RN salary · May 2025 BLS
RN Salary in Washington: $124,200 Median (May 2025)
Registered nurses in Washington earn a median of $124,200 per year — $59.71 an hour — $26,650 above the national median of $97,550, ranking #4 of 51 states and D.C. The middle 80% of Washington RNs earn between $89,630 and $161,910. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — the federal wage survey, not job-board self-reports.
Part of Nursing in Washington — schools, RN and NP pay, and licensing on one page.
Washington RN pay range (May 2025)
Dark band = middle 50% of Washington RNs (25th–75th percentile). Light band = middle 80%. New grads typically start near the left edge.
Compare Washington With Any State
Weighing a move, travel contracts, or a compact-state license? Put Washington side by side with any other market.
| May 2025 federal data | Washington | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Typical yearly pay | $124,200 | $95,970 |
| Typical hourly pay | $59.71/hr | $46.14/hr |
| Lower starting point | $89,630 | $67,120 |
| Higher pay with experience | $134,240 | $105,100 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $161,910 | $127,950 |
| RNs working | 69,260 | 271,380 |
Thinking past the bedside? Nurse practitioner salary in Washington →
The path to this salary runs through the NCLEX
Washington has 84 board-approved nursing programs across 61 schools — compare them by real first-time NCLEX pass rates. Then check what the degree costs against these wages with your own numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do registered nurses make in Washington?
RNs in Washington earn a median of $124,200 per year — $59.71 per hour — $26,650 above the national median of $97,550 (BLS May 2025). That ranks Washington #4 of 51 states and D.C. by median RN pay.
What is a starting RN salary in Washington?
New nurses generally start near the lower percentiles: in Washington, the 10th percentile is $89,630 and the 25th percentile is $103,100. Most RNs move toward the $124,200 median within their first several years.
What do the highest-paid RNs in Washington earn?
The top 10% of RNs in Washington earn above $161,910 per year — typically nurses with specialty certifications, leadership roles, or high-differential schedules.
How many RNs work in Washington?
69,260 registered nurses are employed in Washington per the BLS May 2025 estimates.
RN salary in other states
Keep going
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