What to Pay a Registered Nurse in Washington, DC (2026)
How to set your RN pay range in Washington
Three pay positions, modeled against current Washington market data. Pick the one that matches your comp philosophy and the role's strategic value.
RN salary percentile distribution in Washington, DC
Where the Washington market actually sits for RN base pay.
Most Washington employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($96,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $88,000 and a max of $112,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.
DC-Maryland-Virginia pay transparency compliance for RN job postings
What you must post when hiring a RN in DC-Maryland-Virginia.
| Requirement | Applies When | Penalty for Non-Compliance |
|---|---|---|
| Wage range in job posting | All DC employers | Up to $1,000 per violation |
| Provide range to employee on request | All covered employers | Same schedule |
For a RN role in Washington, a compliant good-faith range looks like $88,000 to $112,000. A compliant range for this role in Washington is $88,000–$112,000.
Top RN employers in Washington — who you're competing against
Top healthcare employers hiring RNs in the Washington metro and what they're posting.
| Employer | Type | Disclosed Range | Sign-on Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| MedStar Health | Health system | $92K–$118K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
| Inova Health System (VA) | Health system | $94K–$122K | Very common ($12K–$20K) |
| Johns Hopkins Medicine (Suburban) | Academic medical center | $94K–$120K | Common ($8K–$15K) |
| Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic | Integrated health system | $92K–$118K | Common ($8K–$15K) |
| VA Medical Centers (federal) | Federal government | $88K–$112K | Federal benefits |
RN talent supply and hiring difficulty in Washington
How hard is it to fill a RN role in Washington.
DC metro RN market spans three jurisdictions (DC, MD, VA) with different pay transparency rules. Federal healthcare employment (VA Medical Centers, Walter Reed, DOD facilities) provides an unusually stable demand floor alongside private systems.
Skill premiums RN candidates command in Washington, DC
| Skill / Credential | Pay Premium | Demand Signal |
|---|---|---|
| CCRN | +8–12% | Very high |
| Federal security clearance (Secret/TS) | +8–15% | Very high — unique to DC metro |
| CEN + trauma cert (Level I) | +6–10% | High |
| BSN (vs ADN) | +5–8% | Standard |
RN total compensation in Washington — what candidates expect beyond base
Total rewards mix for RNs in Washington. "Prevalence" reflects share of Washington disclosed-range postings including each element.
| Component | Typical Value | Prevalence in Washington Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $96,000 (median) | 100% |
| Shift differential | +12–20% premium | ~88% |
| Sign-on bonus | $10,000–$20,000 (private) | ~68% |
| Certification pay | +5–12% premium | ~58% |
| Federal benefits (FERS) | Strong package | ~28% federal employer |
| Estimated total comp benchmark | ~$118K–$142K | — |
Shift differentials and sign-on bonuses are typically table stakes rather than differentiators. Tuition reimbursement for LPN-to-RN bridge programs is increasingly the lever that wins competitive offers, particularly for early-career candidates.
RN pay by setting in Washington — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health
Where the RN range splits by employer type in the Washington metro.
| Setting | Median | Competitive Range | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acute-care hospital (med-surg) | $92,000 | $82K–$106K | Above national avg |
| ICU / Critical care | $112,000 | $100K–$128K | Very high |
| Emergency department | $108,000 | $96K–$124K | Very high |
| OR / Perioperative | $110,000 | $98K–$126K | High |
| Federal / military health | $98,000 | $88K–$112K | Moderate — strong benefits |
RN salary in Washington vs. other DC-Maryland-Virginia and nearby metros
What you'd pay if you hired in a nearby metro instead.
| Location | Median Base | vs. Washington | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $96,000 | — | Above national avg |
| Baltimore–Columbia–Towson, MD | $88,000 | −8.3% | Above national avg |
| Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $92,000 | −4.2% | Above national avg |
| Richmond, VA | $78,000 | −18.8% | Moderate |
| DC statewide | $96,000 | 0.0% | — |
| U.S. national | $93,600 | — | — |
FAQ: hiring a Registered Nurse in Washington, DC
Related RN pay benchmarks — DC-Maryland-Virginia metros and nearby nursing roles
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Data refreshed May 15, 2026. Next scheduled update: August 15, 2026.
© 2026 BetterComp. Market data informational only — not legal advice.