Registered Nurses Salary
Registered Nurses in Washington make a median of $124,200 a year, or about $59.71 an hour. The range runs from $90K at the entry level to $162K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $121,753 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,830/month, or 22.9% 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 $124K get you in Washington?
About registered nurses
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What this looks like in Washington
Washington sits well above the national pay line for registered nurses, local pay runs about 27% higher than the U.S. median of $98K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,830/month, 23% 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 registered nursess at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington
Entry-level registered nurses (10th percentile) start around $90K. Mid-career wages sit at $124K. Top earners bring in $162K or more, a $72K spread from bottom to top.
Registered Nurses salary by metro in Washington
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $128K | +3% | 39,900 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $125K | +1% | 2,250 |
| Walla Walla | $117K | -6% | 810 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee | $112K | -10% | 1,330 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $112K | -10% | 6,850 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard | $107K | -14% | 1,410 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes | $107K | -14% | 1,190 |
| Kennewick-Richland | $106K | -14% | 2,560 |
| Yakima | $103K | -17% | 1,610 |
Compare to other states
Track registered nurses salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a registered nurse afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
Yes — at the median salary of $124K, rent takes 23% 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 registered nurses in Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new registered nurses typically earn — is $90K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,378/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 34% 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 Washington?
Local pay is 27% above the national median — $124K here vs. $98K nationally.
How does Washington compare to the national average for registered nurses?
Washington pays $124K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s +27%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $122K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do registered nurses make in Washington?
The median is $124,200 a year, that works out to about $60 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $89,630, and experienced registered nurses can clear $161,910. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $124K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,970/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 23% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a registered nurses 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 registered nurses salary is worth about $121,753 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.