How Does an RN make more in Sacramento than San Diego????

U.S.A. California

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I don't understand how RN's survive in San Diego. at 32 to 36 an hour I would go under.??!!

I make 57 with 1 year experience in sacramento area. Im an OR nurse.

Cost of living is so low in Roseville ca And pay is almost twice as much. Also if you have 3 dogs, its impossible to live in San Diego unless you rent a million dollar home thats 1500 sqft. I'm just curious if i'm missing something, the numbers just don't add up to me.

Thanks.

Specializes in non-animals.

If you get into a state-run teaching hospital (UCLA, UCSD, UC Irvine) I hear the benefits aren't too bad as you can get into CALPERS. Someone correct me if I'm wrong

If you get into a state-run teaching hospital (UCLA, UCSD, UC Irvine) I hear the benefits aren't too bad as you can get into CALPERS. Someone correct me if I'm wrong

Negative calpers is for those working directly for the state. My brother works for CSEA which is calpers. UC systems have their own pension and retirement which is not on the same level at all.

Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.
Kaiser in sac isn't almost 70/hr from what I've been told. My former coworker makes almost that with night shift differentials and 8 years ER experience at Kaiser. So yah, the money is there, but it's not quite that high in sac. On a night weeks shift I can clear 62/hr, which is good.

I'm not a huge fan of Sacramento though. If it wasn't for the money, I'd already not be here. I'm glad I moved here to get to spend the last year and a half around my grampa before he passed. But there isn't much here for me and my husband.

The Bay Area is great, but cost of living can quickly eat up those wages if you have a family. I don't think I could ever afford a decent house in a good school district there regardless of income. I mean a 4500/month mortgage seems excessive.... Even if your take home 8 or 9k a month.

The Kaiser new grad program I interviewed for in the Sacramento area started at $69.10 an hour.

Specializes in med surg, icu.

It's called the sunshine tax. If it weren't for student loans and the insane cost of daycare, we'd still be in San Diego, even with the paycut. I miss living 5 minutes away from the beach (and surfing warmer water... Especially since you can trunk it in the summers).

Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.
The Kaiser new grad program I interviewed for in the Sacramento area started at $69.10 an hour.

Well than I'm working at the wrong hospital, is that base??? My former coworker at kaiser south sac said to expect close to 70 with my experience (I've got 5 years)...

Specializes in med surg, icu.

I was making 41/hr with 6 years experience, but we'd rather move north and kill our student loans (in order to live coastal) than live in East County (and the heat).. But to each their own-- I can see why people would live there, so it's all good. With 3 dogs and one child, I think it's perfectly doable, and you can live comfortably and still be coastal. We did fine with two kids and were able to afford being 5 minutes away from the beach, and we were at the beach practically everyday. The paycut is the price we paid to be able to bring the kids to nice family beaches like fletcher's cove, Cardiff state beach, etc. I'm willing to take the paycut again once the loans are more bearable. I cant stand being away from the surf this long.

Lesson learned: nursing degrees from private universities suck.

I was making 41/hr with 6 years experience, but we'd rather move north and kill our student loans (in order to live coastal) than live in East County (and the heat).. But to each their own-- I can see why people would live there, so it's all good. With 3 dogs and one child, I think it's perfectly doable, and you can live comfortably and still be coastal. We did fine with two kids and were able to afford being 5 minutes away from the beach, and we were at the beach practically everyday. The paycut is the price we paid to be able to bring the kids to nice family beaches like fletcher's cove, Cardiff state beach, etc. I'm willing to take the paycut again once the loans are more bearable. I cant stand being away from the surf this long.

Lesson learned: nursing degrees from private universities suck.

I agree. Posters above who claim they can't afford living in San Diego are being a tad bit over dramatic. Yeah our pay to housing sucks compared to Davis but far from uncomfortable. Just don't expect that youll be in a mansion, I don't expect many fun activities in central California.

Rereading the OPs comments.. Seemed like immature gloating. Seems like she went back under her bridge never to return?

Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.
I was making 41/hr with 6 years experience, but we'd rather move north and kill our student loans (in order to live coastal) than live in East County (and the heat).. But to each their own-- I can see why people would live there, so it's all good. With 3 dogs and one child, I think it's perfectly doable, and you can live comfortably and still be coastal. We did fine with two kids and were able to afford being 5 minutes away from the beach, and we were at the beach practically everyday. The paycut is the price we paid to be able to bring the kids to nice family beaches like fletcher's cove, Cardiff state beach, etc. I'm willing to take the paycut again once the loans are more bearable. I cant stand being away from the surf this long.

Lesson learned: nursing degrees from private universities suck.

I learned that lesson too. Hence why I'm luckily working in Sacramento although my heart yearns for so cal. I just realistically can't afford the paycut, with a mortgage, kids daycare, car payment and lovely student loans. I'm doing ok where I'm at, but then again, still on one salary...

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