Do nurse managers or nurse practitioners earn more in Washington?

In Washington, nurse managers earn more — an estimated $161,460 a year versus $156,100 for nurse practitioners, a gap of about $5,360 (roughly 3% more). One figure is a median reported for Washington in official public wage data; the other is an estimate, because public data does not report that role separately.

How much is the nurse manager vs nurse practitioner pay gap in Washington?

The estimated gap in Washington is about $5,360 a year, or roughly 3% more for nurse managers. Your actual pay depends on experience, specialty, shift, and employer — use the calculator to compare both for your situation.

Are these Washington figures exact?

Partly — one side is a reported wage and the other is an estimate. Public wage data doesn't break out every nursing role, so where it doesn't, we start from reported Washington pay for the closest reported role and adjust. Treat those as a ballpark.

Why are some figures verified and others estimates?

National pay for the main nursing roles — registered nurses, LPNs/LVNs, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, nurse midwives, and nursing assistants — comes from verified public wage data. State, city, and specialty figures that aren't reported on their own start from that national pay and are labeled "Estimated" or "Specialty estimate." We never show an estimate as a verified figure.

Washington · WA

Nurse Manager vs Nurse Practitioner salary in Washington

In Washington, nurse managers earn more — an estimated $161,460 a year versus $156,100 for nurse practitioners, a gap of about $5,360 (roughly 3% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Washington.

Nurse Manager — Washington

Specialty estimate

Median annual pay

$161,460

+27% vs national

Hourly

$77.63/hr

Median $161,460

$116,520Middle 50%: $134,030–$174,510$210,480

Typical range: $134,030–$174,510; What most nurses earn
High end: $210,480; Top earners
Entry level: $116,520; Newer nurses

Nurse Practitioner — Washington

Verified public wage data

Median annual pay

$156,100

+18% vs national

Hourly

$75.05/hr

Median $156,100

$122,420Middle 50%: $129,670–$169,500$187,240

Typical range: $129,670–$169,500; What most nurses earn
High end: $187,240; Top earners
Entry level: $122,420; Newer nurses

Why the gap in Washington

Nurse manager and nurse practitioner pay lands in a similar range, but the roles diverge sharply. The NP is a clinical advanced-practice provider who diagnoses and prescribes; the nurse manager is a leadership role running a unit's staffing, budget, and operations. Which pays more depends heavily on setting, region, and seniority. The Washington figures apply the same local pay adjustment to both roles, so the gap here mirrors the national picture, shifted for Washington's cost of labor. Actual pay varies with experience, specialty, shift, and employer — compare the national Nurse Manager vs Nurse Practitioner comparison or personalize the calculator.

Nurse Manager vs Nurse Practitioner in Washington — FAQ

Do nurse managers or nurse practitioners earn more in Washington?: In Washington, nurse managers earn more — an estimated $161,460 a year versus $156,100 for nurse practitioners, a gap of about $5,360 (roughly 3% more). One figure is a median reported for Washington in official public wage data; the other is an estimate, because public data does not report that role separately.
How much is the nurse manager vs nurse practitioner pay gap in Washington?: The estimated gap in Washington is about $5,360 a year, or roughly 3% more for nurse managers. Your actual pay depends on experience, specialty, shift, and employer — use the calculator to compare both for your situation.
Are these Washington figures exact?: Partly — one side is a reported wage and the other is an estimate. Public wage data doesn't break out every nursing role, so where it doesn't, we start from reported Washington pay for the closest reported role and adjust. Treat those as a ballpark.
Why are some figures verified and others estimates?: National pay for the main nursing roles — registered nurses, LPNs/LVNs, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, nurse midwives, and nursing assistants — comes from verified public wage data. State, city, and specialty figures that aren't reported on their own start from that national pay and are labeled "Estimated" or "Specialty estimate." We never show an estimate as a verified figure.

Source & confidence— An estimate for a specialty that public pay data does not list on its own. A ballpark to start from, not an exact figure.

Modeled specialty estimate (BLS state wage × specialty adjustment)

Public wage data does not report Nurse Manager separately. This figure starts from the wage the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics published for Registered Nurse in Washington (May 2025) and applies a 1.30× specialty adjustment.

Source year 2025. Last reviewed July 17, 2026. Full methodology

Estimated figures for Washington. Last reviewed July 17, 2026.