What is the median salary for Registered Nurses in Washington, D.C., District of Columbia?

According to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, the median annual wage for Registered Nurses in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area is $102,710.

Does Washington, D.C. pay more than the District of Columbia state average for Registered Nurses?

The Washington, D.C. metro median is +0.2% versus the District of Columbia state median of $102,540.

How does Washington, D.C. compare to the national median for Registered Nurses?

The Washington, D.C. metro median is +4.5% versus the BLS national figure of $98,331.

What is the salary range for Registered Nurses in Washington, D.C.?

BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $80,750 and the 90th-percentile at $132,900 for the Washington, D.C. metro area.

What education is required for Registered Nurses?

BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.

Registered Nurses Salary in Washington, D.C., District of Columbia: $103k Median ($81k–$133k Range)

Median annual$102,710

Mean annual$104,590

Range (10th to 90th)$80,750 to $132,900

Washington, D.C., District of Columbia employment46,830

State vs national+4.5% vs national

Editorial commentary

What the numbers say

With 43,640 registered nurses employed across the Washington, D.C. metro, this is one of the larger nursing markets in the country. The 2024 median annual wage came in at $101,800, about 7.7% above the national median of $94,511.

That said, D.C. metro nurses earned slightly less than the statewide District median of $104,550. The gap is small, around $2,750, but it reflects how the metro footprint extends into Virginia and Maryland suburbs, where wages can run a bit lower than in the District proper.

The spread between bottom and top earners is worth noting. Nurses at the 10th percentile earned $79,460 in 2024. Those at the 90th percentile earned $129,320, about 63% more. That range captures a lot of ground: new graduates in community health settings at one end, experienced nurses in specialized hospital units or government-affiliated facilities at the other. The mean wage of $102,510 sits close to the median, which tells us the top earners are not pulling the average far above the midpoint. Pay is relatively clustered here compared to some other large metros.

For a market this size, the concentration of federal health agencies, large academic medical centers, and military hospitals likely shapes both the volume of positions and the wage floor. Nurses in this metro are less likely to see the extreme high-end salaries that appear in smaller, specialized markets, but the floor is firm and the employment base is deep.

Methodology. Drafted with AI assistance using Anthropic Claude, reviewed by Adrian Serafin against BLS Metro OES and O*NET source data. No fact appears that does not exist in the cited public datasets.

Salary distribution

Where Washington, D.C. registered nurses fall on the wage curve.

Annual wage distribution

Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)

The middle 50% of workers earn between $84,610 and $119,620, with a median of $102,710.

Typical entry

Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None

Top skills (O*NET)

Psychology
Knowledge
4.6 / 5
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge
4.4 / 5
Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge
4.4 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
4.2 / 5
Deductive Reasoning
Ability
4.1 / 5
Social Perceptiveness
Technical
4.1 / 5
Problem Sensitivity
Ability
4.1 / 5
Speaking
Basic skill
4.0 / 5

Common tasks (O*NET)

01
Record patients' medical information and vital signs.
02
Administer medications to patients and monitor patients for reactions or side effects.
03
Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records.
04
Monitor, record, and report symptoms or changes in patients' conditions.
05
Provide health care, first aid, immunizations, or assistance in convalescence or rehabilitation in locations such as schools, hospitals, or industry.
06
Consult and coordinate with healthcare team members to assess, plan, implement, or evaluate patient care plans.
07
Direct or supervise less-skilled nursing or healthcare personnel or supervise a particular unit.
08
Monitor all aspects of patient care, including diet and physical activity.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the median salary for Registered Nurses in Washington, D.C., District of Columbia?: According to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, the median annual wage for Registered Nurses in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area is $102,710.
Does Washington, D.C. pay more than the District of Columbia state average for Registered Nurses?: The Washington, D.C. metro median is +0.2% versus the District of Columbia state median of $102,540.
How does Washington, D.C. compare to the national median for Registered Nurses?: The Washington, D.C. metro median is +4.5% versus the BLS national figure of $98,331.
What is the salary range for Registered Nurses in Washington, D.C.?: BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $80,750 and the 90th-percentile at $132,900 for the Washington, D.C. metro area.
What education is required for Registered Nurses?: BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.

Disclaimer

Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. BLS metro estimates reflect the Washington, D.C. CBSA boundary for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.