First RN job & it's pay

[Stephen.Stevens]

Hello everyone,

I would like as many responses as possible. I am located in Houston, Texas but looking to working to work anywhere in the US. I am about to get my RN license and I have started looking for a job. What should I expect my salaray or my wage/hr at my first job as a RN with no experience? If people would tell me their personal pay they received at there first job would be helpful. I've researched the web and found just a scattered range of pays. Your responses will be very appreciated. Thanks!

[NataliaRN]

I work at CHRISTUS St. John. Starting pay is 26/hr on day shift...without shift differential n no experience.

[RNnicu42]

I am in a new grad program in southern california and my base pay is $34.86 with $4 differential for nights. The cost of living is also pretty high here though.

[ange09, ADN, RN]

I live in NC, I started at 20.20/hr (med/tele) 3.50 evenings, 4.00 nights and 3.50 wend diff. in 2009.after 3 yrs I went up to 22.80 and went to a different position in radiology nursing.Right now Im making 38/hr 3.50 evening diff ( i don't work nights buts 4 diff for nights) and$10 wkend diff doing a float pool position.

[RN1822]

31.86 in a hospital in central Mass as a new grad RN which is a pay cut from what I made as a LPN LTC nursing supervisor, 34.00 or weekend LPN PRN 35.00 in the Berkshires. I was surprised that I had to take a pay cut when I recieved my RN. HMMMMM

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

My first nursing position (and current one) is in home health through an agency and I make $35 per hour. In WI

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

I know California has some of the highest paid nurses in the country because of the cost of living but also because they have one of the most difficult NCLEX exams. Illinois is very picky too. It was definitely worth graduating.

!

Um, the N in NCLEX stands for national----as in it's the same test no matter where your heiney is parked when you take it

[ArrowRN, BSN, RN]

I'm just reading this post to see what my future holds.The main reason I'm watching pay scale now is at my current job in communications industry is about to go union and that would put me on the same payscale as a new nurse. While for me pay is a consideration, its is NOT the only consideration. Anyways, my sister in an RN in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She started at $25/hr and after 2 yrs was up to $30/hr this was at a LTC facility.

I really need to comment on those who are in opposition to nurses, especially new ones making enquires about pay. Do you guys think nurses are like the Salvation Army volunteers or something? and should work for free? There was one post I read that said oh $40, 000 is enough money if you don't like it you should not be caring for my loved ones. Yes but making $40,000 and having student debt equivalent to half a morgatage? I mean, I am just starting out and the journey to be a nurse is difficult. I practically sacrificed my family life and this is just to get my prerequisites done, so who knows what sort of hell it would be like when I actually start nursing school. Most nurses paid for their education and came out of school with heavy student loans on their back, most have families and kids. They did all this sacrifice so they can selflessly serve others, all they are asking for is just comensuration for the work they put in.

I have never seen any forum that questions the pay of new resident doctors yet they, even the ones making more than $100,000 annually, still clamour for more money, yet it is nurses who are the ones who do all the ground work and running around. When my wife had an infected C section and was bed ridden in hospital for 2 or 3 weeks, all we saw was nurses and PCT's, the doctor probably came in a couple of times during that whole period.

The very fact of another post of one nurse stating that in 20 years and new grad pay scale is still around $20/hr should be very ALARMING to all nurses in this industry, not just new grads and I dare go to say, it should be VERY ALARMING to ALL WOMEN, since nursing is considered a major bread winner for females. I believe this goes to show that with all the women liberation movements, women are still unjustly paid. I have read that once more men like myself get into nursing, hopefully issues about pay will begin to take light.

I can't say that for certain but in any case, a MAJOR employment field for WOMEN has not seen an overall increase in the industry for 20 years? something is REALLY REALLY wrong here. Those who do not think so, why not volunteer at the hospital and give your pay to another hard working nurse.

[Inori, BSN, RN]

NYC: Associates degree, no exp, $66,000 BUT keep in mind everything is expensive $1700-$3000 is rent for studio/1 bedroom in average neigborhood.

[GM2RN]

I'm just reading this post to see what my future holds.The main reason I'm watching pay scale now is at my current job in communications industry is about to go union and that would put me on the same payscale as a new nurse. While for me pay is a consideration, its is NOT the only consideration. Anyways, my sister in an RN in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She started at $25/hr and after 2 yrs was up to $30/hr this was at a LTC facility.

I really need to comment on those who are in opposition to nurses, especially new ones making enquires about pay. Do you guys think nurses are like the Salvation Army volunteers or something? and should work for free? There was one post I read that said oh $40, 000 is enough money if you don't like it you should not be caring for my loved ones. Yes but making $40,000 and having student debt equivalent to half a morgatage? I mean, I am just starting out and the journey to be a nurse is difficult. I practically sacrificed my family life and this is just to get my prerequisites done, so who knows what sort of hell it would be like when I actually start nursing school. Most nurses paid for their education and came out of school with heavy student loans on their back, most have families and kids. They did all this sacrifice so they can selflessly serve others, all they are asking for is just comensuration for the work they put in.

I have never seen any forum that questions the pay of new resident doctors yet they, even the ones making more than $100,000 annually, still clamour for more money, yet it is nurses who are the ones who do all the ground work and running around. When my wife had an infected C section and was bed ridden in hospital for 2 or 3 weeks, all we saw was nurses and PCT's, the doctor probably came in a couple of times during that whole period.

The very fact of another post of one nurse stating that in 20 years and new grad pay scale is still around $20/hr should be very ALARMING to all nurses in this industry, not just new grads and I dare go to say, it should be VERY ALARMING to ALL WOMEN, since nursing is considered a major bread winner for females. I believe this goes to show that with all the women liberation movements, women are still unjustly paid. I have read that once more men like myself get into nursing, hopefully issues about pay will begin to take light.

I can't say that for certain but in any case, a MAJOR employment field for WOMEN has not seen an overall increase in the industry for 20 years? something is REALLY REALLY wrong here. Those who do not think so, why not volunteer at the hospital and give your pay to another hard working nurse.

I absolutely agree with this. Even within the corporation that I work, each hospital has a different nursing union and starting pay for new nurses can be a $6/hr difference. I recently transferred from one subsidiary to another and increased my pay by $7/hr! Even so, I don't think nurses are paid enough for the hard work that we do, the wear and tear on our bodies and detritiment to our health by working nights, and most of all, for the amount of responsibility that we have. I work 12 hr shifts in the ED and the running around/charting/stocking/etc, all to to ensure that management gets their bonuses, increase the almighty press ganey scores, and fulfill JCAHO requirements that we are expected to do, is really outrageous for any amount of money, but especially for the amount that we do get paid.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

I think you are smart to check about pay and prospects!

[RN Miki]

I started my first RN job this month at a ltach in Las Vegas, NV making 30/hr for day shift. Hope this helps.

[hapahaole]

I'm making $26/hr at CHOP in philadelphia as a new graduate.