I work in small 120 bed hospital just outside of Pittsburgh, Pa. The starting pay is $16.30 up to $20.54. This is for all RN's no matter where you work in the hospital. I think in reviewing everybody's posting it show's that nurses need to unite. JLC

Wow!

I guess I will have it pretty good. I graduate in June and the lowest paying job around here starts at 20.50 base for days and ranges up to 22.50. The hospital where I am probably going to work is starting at 21.00 plus 25% on weekday nights and 50% on weekend nights. The cost of living is a little higher though.

We have been just making it on my husbands pay so it will be all gravy!

I am from North Texas and as a new grad four and a half years ago I was making around $14.00/hr. (base pay) and my current job I am making $21.04/hr. and I am about to start a new job in a few weeks and I will be making $23.85/hr., but I will only be working three 12 hr. shifts per week and I will be payed for 72/pay period. That 8 hrs. sure does make a difference in your paycheck. The new grads. are starting at $18.00 (base pay). I did get a pretty good sign on bonus and an employee referred me to the hospital and she is getting a HUGE bonus. The cost of living is great down here in Texas!!

the base pay where I work starts at 21.75. Every year your pay increases according to the union contract. I just received the nicest surprise ever. In December, I was supposed to get an increase to my pay. The payroll did not increase it. I spoke to payroll and explained that they needed to adjust my pay before I left my old employer. I took my proof of experience to my new employer. At first they paid me the basic pay. I had to speak to them about that. I gave them a copy of my last pay stub. I have just received my second pay from my new employer. Instead of increasing one level, they increased my pay be two levels. Which was great.

I'm almost at the top of the pay scale.

Maybe salary is relative to cost of living. In Central California, houses start at 450K (fixer-upper at 300k+). New nurses start at $26+/hr, but you need two incomes plus a prayer to buy a house!

pay

well I am in the lowest paying part of the country, but our cost of living is reasonable too. Very low property taxes. A new house in this area is about $110,000, but an older one in a transitional area is $50,000(3BR, 2BA). But I have been practicing 14 years with a BSN & CHTP (about to take my CV Boards) & I am a charge nurse on nights so I end up with $27.03/hr. When I complete my CV Boards It'll be $28.03/hr. Plus I will move to the highest level of out clinical ladder, Level IV, which means that when I do the extra little duties I get a quarterly bonus of about $800 after taxes & retirement come out. It's a little head ache but I get alot out of it! I made about $60K last year. We don't have a union here, this is a "right to fire" state. I tried to start a union a few years ago, & everyone was for it but very few signed the dotted line. Very submissive, afraid nurses. Fearful of retribution, even though that is illegal. Oh well, I am not willing to relocate to I dig in & make the best of it. I could be in the middle east or India making way less in worse conditions. I count my blessings.

I am in Virginia (1.5 hrs south of DC). With just about one year experience I am making 18 base but with shift dif it is b/n 24-26/hr. This is a fully benefitted position, retirement plan, pretty much free health, dental and life insurance, 30 days PTO, tuition reimbursement, etc.

In June I am getting a 7 % raise.

Right now, it comes out to about 52k before overtime, taxes, etc.

Considering I am just a year of experience, I cannot complain. I am not charge yet and just starting to do some leadership type things on the unit.

Originally posted by shirley-RN
I know that recently in KY the payscale starting rate for new grads is $15.05 hr. There was a market review handed to all the hospitals in which they ajusted there rate as close to the others. This all took place about 5 months ago. I don't know anything about the nursing homes or agencies

I'm a nurse in Kentucky as well -- and I'd love to know where the areas are that are paying $12 to folks. Is this LPN rates?? When I graduated -- 10 years ago -- I started at 13.65/hr , in a transitional care unit. Our hospital did not pay any extra for critical care. I don't know what they are doing now. When I stopped doing agency 2 years ago; they were paying $34/hr for day shift in ICU.
Currently, I am working for a cardiology practice seeing patients in the hospital as a Clinical Coordinator. Hourly rate is 23/hr. So, I guess from start to finish, I've gone up $1 per year. Compared to other parts of the country, Kentucky living is cheap.
Anyone else out there working for physicians??

Dianna

WOW! Some places are really low! Here in Illinois starting pay for a grad RN is $18. I have been an RN since 98 and I make 26.13 base pay, more for pm's, nights and weekends. We get raises as we get more certifications. However, I also do agency a couple of times a month, that pays $50 an hour. That's what we should make to begin with, anyone agree?

Originally posted by angel
I know that pay scales vary around the usa; but was wondering about the va nuses pay scale(title 38)...we have been under a locality pay act for 10years now & do not get cost of living like all other federal employees.In fact some years got a cut..this year they receive 4.8%....what about the rest of the USA what is your COLA????....maybe it is time that we organize for uniformity of pay throught the usa...

I live in Toledo, OH and the base payrate is $18.90
for the new grads.