Travel Nursing in Washington, DC

Travel nursing contracts in Washington, DC advertise a median of $2,210 a week, with the middle half between $2,079 and $2,536, across 40 open nursing contracts on CircleRN. These are advertised weekly totals before tax, usually including tax-free stipends; for almost all postings the figure is the top of an advertised range. Not take-home pay.

65 openings from $1,686–$2,973/week in Washington, DC — PACU, Interventional Radiology, Cath Lab. Pay by specialty, what it costs to live there, and 31 furnished places to stay.

65 openings from $1,686–$2,973/week right now.

Housing in Washington

31 furnished rentals available for travel nurses.

Browse Washington housing

Cost of living in Washington

Prices in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (Metropolitan Statistical Area) run 9% higher overall.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024, where 100 is the national average.

Rent in Washington

The federal ceiling on tax-free lodging reimbursement in Washington is $192–$295 per night, plus up to $92 a day for meals (GSA, FY2027). That is a maximum, not what agencies pay. Look up the exact rate for any ZIP code.

How Washington pay compares

For the same specialties, Washington pays about 6% below the national median, across 37 open listings. Once local prices are counted, that is worth about -14%. Each opening is compared with the national median for its own specialty, so the figure is not distorted by which specialties happen to be hiring here.

Licensing

District of Columbia is not a Nurse Licensure Compact state, so you need a District of Columbia license to work here even if you hold a multistate license. Check your license with the compact checker.

Open assignments in Washington

• PACU RN — $2,455/week
• Interventional Radiology RN — $2,973/week
• Cath Lab RN — $2,973/week
• Med-Surg - Tele RN — $2,115/week
• Progressive Care Unit RN — $2,143/week
• ICU RN — $2,228/week
• Stepdown RN — $2,872/week
• Emergency Room RN — $2,209/week

What Washington pays by specialty

Weekly package on assignments open now, for specialties with at least three priced postings.

• ICU — $2,210/week median ($2,022–$2,949), 12 open
• CVICU — $2,400/week median ($2,400–$2,411), 6 open
• Progressive Care Unit — $2,143/week median ($2,143–$2,885), 4 open
• Stepdown — $2,148/week median ($2,143–$2,872), 4 open
• Emergency Room — $2,022/week median ($2,022–$2,209), 3 open
• PACU — $1,686/week median ($1,686–$2,455), 3 open

See all 65 openings in Washington

Hospitals hiring in Washington

5 hospitals in Washington are hiring travel nurses, 65 openings in all. Each page lists the openings by specialty with advertised weekly pay, cost of living and housing nearby.

• Medstar Georgetown University Hospital — 31 open · median $2,455/week advertised · 453 beds · 3.5★ (2)
• Medstar Washington Hospital Center — 14 open · median $2,305/week advertised · 719 beds · 3.0★ (2)
• George Washington University Hospital — 10 open · median $2,022/week advertised · 339 beds · 1.4★ (2)
• Children's National Hospital — 7 open · median $2,662/week advertised · 323 beds · 3.0★ (1)
• Howard University Hospital Corp — 3 open · median $2,209/week advertised · 234 beds · 2.5★ (1)

Resources

• Travel nursing in District of Columbia
• Travel nursing by state
• Hospitals in Washington
• Housing across District of Columbia
• Travel Nurse Housing Guide
• Travel Nurse Pay Explained
• Pay Calculator
• Stipend Calculator
• License Compact Checker

Common questions

How much do travel nurses make in Washington, DC?

Travel nursing contracts in Washington, DC advertise a median of $2,210 a week, with the middle half between $2,079 and $2,536, across 40 open nursing contracts on CircleRN. These are advertised weekly totals before tax, usually including tax-free stipends; for almost all postings the figure is the top of an advertised range. Not take-home pay.

Do I need a District of Columbia nursing license?

District of Columbia is not a Nurse Licensure Compact state, so you need a District of Columbia license to work here even if you hold a multistate license.

Is Washington expensive for travel nurses?

Against the national average, Washington runs housing 51% above and utilities 7% above. The rest, groceries and goods and services, sits within a few points of average. (BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024, where 100 is the national average.)

What is rent for a travel nurse in Washington?

The market rate for a one-bedroom in Washington is $2,255 a month (HUD Fair Market Rent, 2025, utilities included). CircleRN lists 31 furnished places here.

How much of a travel nurse package is tax-free in Washington?

The federal ceiling on untaxed lodging in Washington is $192–$295 a night, plus up to $92 a day for meals (GSA, FY2027). That is a maximum, not what agencies pay, and stipends are only untaxed while you maintain a permanent tax home elsewhere.