What does a Registered Nurses salary really buy you in Washington?
Washington is 9.8% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-04-02
Washington's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 109.8, meaning prices are 9.8% higher the national average. A Registered Nurses earning $107,720 in Washington has the equivalent purchasing power of $98,105 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Washington's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $82,630 | $75,255 | $-7,374 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $92,130 | $83,907 | $-8,222 |
| Median (P50) | $107,720 | $98,105 | $-9,614 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $128,140 | $116,703 | $-11,436 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $139,390 | $126,948 | $-12,441 |
While $107,720 sounds high, Washington's elevated cost of living erases 9% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $98,105. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Registered Nurses salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Washington ranks #7 out of 51 states for Registered Nurses after cost-of-living adjustment.
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How much do you actually take home? See Registered Nurses take-home pay in Washington after taxes →
A Registered Nurses in Washington earns a median salary of $107,720 per year. After adjusting for Washington's cost of living (RPP=109.8), the real purchasing power is $98,105 — a -8.9% difference.
Washington's cost of living is 9.8% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Washington is 109.8 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Registered Nurses in Washington: $107,720 x (100 / 109.8) = $98,105. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Registered Nurses's nominal salary of $107,720 in Washington has 8.9% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $98,105. However, Washington may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.