Nurse Practitioners Salary
In Washington, nurse practitioners earn $156,100 at the median, or about $75.05 an hour. The range runs from $122K at the entry level to $187K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $153,024 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,830/month, or 18.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $156K get you in Washington?
About nurse practitioners
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What this looks like in Washington
Washington sits well above the national pay line for nurse practitioners, local pay runs about 18% higher than the U.S. median of $132K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,830/month, 18.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Washington offers a genuinely strong financial position for nurse practitionerss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington
Entry-level nurse practitioners (10th percentile) start around $122K. Mid-career wages sit at $156K. Top earners bring in $187K or more, a $65K spread from bottom to top.
Nurse Practitioners salary by metro in Washington
11 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $160K | +3% | N/A |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard | $156K | +0% | 160 |
| Longview-Kelso | $149K | -5% | 60 |
| Bellingham | $148K | -5% | 150 |
| Kennewick-Richland | $148K | -5% | 180 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $146K | -7% | 180 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee | $142K | -9% | 90 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $142K | -9% | 530 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes | $142K | -9% | 60 |
| Yakima | $139K | -11% | 200 |
| Walla Walla | $130K | -16% | 50 |
Showing 1–10 of 11 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a nurse practitioner afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
Yes — at the median salary of $156K, rent takes 18.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for nurse practitioners in Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new nurse practitioners typically earn — is $122K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $7,345/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 25% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is nurse practitioner a high-paying job in Washington?
Local pay is 18% above the national median — $156K here vs. $132K nationally.
How does Washington compare to the national average for nurse practitioners?
Washington pays $156K median vs. the U.S. average of $132K — that’s +18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $153K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do nurse practitioners make in Washington?
The median is $156,100 a year, that works out to about $75 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $122,420, and experienced nurse practitioners can clear $187,240. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $156K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,787/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 18.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a nurse practitioners salary go in Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median nurse practitioners salary is worth about $153,024 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do nurse practitioners get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.