Registered Nurses Salary
Registered Nurses in District of Columbia make a median of $102,540 a year, or about $49.3 an hour. The range runs from $79K at the entry level to $151K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $94,177 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,146/month, about 34% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across District of Columbia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $103K get you in District of Columbia?
About registered nurses
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What this looks like in District of Columbia
Registered nurses pay in District of Columbia tracks closely to the national median, $103K locally vs. $98K nationwide, a 5% difference. Rent runs $2,146/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.5% 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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, District of Columbia
Entry-level registered nurses (10th percentile) start around $79K. Mid-career wages sit at $103K. Top earners bring in $151K or more, a $72K spread from bottom to top.
Registered Nurses salary by metro in District of Columbia
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | $103K | +0% | 46,830 |
Compare to other states
Track registered nurses salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when District of Columbia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a registered nurse afford a 2BR apartment alone in District of Columbia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $103K, rent takes 34.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,146/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for registered nurses in District of Columbia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new registered nurses typically earn — is $79K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,763/month. At HUD’s $2,146/month FMR, rent would take 45% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is registered nurse a high-paying job in District of Columbia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $103K locally vs. $98K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does District of Columbia compare to the national average for registered nurses?
District of Columbia pays $103K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $94K — below the national median.
How much do registered nurses make in District of Columbia?
The median is $102,540 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $79,390, and experienced registered nurses can clear $151,170. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $103K enough to live in District of Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,221/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,146/month, which eats 34.5% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a registered nurses salary go in District of Columbia?
District of Columbia 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 registered nurses salary is worth about $94,177 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do registered nurses 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.