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Registered Nurse Salary in Washington
In May 2024, registered nurses in Washington earned a median annual wage of $112,180 ($53.93 an hour) and a mean annual wage of $115,740, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey. BLS counted 64,690 registered nurses working in Washington — about 2.0% of the 3,282,010 such jobs in the United States. This page breaks down how that pay compares with the national figures for the occupation, where Washington ranks among all states, and how pay is spread from entry-level to top earners inside the state. For wider context, the U.S. all-occupation median wage in the same survey was $23.80 an hour; the Washington page linked below puts this occupation alongside every other job BLS publishes for the state.
How Washington ranks for registered nurse pay
Among the 51 states and areas where BLS publishes a median for this occupation, Washington ranks #4 for registered nurse pay. The Washington median of $112,180 is 19.9% higher than the national median of $93,600, and the state mean of $115,740 compares with a national mean of $98,430 (17.6% higher). The highest-paying state, California, posts a median of $140,330, so Washington sits $28,150 behind the top of the market. For a registered nurse weighing a move, that gap has to be set against Washington's housing and living costs, which this wage survey does not measure.
The pay spread inside Washington
Not every registered nurse in Washington earns the median. The lowest-paid 10% earned $86,490 or less in May 2024, and the bottom quarter earned $98,570 or less. At the top of the distribution, the highest-paid quarter earned at least $130,420 and the top 10% earned at least $149,370. Experience, employer type, shift and overtime patterns, and metro-versus-rural location all push individual pay toward one end of that range. Statewide, the occupation is also a meaningful part of the Washington job market: by employment it ranks #5 among the occupations BLS publishes for the state — see the full Washington salary page for the state's complete tables.
Registered Nurse pay in Washington at a glance
| Measure | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $112,180 | $93,600 |
| Mean annual wage | $115,740 | $98,430 |
| Median hourly wage | $53.93 | $45.00 |
| 10th percentile | $86,490 | $66,030 |
| 25th percentile | $98,570 | $78,610 |
| 75th percentile | $130,420 | $107,960 |
| 90th percentile | $149,370 | $135,320 |
| Employment | 64,690 | 3,282,010 |
For the full state-by-state picture of this occupation, see the Registered Nurses salary by state page. For every occupation's pay in this state, see average salary in Washington.
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Registered Nurse in Washington FAQ
How much do registered nurses make in Washington?
The median wage for registered nurses in Washington was $112,180 a year ($53.93 an hour) in May 2024, and the mean was $115,740, across 64,690 jobs.
Is Washington a good-paying state for registered nurses?
Washington ranks #4 of 51 published states and areas for registered nurse median pay. Its median of $112,180 is 19.9% higher than the national median of $93,600.
How many registered nurses work in Washington?
BLS estimated 64,690 registered nurses jobs in Washington in May 2024 — about 2.0% of the 3,282,010 such jobs nationwide.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Figures checked October 2026.