How much $ do RNs start out at?

begalli · Jan 12, 2005

Sounds like good money. However, everything is relative. A dumpy studio apartment in SF costs 1500/month. A house? fugheddaboutit! Unless you plan on working 168hours/week year round!

True, true, so true. It's very difficult to get into the housing market around here and becoming a homeowner for the first time is literally just a dream for more than half the population here. However for those who may have purchased a house 7-10 or more years ago, it's not that bad. It's also an outstanding income for a young person who may still share monthly housing payments with a roommate or their parents.

I make 40/hour with full benefits in TN which is superb money for this area. If you think that moving to a higher paying area will really be more money, then you are sadly mistaken. Be sure you check into the cost of living before assuming more pay really means more money!

$40/hr in Tennessee is excellent! Pay for nursing all over the US should be like this. I lived in Tennessee. Actually in Hermitage, TN from 1982-1986 and worked in downtown Nashville. While the area was beautiful and had it's perks, it doesn't come close to measuring up to the Bay Area. I've been around and lived the four corners of the US and it's my opinion that the Bay Area is definately this BEST!

I still think we do pretty good here at my hospital. It's not only nursing professionals that have a hard time making it here, it's all professions and all people. But somehow we manage. :)

kesneysmom · Jan 12, 2005

I became a nurse because I love the show ER...and hopes of finding a doctor husband:rolleyes:

ME TOO!! BUT ALL I FOUND WAS CUTE RN..........

kesneysmom · Jan 12, 2005

I live in Tennessee. I am a special education nurse at a high school and an lpn so I make pretty much squat, however my husband is an RN that works in a GI Lab and makes 22/hr with 8 years of experiance. He use to work ICU & I worked LTC so we took about a 15,000/year pay cut all together when we switched, but we both work Mon-Fri dayshift and all the extras. Plus I am on school schedule too so its all good!!!

My 3 year old didnt mind the pay cut so we didnt either:)

shodobe · Jan 13, 2005

I moved up north because I couldn't stand the living conditions in SoCal. Too crowded, traffic was miserable and the people were just a tad rude most of the time. I also have worked 28 years at the hospital now and just like the people. I live in a small town, 800 people, dogs, cats, cattle you get the picture, east of Sacramento. I would still have to drive 2 hours to work at a hospital that would match my wages here. Driving everyday would get to me real fast. I drive one way here, 450 miles, and stay here for 9 days, no problem. I bought my house 7 years ago when real estate was at a low and now my house is worth twice now. I live in a very laid back, quiet area on 5 acres and couldn't be more happy. My wife loves it and so do my 9 Dobermans. I will think about moving my working conditions closer to home in a few years but for now I want to take advantage of my earning potential. Too each their own about priorities and for now this is mine. Mike

rachellesgram · Jan 28, 2005

I am a new grad (May 2004) who just accepted a position. The starting pay for me is around 25 per hour with a 15% differential for nights. So my night shifts will make close to 30 per hour. I also applied at other hospitals that range in salary from $19- $28 per hour in my area.
This will be my first time working. Wish me luck!:rotfl:

BEST OF LUCK!!!! I've been around for 30 yrs. and still love the profession! :balloons:

mishayla96 · Jan 28, 2005

I am entering the nursing program here in North Central Florida and during our "Orientation" the man told us that 1st yr nurses in our area generally start out at about 36,000 a year, not too shabby. But as said before, I am not going into nursing for the $$$, I am going into nursing for the patient care aspect, and the hope that I can make a difference for my patients. :) To me thats what nursing is really about!

Ginyer · Jan 28, 2005

I'm a student in Louisiana...at the hospital I'm going to school thru day shift new grads make $19/hr...night nurses make $21/hr, that info is from one of our teachers...

Ginyer

piper_for_hire · Jan 28, 2005

Here in Philadelphia it's $25.64/hr plus 20% for nights so that's something like $30.75. Not a bad start.

-S

vortex72 · Jan 28, 2005

I am entering the nursing program here in North Central Florida and during our "Orientation" the man told us that 1st yr nurses in our area generally start out at about 36,000 a year, not too shabby. But as said before, I am not going into nursing for the $$$, I am going into nursing for the patient care aspect, and the hope that I can make a difference for my patients. :) To me thats what nursing is really about!

Please dont have the assumption that $36,000 is decent money. This type of attitude is what keeps nurses' pay low. I wont take ANY job that pays less than 60k/year and that is in a relatively low cost area (TN). If you live in a relatively cheap area, I'd say maybe 45k is decent for your first year but thats minimum! IF you want to work

I realize that coming from school and being totally broke that any money seems like a lot. However, dont be fooled. You will be a medical professional. You should demand good money for your services. 36k/year is less than most garbage men or delivery drivers make!

edit. if you are referring to a job as an LPN then i guess that figure is ok!

breastfeedingRN · Jan 28, 2005

Here in the Phoenix area, I started out at $20.23 with a 15% differential for nights. I think that is about the going rate here.

boynurse2 · Jan 29, 2005

I became a nurse because I love the show ER...and hopes of finding a doctor husband:rolleyes:

hahaha:rotfl:

mishayla96 · Jan 29, 2005

Thanks for your input Vortex72. Yes, I am refering to Rn not LPN salary. I was reading in the Florida Forum that 36,000 is about average. Florida is a "right to work" state and we don;t say state taxes, so that being said, I am not going to stress over the $$ issue. Oh and lol about the avg. amount trashmen make, my hubby works for waste management and he only makes about 25,000 yr