What was minimum wage when you first started?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

I have read a couple threads on here with people asking if nurses would be willing to work for ridiculously low wages; often as low as minimum wage. Got me thinking about what minimum wage was at my first job...my first job was at a round table for $5.75. Soooo glad I don't still make that! What was minimum wage when you got your very first job?

All of $1.65, and my first job paid me $1.66. I was a very valuable employee.

$3.35/hr. I worked in a sweat shop soldering pc boards and cables.

Specializes in 5yrs LPN , 2 yrs CNA.

it was 5.15....i was 16 I think. I put fried chicken and veggies in a box to go!!!

$2.15 ish back in the 70's. Although I did work as a waitress for $.50/hr and tips. They were allowed to pay less then minimum for some reason. I made between 7-11 dollars in tips per day.

I worked for $3.20 at the local movie theater during college.

My first nursing assistant job paid $4/hr base pay. I lived at home during nursing school, and that $4/hr job paid the tuition(community college), books, health insurance, car insurance, and all my expenses except room and board.

Minimum wage was 4.25 and I worked at an amusement park. We worked 60+ hours and did not receive overtime because we were seasonal employees and state law said they didn't have to pay time and a half for over 40 hours. We had to pay about $2-3 a week for uniform rental and $15/month for the rooms we lived in- at least two people to a room, bunk beds, about 8' by 5' rooms.

I only lasted a month and then quit because I hated it so much.

Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

$2.10 as receptionist in motel. Hate to admit how long ago that was, but we still connected people to long distance with CABLES punched into the switchboard. Yikes

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Worked at a Kentucky Fried Chicken from 1975 to 1977 for $2.05/hour.

Think the minimum wage was in the dollar or so range. My first nsg job was about 3.25 an hour. I have pay stubs from back then. I thought I was making decent money and was able to save 50 dollars a month.

Specializes in ER, OR, PACU, TELE, CATH LAB, OPEN HEART.

Minimum wage was $1.90 when I was doing shipping/packing at a printing company 1972-1973.

First RN job, 1976, was $4.95 and after a year got $0.25 raise.

1978 first Agency job paid $6.50

I don't recall what I got paid at any of the jobs I had before I went into nursing (too long ago :)), but the prevailing rate for new grads in my medium-sized Southern city when I graduated from nursing school in '84 was roughly $8.15/hour -- and I remember thinking that I couldn't imagine what I was going to do with that much money!

+ Add a Comment