wage purposes, so pay for RNs doesn't vary much by location within the District of Columbia. RNs there earn $102,710 a year, or $49.38 an hour, closely matching the district-wide figure, and Washington also holds the district's entire reported RN workforce.
- Is RN pay in District of Columbia higher than the national rate?
- Yes. RNs in the District of Columbia typically earn $102,540 a year, about 5% above the national figure of $97,550, according to May 2025 wage data. That places the district 11th among all 51 states and jurisdictions for RN pay.