State comparison · 2025
Registered Nurses salary: California vs Washington
Registered Nurses in California earn a median of $140,270. In Washington, $124,200. After cost-of-living, the gap is 9.2% — not 12.9%.
Nominal pay gap
+12.9%
California vs Washington
COL-adjusted gap
+9.2%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Registered Nurses
- Median
- $140,270
- p25
- $122,440
- p75
- $173,170
- p10
- $101,260
- p90
- $213,320
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -25%
Washington
Registered Nurses
- Median
- $124,200
- p25
- $103,100
- p75
- $134,240
- p10
- $89,630
- p90
- $161,910
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 107.0
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- +250%
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.