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Nurse jobs in Washington, D.C., put you in one of the country’s most dynamic healthcare systems. You can practice in renowned hospitals and medical facilities and earn some of the highest average nursing wages in the country. This guide helps you make the most of your opportunities for professional growth as a nurse in Washington, D.C., whether you call the metro area home or are interested in a travel nursing contract. We’ll look at a typical nurse salary in D.C., the highest-paying specialties and top healthcare employers in the metro area.
Opportunities for Nurses in Washington, D.C.
Let’s start with an overview of the healthcare system in D.C., which WalletHub ranked as the 14th best in the country. Local nurses work in an environment with the most physicians and hospital beds per capita in the United States, positioning it well to meet patient needs. Washington, D.C. also has the second-highest percentage of adults with health insurance in the nation, and the third-highest percentage of children with health coverage, translating into broad access to healthcare.
Nursing jobs in Washington, D.C., are among the highest paid in the country. In May 2021, RNs in the District of Columbia earned an annual mean wage of $98,540, the fourth-highest in the United States, based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
BLS also reported positive job gains in the education and healthcare sector in the D.C. metro area. According to October 2022 data, the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area added 17,800 jobs in the healthcare and social assistance sectors over the year. This growth represents a gain of 4.3% in employment, compared to a 3.8% increase nationwide. The growing demand for healthcare professionals bodes well for nurses looking for a stable, vibrant practice environment.
Find Rewarding Nurse Jobs in Washington, D.C.
Many strategies exist to boost your career and earnings when practicing as a nurse in the District of Columbia. Consider these six tips for expanding your nursing career in the Washington, D.C. metro.
1. Look for Growth Potential
The healthcare industry is one of the top employers in Washington, D.C., comprising about 11% of all private sector jobs, according to the Washington, D.C. Economic Partnership. Whether you work in a hospital, home health, doctor’s office or skilled nursing facility, you have a vast choice of employers.
Local hospitals have different fields of specialty. Find a facility that aligns with your career goals so you can build valuable clinical experience at high levels alongside industry leaders. For example, a travel contract at Children’s National Hospital can be an impressive entry on your resume if you’re a pediatric nurse.
You’ll also be more likely to experience long-term job satisfaction in a workplace with a positive practice environment and programs to support your success. Research employers to see how they invest in staff and check employer reviews for feedback on the workplace culture. Once you identify target employers, keep an eye on job boards or work with recruiters to land a position there.
To get you started, here are a few prestigious hospitals in the D.C. metro area based on rankings from U.S. News & World Report. As large employers, these hospitals often have growth opportunities to consider, but cast your net wider based on your career objectives:
- Inova Fairfax Medical Campus: Named the best hospital in Washington and based in Falls Church, VA, Inova Fairfax serves the metro area. It’s also ranked in the top 10 in the nation for obstetrics and gynecology. The campus includes a women’s hospital, a heart and vascular institute and the Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital, recognized as one of the top 50 children’s hospitals nationwide.
- Medstar Washington Hospital Center: Ranked the second-best hospital in Washington, Medstar Washington Hospital is the largest hospital in the metro region. The hospital also ranked in the top 30 nationwide for cardiology and heart surgery and provides specialized care through its trauma center and stroke center. Washington Hospital is committed to professional development through its Center for Excellence in Nursing.
- Medstar Georgetown University Hospital: Ranked as the No. 3 hospital in Washington, D.C., Medstar Georgetown was the first hospital in the metropolitan area to earn Magnet recognition for excellence in nursing care. The facility’s comprehensive cancer center ranked No. 44 in the nation. It also has centers of excellence in Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease.
- Children’s National Hospital: Considered the fifth-best children’s hospital in the country, Children’s National has a pediatric trauma and burn center and 10 high-ranking pediatric specialties, including pulmonology, neurology, neonatology, cancer and orthopedics.
2. Know Your Worth
It’s critical to get a sense of what typical nursing jobs in Washington, D.C., are paying for your level of experience and specialty to ensure you’re getting paid what you deserve. It can also help you determine if a position you’re considering applying for is paying market value. The Vivian salary tool gives you current data based on recent job postings to keep you in the know.
RNs in D.C. enjoy some of the best-paying nursing jobs in the nation. Vivian’s salary data shows that the average staff nurse salary in Washington, D.C., in early December 2022 was $46 per hour. This salary was 18% higher than the nationwide average of $37 per hour. However, some nursing jobs in the D.C. metro area were paying as high as $53 per hour during this period.
