Pay in Central Il?

I work at a smaller hospital closer to springfield and our new grad salaries are about 18.00/hr to start. Pay grows quickly the first year with raises every year for the first 5 years, then yearly raises along with everyone else after that.
If you are an experienced nurse you may be able to barter for a bit higher wage to start given some experience coming in the door. Thats not unusual either. The 18.00 is for NEW grads coming in. You have to remember cost of living is lower downstate so salaries will be lower too. Rn wages are still some of the best wages in the area though. Considering all the jobs that have been lost in the area over the last 10 years.

As a former resident of the Chicago area, I understand your dilema about salaries. However, on the average, the cost of living here is about 20-33% less than up there. But, it does not mean the rates you were receiving will not be comparable or just a little below your current payscale. The rates here in Springfield are $19 to $19.89 for nurses fresh out of school. However, you have proven experience which is very desirable and wanted by both Hospital systems here. One of my friends who is a veteran nurse herself makes about $40 ( am estimating) an hour being a trauma nurse at nights. We have good hospitals here in the area. One of them is even a MAGNET nursing facility. I was recruited by one of these Hospital systems, they have pretty good benefits, supportive HR and staff, and one of the nurses I worked with came from St. Louis got a relocation bonus, a nursing sign on bonus as well. Consider working down here, it's not as hectic as Chicago in terms of traffic, lower property, sales taxes and people are still very friendly. Oh my, I sound like a marketing brochure for the tourist bureau. I hope I answered your questions though and if you need more specifics on the places imentioned, let me know via email.

From what I have heard hospitals in the peoria area and bloomington treat lpn's as glorified cna's put still with the legal nursing regulations pay is 11-12 hr. your best bet is ltc or go back to school for your rn sorry. by the way I am a lpn in peoria

puppielove - I do feel your pain! I came to IL in 1996 (I was an RN with 2 years exp then) and the big hosp it Peoria was just getting rid of most of their LPNs at that time. Have you considered going back to school?

I would definitely keep looking or negotiate the salary. I work at a very small hospital. We don't even have an OB dept. Our Med-Surge has 38 beds. Starting pay for new grads or an experienced RN is the same. They do not base starting pay on experience. Our starting pay is $19.20 an hour, for an RN, whether you are a new grad or have 20 years experience. Other area hospitals, some within 20 - 30 minutes of ours, pay much more and starting salary is based on experience. I LOVE where I work, which is why I stay even though I have a lower salary than I could have, but that's really how it should be. A good, experienced nurse, be it CNA, LPN, OR RN, is worth a lot more than a new grad. We were all new grads once and we know we are better now than we were... Thank God! lol

Best of luck to you!

I doubt I go back to school, I was diagnoised with lupus sle while in school and the stress of the nursing program was so stress filled that I'm not sure if going back would be worth it. although having more choices job wise would be nice.

I am in Springfield IL and I think I started at 16.25 an hours four years ago, when I left I was making 20.00 which isnt great in my opinion. I was working cardiac intensive care, for a well known heart institute. Hope you find better than what I did! I am not a travel nurse

Anyone know how much a CNA makes in central il?

cnas make around 10 dollars an hour.

One of my daughters-in-law is a CNA and yes, the $10/hour for central IL (at least near Peoria) is correct. She made more of course though when she worked nights only.