How Much Does an RN Make in Washington, DC in 2026?
Typical pay for RNs in Washington, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across District of Columbia.
BLS OES May 2025 · Washington · Arlington · Alexandria metro area
A typical RN in Washington, District of Columbia earns $49.38 per hour, or $102,710 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $8,559 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $80,750, and the top 10% of earners make over $132,900.
That pay is right at the District of Columbia figure of $102,540 and 5% above the national figure of $97,550. About 46,830 RNs work in the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area.
RN pay in Washington at a glance
- Typical pay is $49.38 an hour, or $102,710 a year.
- That is right at the District of Columbia figure.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $80,750; the top 10% make over $132,900.
- Typical pay rose +35% from 2015 to 2025, against +29% for District of Columbia as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an RN make in Washington?
Pay in Washington runs from entry-level positions at around $38.82 an hour to more than $63.89 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the District of Columbia and national figures.
RN pay by career stage in Washington
| Career stage | Washington | District of Columbia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $80,750$38.82 an hour | $79,390$38.17 an hour | $68,940$33.14 an hour |
| First years | $84,610$40.68 an hour | $85,850$41.28 an hour | $80,330$38.62 an hour |
| Typical RN | $102,710$49.38 an hour | $102,540$49.30 an hour | $97,550$46.90 an hour |
| Experienced | $119,620$57.51 an hour | $127,800$61.44 an hour | $112,350$54.02 an hour |
| Top 10% | $132,900$63.89 an hour | $151,170$72.68 an hour | $137,470$66.09 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area as BLS defines it
RN pay growth in Washington
Typical (median) annual wage for RNs in the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical RN pay in Washington was $76,030 a year. By 2025 it had reached $102,710, a change of +35%, compared with +29% for District of Columbia over the same years.
Is Washington a good place to work as an RN?
RNs in Washington earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $102,710 a year, 5% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area, about 15 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.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an RN make in Washington, DC?
- A typical RN in Washington earns $102,710 a year, or $49.38 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $80,750 and the top 10% earn over $132,900.
- How much does an RN make an hour in Washington?
- Typical hourly pay for RNs in Washington is $49.38. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $38.82, and the top 10% earn over $63.89 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an RN in Washington?
- Entry-level RN positions in Washington typically offer around $38.82 an hour, or $80,750 a year.
- Is RN pay in Washington higher than in the rest of District of Columbia?
- Washington pay is right at the District of Columbia figure of $102,540 a year, ranking 1st of 1 metro areas in the state.