Nurse Practitioners Salary
In Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, nurse practitioners earn $134,840 at the median, or about $64.83 an hour. The range runs from $101K at the entry level to $175K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $123,843 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,246/month, or 28.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $135K get you in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Washington-Arlington-Alexandria’s Regional Price Parity (108.88). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About nurse practitioners
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What this looks like in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria
Nurse practitioners pay in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria tracks closely to the national median, $135K locally vs. $132K nationwide, a 2% difference. Rent runs $2,246/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.88), so groceries and services cost more too. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for nurse practitioners in metros near Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $132K | $126K |
| Richmond | $128K | $131K |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $125K | $127K |
| Charlottesville | $143K | $144K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Entry-level nurse practitioners (10th percentile) start around $101K. Mid-career wages sit at $135K. Top earners bring in $175K or more, a $74K spread from bottom to top.
Nurse Practitioners pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Nurse Practitioners salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $169K | +27% | 25,120 |
| New Jersey | $159K | +20% | 9,950 |
| Washington | $156K | +18% | 6,700 |
| Oregon | $156K | +18% | 2,820 |
| Alaska | $155K | +17% | 710 |
| New York | $154K | +16% | 22,890 |
| Massachusetts | $142K | +8% | 8,070 |
| Nevada | $141K | +6% | 1,930 |
| Connecticut | $138K | +5% | 3,750 |
| New Hampshire | $138K | +4% | 1,770 |
| New Mexico | $138K | +4% | 1,770 |
| Montana | $137K | +4% | 1,260 |
| Rhode Island | $136K | +3% | 1,180 |
| District of Columbia | $136K | +3% | 680 |
| Hawaii | $136K | +2% | 550 |
| Vermont | $135K | +2% | 700 |
| Arizona | $134K | +2% | 7,220 |
| Oklahoma | $133K | +1% | 3,620 |
| Minnesota | $133K | +1% | 7,780 |
| Colorado | $133K | +0% | 4,270 |
| Idaho | $133K | +0% | 1,750 |
| Wyoming | $132K | -0% | 440 |
| Nebraska | $132K | -0% | 2,340 |
| Wisconsin | $132K | -0% | 5,160 |
| Texas | $132K | -0% | 25,970 |
| Michigan | $131K | -1% | 8,290 |
| Maryland | $131K | -1% | 6,710 |
| Delaware | $131K | -1% | 1,430 |
| Utah | $131K | -1% | 2,740 |
| Illinois | $131K | -1% | 9,270 |
| Maine | $130K | -2% | 1,650 |
| Iowa | $130K | -2% | 3,240 |
| Pennsylvania | $130K | -2% | 10,670 |
| North Dakota | $130K | -2% | 1,290 |
| Missouri | $130K | -2% | 7,710 |
| Florida | $130K | -2% | 21,790 |
| Georgia | $129K | -2% | 10,460 |
| North Carolina | $129K | -3% | 9,800 |
| South Dakota | $129K | -3% | 1,020 |
| Indiana | $129K | -3% | 7,450 |
| Virginia | $128K | -3% | 7,110 |
| West Virginia | $127K | -4% | 2,550 |
| Kansas | $127K | -4% | 3,780 |
| Arkansas | $126K | -5% | 3,970 |
| Louisiana | $126K | -5% | 5,380 |
| Ohio | $125K | -6% | 15,400 |
| Mississippi | $125K | -6% | 4,690 |
| South Carolina | $123K | -7% | 5,670 |
| Kentucky | $123K | -7% | 4,770 |
| Tennessee | $118K | -11% | 12,150 |
| Alabama | $106K | -20% | 5,640 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track nurse practitioners salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington-Arlington-Alexandria numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a nurse practitioner afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Yes — at the median salary of $135K, rent takes 28.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,246/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for nurse practitioners in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new nurse practitioners typically earn — is $101K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,080/month. At HUD’s $2,246/month FMR, rent would take 37% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is nurse practitioner a high-paying job in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $135K locally vs. $132K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Washington-Arlington-Alexandria compare to the national average for nurse practitioners?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria pays $135K median vs. the U.S. average of $132K — that’s +2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $124K — below the national median.
How much do nurse practitioners make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median is $134,840 a year, that works out to about $65 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $101,340, and experienced nurse practitioners can clear $175,440. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $135K enough to live in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,858/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,246/month, which eats 28.6% 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-Arlington-Alexandria?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria has a Regional Price Parity of 108.88 (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 $123,843 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.