How are Canadian Nurses paid with respect to the US???

fergus51 · Jun 29, 2003

I didn't think Alberta's ceiling was 36 for staff nurses. Those who say they make 17 are talking american bucks, so figure 24 CDN$. http://www.bcnu.org hs links to other provinces unions and their collective agreements. If you are willing to move, you will make the most money in the US (California, Texas and NYC all pay well). BC goes from 25-32 and Ontario goes from 22-32, but don't forget most of the top wages are for nurses with 9 years of full time under their belts.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Jun 30, 2003

Fergus is right... Alberta's ceiling is $32.42 for nurses with nine years of full time experience. I have eight years of PICU and special care experience, but at about 70% FTE, so am only making $29.45 an hour. We are currently in negotiations but aren't asking for a big increase. The health care employer group wants to roll back almost every article of our contract, so the whole ball o' wax is in the hands of a (government appointed) mediator. His recommendation is 3.5% this year, 3% next year and COLA in the third year. The rest of his recommendations are totally unacceptable, so watch for things to get quite volatile here.

saskrn · Jul 19, 2003

I am a SK trained RN working in the states. I have never worked in Canada, but was told by an RN friend in S'toon that she makes in the $20's. As far as US wages, CA is the highest paying state in the country, and it is normal to make in the $30's. I have recently been offered other positions in WA and ID that are in the high $20's to $30's. MT can't compete with these wages. States such as KS, and more southern states pay much lower. I have heard as low as $10 in KS.

(All posted wages are in US funds, except SK, of course!)

TravellinGuy · Jul 28, 2003

When you grduate you will probably be making in the high 20's. Pay in the US varies greatly from State to State and can be researched by calling recruiters or logging onto different hospital websites.

Keep in mind other options other than full time. I just left a hospital in Philadelphia where I worked strictly pool staff and on weekends night shift the wage was $58/hour.

Unless you have a really good reason for staying in Sask I would recommend doing a lot of shopping around for work.

MQ Edna · Aug 3, 2003

In Ontario and starting wage for a new grad here is 21.12 for full timers and 13% in lieu added on to that for part timers. Every 1500 hours you go up a pay level. There are also add ons for night shifts and weekend shifts but to be honest I am unsure about how much they are. Top wage is 32. and change.