Salary report · Seattle, WA

What is the average Registered Nurse salary in Seattle, WA?

Registered Nurses in Seattle earn a median of $111,900 per year — about 30% above the national average. Pay ranges from $80,600 (25th percentile) to $173,400 (90th percentile).

25th percentile
$80,600
Median
$111,900
75th percentile
$143,200
90th percentile
$173,400
YoY change
+3.9%

Registered Nurse salary by experience level

Entry · 0–2 yrs
$72,700
Mid · 3–5 yrs
$111,900
Senior · 6–8 yrs
$143,200
Lead · 8+ yrs
$162,300

How Seattle pay compares

Seattle median$111,900
National median$86,070
Cost-of-living adjusted(COL index 158)$70,800

Cost-of-living adjusted is the Seattle salary translated into equivalent purchasing power vs the US average (COL index 100). Useful for comparing offers across cities.

5-year salary trend

$96K
2022
$100K
2023
$104K
2024
$108K
2025
$112K
2026

Trend extrapolated from BLS May 2024 BLS OEWS OEWS data using the latest year-over-year growth rate of 3.9%.

Registered Nurse job market in Seattle

Seattle is home to Amazon, Microsoft, Boeing and a thriving startup scene. Washington has no state income tax, which boosts net pay vs California.

An estimated 2,600 registered nurses work in the Seattle metro. Daily responsibilities typically include:

  • Administer medications
  • Monitor patient vitals
  • Document patient care
  • Coordinate with physicians
  • Educate patients on conditions

Related job salaries in Seattle

Registered Nurse salary in other cities

FAQ

How much does a Registered Nurse make in Seattle, WA?+

Registered Nurses in Seattle earn a median of $111,900 per year — about 30% above the national average of $86,070.

What's the entry-level Registered Nurse salary in Seattle?+

Entry-level Registered Nurses in Seattle typically earn around $72,700 per year. Salaries scale to about $162,300 at the senior level with 8+ years of experience.

Is $111,900 a good Registered Nurse salary in Seattle?+

$111,900 is the median, meaning half of Registered Nurses in Seattle earn more and half earn less. Adjusted for the city's cost-of-living index of 158, that's roughly $70,800 in nationally-equivalent purchasing power.

How fast is Registered Nurse pay growing in Seattle?+

Registered Nurse salaries in Seattle grew about 3.9% year-over-year in the latest BLS data. The 10-year national outlook for this role is +6%.

Where do Registered Nurses in Seattle get paid the most?+

The 90th percentile Registered Nurse salary in Seattle is around $173,400. These typically include senior, lead, or specialist roles at major employers.

Are you being paid fairly in Seattle?

Run a free comparison against BLS data — see if your salary is below, at, or above the Seattle median.

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