The following table lists the average and maximum hourly rates for D.C. staff nursing jobs based on Vivian’s salary data for these roles on December 4, 2022.
| Specialty | Avg. Hourly Salary | Max. Hourly Salary |
| Medical-Surgical | $35 | $44 |
| Cardiology | $34 | $40 |
| Telemetry | $34 | $45 |
| Acute Care | $34 | $45 |
| Oncology | $32 | $47 |
Various factors impact your actual salary in any nursing position. You start at a lower rate early in your career but can expect earnings to rise with experience and specialization. Salaries also depend on the employer’s budget and how urgently they need staff.
3. Work as a Travel Nurse
Even if you don’t live in the D.C. metro area, you can take advantage of local opportunities by working on travel contracts. Travel nurses are in high demand to cover staffing shortfalls. In early December 2022, Vivian posted more D.C. travel nurse jobs than permanent ones.
Travel assignments are highly lucrative. According to our data on December 4, 2022, RN travel contracts in D.C. paid an average of $2,971 per week, working out to about $74 per hour. This average was 11% higher than the nationwide travel nurse average of $2,633 per week.
Nurses starting their careers often find travel nursing a good way to gain clinical experience. Because you’re working on temporary assignments, you can try different units and settings to see where your interests lie.
Travel jobs appeal to many RNs wanting to see different parts of the country while still earning a paycheck. A 13-week travel contract in D.C. lets you discover the city at a leisurely pace. You’ll have time to visit famous landmarks, tour the Smithsonian museums and explore charming neighborhoods and beautiful green spaces.
Travel assignments offer plenty of flexibility. You can move on after you complete your contract or work with your recruiter to line up back-to-back assignments if you want to spend more time in a certain area.
4. Pursue a Nursing Specialty
RNs with specialized skills are in high demand and well-compensated for the time they’ve invested in acquiring high-level clinical expertise. Build your knowledge in a specialty that inspires you, and work toward certification to demonstrate your competency. Proving your expertise in a specialty helps you stand out as a candidate for coveted jobs. You can also earn an excellent salary, especially in certain high-paying RN specialties.
Cardiovascular pediatric ICU (CVPICU) was the highest-paying specialty among travel nurses in the D.C. metro area based on Vivian’s salary data in early December 2022. CVPICU nurses earned an average of $4,362 per week in travel positions, with some jobs paying as high as $6,135 per week.
The following table demonstrates travel wages for various in-demand specialties in Washington, D.C., on December 4, 2022:
| Specialty | Avg. Weekly Travel Salary | Max. Weekly Travel Salary |
| CVPICU | $4,362 | $6,135 |
| Pediatric Intensive Care (PICU) | $4,362 | $6,135 |
| Perioperative | $3,802 | $3,977 |
| Pediatrics ER | $3,763 | $4,500 |
| Cardiovascular OR (CVOR) | $3,704 | $5,535 |
| Coronary Care Unit (CCU) | $3,594 | $4,471 |
While employers were seeking many skill sets, some of the other in-demand positions included NICU, operating room and labor and delivery nurses.
5. Work in Per Diem Nursing Roles
Per diem nursing is another way to gain experience without committing to a full-time job or travel contract. These urgent assignments may last just one shift or a few days to cover an unexpected absence or other staffing gaps. Like travel nurses, per diem nurses enjoy more flexibility. You submit your availability so you decide when you wish to work, and the scheduling manager assigns shifts based on your schedule. Per diem nurses may work for one facility or multiple medical facilities, depending on the position.
Per diem contracts pay a premium because nurses make themselves available with very little notice. Vivian’s job board had per diem nursing jobs in Washington, D.C., in emergency, telemetry and med-surg, paying $49 to $85 per hour on December 4, 2022.
6. Join a Professional Association
Nursing is a rewarding but challenging job, and it can help to have a community of like-minded nurses supporting you. Consider joining a professional group or association to meet nurses outside your workplace. Depending on the organization, you may have access to benefits such as continuing education, networking events, conferences, mentorship, support for professional issues and community volunteer opportunities.
A few nursing groups in Washington, D.C., to consider joining include:
- District of Columbia Nurses Association
- Nurse Practitioner Association of the District of Columbia
- Metropolitan Washington Association of Occupational Health Nurses
- District of Columbia School Nurses Association
- Black Nurses Association of the Greater Washington, D.C. Area
- National Association of Hispanic Nurses (D.C. Chapter)
- Philippine Nurses Association of Metropolitan D.C.
