Nurse Practitioner Pay

Nurse Practitioner Salary in District of Columbia: $139,492 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across District of Columbia's 1 metropolitan areas, the average median nurse practitioner pay sits at $139,492/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 29-1171. Because District of Columbia sits at BEA RPP 117.0 (17% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $119,224 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Washington ($134,840).

Nurse Practitioner Salary in District of Columbia - 2025 BLS Data Infographic
District of Columbia nurse practitioner salary overview (2026)
$139,492
Avg Median Salary
$67.07
Avg Hourly Rate
4,050
Metro Employed
1
Cities

The salary landscape for nurse practitioners in the District of Columbia shows a median salary of $139,492 in 2026, slightly above the national median of $136,864, marking a difference of 1.9%. Washington stands out as both the highest and lowest paying city within the district, with salaries remaining uniform at $139,492. This lack of variability may stem from the consistent demand for healthcare professionals across the city, influenced by the dense population and diverse healthcare needs. In the District of Columbia, nurse practitioners benefit from relatively progressive scope of practice laws, allowing them to engage more fully in patient care compared to many other states. However, licensing requirements can be stringent, necessitating that practitioners meet specific educational and clinical standards. The job market for nurse practitioners in the district is projected to grow at an annual rate of 3.45%, indicating a positive outlook driven by ongoing healthcare demands and an aging population. With a total of 4,050 nurse practitioners employed, the strength of the job market reflects a stable environment for future professionals in the field.

District of Columbia Nurse Practitioner Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)
$104,836
avg across 1 cities
Median
$139,492
state average
Top Earners (90th %ile)
$181,493
avg across 1 cities

Overall salary range in District of Columbia: $104,836 (lowest entry-level) to $181,493 (highest top earner)

District of Columbia vs National Average

District of Columbia
$139,492
National Median
$136,864

District of Columbia nurse practitioners earn 1.92% more than the national median (+$2,628/year difference).

District of Columbia Nurse Practitioner Salary Distribution (2026)

Vertical bar chart showing District of Columbia nurse practitioner salary percentiles: 10th percentile $104,836, 25th $123,788, Median $139,492, 75th $164,134, 90th $181,493. US national median is $136,864.$50.8K$101.6K$152.5K$203.3K$104.8K10thEntry Level$123.8K25thEarly Career$139.5KMedianMid Career$164.1K75thExperienced$181.5K90thTop EarnerUS Median $136.9K

Nurse Practitioner salaries in District of Columbia range from $104,836 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $181,493 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $139,492. The District of Columbia median is $2,628 above the US national median of $136,864. The average hourly rate is $67.07/hr. Approximately 4,050 nurse practitioners are employed across 1 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$113,770

2025 BLS Actual

$134,840

2026 Current Est.

$139,492

2019–2027 Growth

+26.8%

Salary Trajectory for Nurse Practitioners in District of Columbia (20192027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.45% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected
Salary trajectory chart for nurse practitioners in District of Columbia. Baseline $113,770 in 2025, projected to $144,304 by 2027.$107.7K$118.4K$129.0K$139.7K$150.4K2019202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$113.8K$117.9K$123.2K$125.4K$128.4K$129.9K$134.8K$139.5K$144.3K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2019$113,770Actual
2020$117,880Actual
2021$123,230Actual
2022$125,370Actual
2023$128,420Actual
2024$129,920Actual
2025$134,840Actual
2026(current)$139,492Estimated
2027$144,304Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the District of Columbia metropolitan area, the median nurse practitioner salary grew 18.5% from $113,770 (2019) to $134,840 (2025). At a 3.45% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $144,304 by 2027 — a total increase of $30,534 (26.84%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (20192025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the District of Columbia metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 20262026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.45% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Top 1 Highest Paying Cities in District of Columbia

#1
Washington
4,050 employed · $67.07/hr
$139,492

Salary by Experience Level in District of Columbia

Experience LevelEstimated Annual
Entry Level (0-2 years)$104,836
Mid Career (3-7 years)$139,492
Experienced (7+ years)$181,493

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across District of Columbia metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 1 Cities in District of Columbia

#CityMedian Salary
1Washington$139,492

More District of Columbia Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore nurse practitioner hourly pay in District of Columbia cities.

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new nurse practitioners.

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced nurse practitioners.

Explore More Nurse Practitioner Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do nurse practitioners make in District of Columbia in 2026?

The average median nurse practitioner salary in District of Columbia is $139,492/year across 1 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $139,492 in Washington to $139,492 in Washington. This makes District of Columbia one of the higher-paying states, at 1.92% above the national median of $136,864. The state employs approximately 4,050 nurse practitioners.

What is the highest paying city for nurse practitioners in District of Columbia?

Washington offers the highest nurse practitioner salary in District of Columbia at $139,492/year ($67.07/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Washington ($139,492). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for advanced practice nursing services, and competition among employers for licensed nurse practitioners.

How does District of Columbia nurse practitioner pay compare to the national average?

District of Columbia's average nurse practitioner salary of $139,492 is 1.92% above the national median of $136,864 in 2026. The state employs approximately 4,050 nurse practitioners across 1 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level nurse practitioner salary in District of Columbia?

Entry-level nurse practitioners (10th percentile) in District of Columbia earn approximately $104,836/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $104,836 in lower-paying areas to $104,836 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many nurse practitioners are employed in District of Columbia?

District of Columbia employs approximately 4,050 nurse practitioners across 1 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. Job availability varies by metro area, with larger cities offering more opportunities. Demand continues to grow as the advanced practice nursing field expands and the population ages.

Which District of Columbia city offers the best value for nurse practitioners?

When adjusted for cost of living, Washington offers the highest purchasing power for nurse practitioners in District of Columbia, with an adjusted salary of $128,111 (nominal: $139,492, CoL index: 108.884). This means your dollar goes 8% less far compared to the national average, making it important to negotiate higher base pay.
MG

Written by Maria Gonzalez, MSN, NP-C

Career Analyst

Maria has 10 years of experience in adult healthcare. She works in a community health clinic. Her specialty is chronic disease management.

Clinically reviewed by James Patel, DNP, APRNData verified by Aisha Khan, MSN, FNP-BC

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 3.45% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 nurse practitioner compensation across District of Columbia. State averages are employment-weighted across 1 metro areas — larger metro areas with more nurse practitionerscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.

2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.45%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for nurse practitioners (SOC 29-1171).

Compiled and verified by Maria Gonzalez, MSN, NP-C, a licensed nurse practitioner with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov

Last verified: