Registered Nurse Salary in Olympia, WA: $131,659 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time registered nurse in Olympia, WA earns a median $131,659/year (≈ $63.30/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1141). Once you factor in Olympia's price level (4% above national, BEA RPP 103.7), that paycheck buys what $126,998 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 11.9% above the Washington state average.
Official BLS data · View source
With a 2026 median annual salary of $131,659, registered nurse pay in Olympia, WA, markedly exceeds the national average for this profession. The compensation range spans from $87,723 at the lower 10th percentile to $159,660 at the 90th percentile, reflecting the diverse opportunities and demand for nurses in the region. This data, based on 2025 BLS OEWS surveys, highlights how critical factors such as shift differentials—where night and weekend shifts can add an extra $3 to $7 per hour—play a significant role in shaping effective earnings. As the demand for healthcare professionals continues to grow, Olympia's competitive salary structure positions it favorably against other cities, emphasizing the potential for registered nurses to enhance their income through varied scheduling options.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $87,723 | $42.18 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $102,941 | $49.50 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $131,659 | $63.30 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $134,218 | $64.53 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $159,660 | $76.76 |
Median Salary Position
28.16% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Olympia
In Olympia, WA, the registered nurse salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $71,937 (2026 est.). At $131,659, the local median is 28.16% above the national median of $102,730.
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At 40 hours/week in Olympia: You'd be above the median
How Olympia Registered Nurse Pay Compares
Olympia median: $131,659/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Olympia Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Average | $117,657 | +11.90% more |
| National Average | $102,730 | +28.16% more |
Registered Nurses in Olympia, WA earn a median of $131,659 per year (2026 est.), which is 28.16% higher than the national median of $102,730 and 11.90% above the Washington state average of $117,657.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Olympia has a cost of living 3.67% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Olympia, WA has a cost-of-living index of 103.67 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $131,659 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $126,998 — a 3.54% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$74,910
2025 BLS Actual
$125,020
2026 Current Est.
$131,659
2019–2027 Growth
+85.1%
Salary Trajectory for Registered Nurses in Olympia (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.31% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $74,910 | Actual |
| 2020 | $91,880 | Actual |
| 2021 | $79,810 | Actual |
| 2022 | $88,070 | Actual |
| 2023 | $101,250 | Actual |
| 2024 | $103,850 | Actual |
| 2025 | $125,020 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $131,659 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $138,650 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Olympia metropolitan area, the median registered nurse salary grew 66.9% from $74,910 (2019) to $125,020 (2025). At a 5.31% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $138,650 by 2027 — a total increase of $63,740 (85.09%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Olympia metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 5.31% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $87,723 – $102,941 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $102,941 – $131,659 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $131,659 – $134,218 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $134,218 – $159,660 |
RN salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual registered nurse compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Registered Nurse Job Market in Olympia
In examining the local job market, Olympia employs approximately 2,250 registered nurses, which speaks to the area's healthcare sector's stability and growth potential. With a cost-of-living index of 103.67, the financial landscape balances well against average salaries, ensuring reasonable purchasing power for RNs. Key employers include major hospital systems such as acute care and surgical specialty centers, which tend to offer the highest salaries, particularly when factoring in incentives for specialty certifications and positions such as charge nurses in high-acuity settings. The substantial pay differential in Olympia often arises from a combination of factors like the aforementioned shift differentials, additional stipends for specialized certifications, and differences in responsibilities across various nursing roles. To maximize their earnings in this marketplace, registered nurses should consider pursuing additional certifications or exploring travel nursing roles, which have remained popular since the pandemic, frequently resulting in higher rates of pay compared to traditional staff positions in Olympia.
More salary data for Olympia, WA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Jordan Lee, RN, BSN
Career Analyst
Jordan Lee has 10 years of experience as a registered nurse. Their specialty is pediatric nursing in a community hospital. They analyze nursing workforce trends and salary data.
Methodology & Data Source
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. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $125,020 for registered nursesin the Olympia metropolitan area. A 5.31% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
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 5.31%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for registered nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, RN, BSN, a licensed registered nurse with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov