What kind of money does a nurse REALLY make?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hello. I plan on starting an ADN program Fall '13. I don't want to discuss the love for nursing or other intangible perks of the job - just the financial aspects. When I tell people I plan on being a nurse, they almost always say something about making great money, but is the money really that good? It's almost like some people think nurses are rich or something, but in reality it seems like they make pretty average money without 20+ experience. I'm no financial expert so feel free to correct everything I'm wrong about.

First of all, nursing school takes about 2.5 yrs. Most people I know say its a full time job and working is out of the question. Thus by pursuing nursing, one is essentially "losing" 2.5 years of pay. If you assume it takes 6 months to find a job, that is a 3 year time investment. At 15k/yr, that's 45k. With 3% compounding interest, I think it's about $50k of "lost" money. At 3% interest this is about $125/month

Now comes to cost of nursing school. Depending on the school, it can be anywhere from $10k to $30k. My cousin paid about $22k at a local health sciences college (community colleges were almost impossible to get into). At 15k, thats about $175/month to pay back loans.

Nurses start off at ~$19/hr around here (south) - about $35,500....gross $25k?

$25k gross - $2100 ($175 x 12) loans = $22,900 net. That isnt much money to live on considering all the time invested and physical/mental stress of the job. You also don't have $50,000 in the bank due to being in school. I'm not sure how long it would take to make up the $50k difference...I guess it would depend on how much money you would be making not doing nursing.

What do you think?

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
PMFB-RN - where do you live? On $140k+/yr in much of the south you could be living in a 5,000 sq ft mansion on the lake surrounded by pro athletes/celebs haha.

*** I live in Wisconsin and work in Minneapolis MN. $140K will buy that (and then some) here as well except that our winters keep rif-raf like pro athletes/celebs away.

This area, and Madison Wi, had the highest wages vs cost of living of any place I looked at.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
I think the average RN salary in NC or SC is ~$55k. Weekend and night work can make pay go up a lot, but I'm not sure how long many people would actually want to keep that up. Working nights can wreck your body/mood which keeps you from enjoying the money. Working weekends means you dont have much of a social life and don't get to see your kids/spouse/family. Working nights AND weekends hasthe highest pay but it combines the worst of both...I'm not sure if any amount of money would lure me to those hours.

*** Great! More for us. IMO the oppertunity to nights & weekends are a fantastic oppertunity offered by nursing.

I love nights and would work them even if the pay was the same. I dislike nurse managers, attending physicians and patient families. I love patients, nurses & residents. Nights lets me maximize my time with those I enjoy and minimize my time with those I don't. I also have much more autonomy working nights. I work every other weekend and I love that too. I Love having weekdays off. I spend most all of my free time on the lake fishing and dragging the kids around behind the boat on inner tubes and skis. Go to the lake on Saterday and there are hundreds of people beating it to a froth. Show up on a Tuesday and you more or less have it to yourself. Plus me working nights and every other weekend means that between my wife (she works days mon-fri 8 hours) and I we can manage the kids without sending them to day care.

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*** I live in Wisconsin and work in Minneapolis MN. $140K will buy that (and then some) here as well except that our winters keep rif-raf like pro athletes/celebs away.

This area, and Madison Wi, had the highest wages vs cost of living of any place I looked at.

According to the Bereau of Labor, the average salary for nurses in Wisconsin is $64,800 (take home pay probably well under $50k). And I think those Wisconsin winters would keep me away too.:) I love the south and having my family close. Regardless, point is, I think very, very, very, few nurses are making anywhere close to $150k/year - I'd guess it's less than 2% (mostly NPs, CRNA, etc).

I think it's always good to have the option of working different shifts. My main objection to working nights is simply for health (and sanity) reasons. To me, health trumps money all day. Although, many people may work nights with no apparent side effects, I think there is a very good chance it will catch up to them if done for extended periods of time. The few people I know working nights say it kicks their butt all week. Therefore, if a RN tells me their wage, my next question would probably be do you work nights/weekends?

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

According to the Bereau of Labor, the average salary for nurses in Wisconsin is $64,800 (take home pay probably well under $50k).

*** Yes I am sure that is true. Exactly why I don't work in Wisconsin. (well I do but just for fun on a casual basis)

And I think those Wisconsin winters would keep me away too.:) I love the south and having my family close. Regardless, point is, I think very, very, very, few nurses are making anywhere close to $150k/year - I'd guess it's less than 2% (mostly NPs, CRNA, etc).

*** Just about any bright, hard working nurse with a lot of experience (20 years) will make close to $140K/year working as a staff RN in the organization I work for. It's similar for other organization in the same metro area and yes I am assuming working at least every other weekend and either nights or day/night rotating. And competant RN can choose to make the same money but of course, like every thing else, will require making other life choises (like relocating or changing specialties).

I think it's always good to have the option of working different shifts. My main objection to working nights is simply for health (and sanity) reasons. To me, health trumps money all day.

** Oh I agree with you. Exactly why I work nights. My mental health would suffer if I had to put up with day shift politics and BS.

Although, many people may work nights with no apparent side effects, I think there is a very good chance it will catch up to them if done for extended periods of time. The few people I know working nights say it kicks their butt all week. Therefore, if a RN tells me their wage, my next question would probably be do you work nights/weekends?

*** Working nights and weekends is normal in nursing. Nobody should enter this field who is unwilling to work nights and weekends. To me that's like joining the military and being unwilling to deploy to war. Many nurses hope to work themselves into a mon-fri day shift gig, and a very tiny few will find such a position early in their career but I wouldn't count on it.

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Obviously, I cannot speak for your specific organization, but I can say with some certainty that the overwhelming majority (98%+) of nurses will never make close to $140k at any point in there career. Perhaps you have found the utopia of nursing pay, but obviously your specific area doesn't represent the country as a whole - it doesn't even represent the state of Wisconsin where the average nurse makes a little over $60k. It's sorta pointless to talk about a single spot on the map when discussing "most people" all across the country.

Working days may contribute to more mental stress in some places, but working nights may be just as stressful in other areas. What's known is that working nights has proven health complications. The human body is made to sleep at night. Our society functions on a day schedule. Several people have mentioned that the only way to go night shifts long term is to keep night hours even on your days off...this means sleeping all day and watching the tube all night because everyone is asleep and everything is closed. Horrible life, imo. With nursing already being mentally/physically stressful and having such a high burnout rate - I don't think making plans to work nights long term is smart for the new nurse.

Personally, I don't see why someone shouldn't enter nursing because they only want to work days. If your ultimate plan is to work days, I think it's good to have a realistic idea of what you'll be making. Not many people can work nights long term - maybe this is why getting a day job is so difficult? Apparently, taking on the politics and added BS far outweigh the stress/inconvenience of putting yourself through the grave yard shift?

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.

There are 21 8 hour shifts in a week, 16 of them Aren't days M-F. Those positions are generally more desirable, and pay less because more folks are competing for them. If that's what you are shooting for, fine. Just realize they don't always come easy.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

Obviously, I cannot speak for your specific organization, but I can say with some certainty that the overwhelming majority (98%+) of nurses will never make close to $140k at any point in there career.

*** Naturaly. I thought that was so obvious as to not need mentioning.

Perhaps you have found the utopia of nursing pay, but obviously your specific area doesn't represent the country as a whole - it doesn't even represent the state of Wisconsin where the average nurse makes a little over $60k. It's sorta pointless to talk about a single spot on the map when discussing "most people" all across the country.

*** Two things. One I really have no idea why you have mentioned Wisconsin twice when I made it clear that I don't work there so what is the point of talking about it? Second IMO it's NOT pointless. If I were a nursing student or newer nurse and there was a possibiliety of making a lot more money I would want to know about it. I just looked at the open positions here and there 11 full time RN openings listed, a PICC nurse position and an assistant nurse manager position open. If anyone wants to see the listings just PM me.

Several people have mentioned that the only way to go night shifts long term is to keep night hours even on your days off...this means sleeping all day and watching the tube all night because everyone is asleep and everything is closed. Horrible life, imo. With nursing already being mentally/physically stressful and having such a high burnout rate - I don't think making plans to work nights long term is smart for the new nurse.

*** New nurses should expect and plan on working nights. It is possible they may be among the few new nurses who land a day job right out of school and it's highly likely they could eventually work themselves into a day position but expecting to work days and no weekend is unrealistic. Anyone not prepared to work nights & weekends should not pick a 24/7 field like nursing.

I happen to disagree with "several people". I don't stay awake nights waching TV and am in exellent health.

Apperently you agree with me:

https://allnurses.com/pre-nursing-student/really-need-some-790237.html#post6974060

Personally, I don't see why someone shouldn't enter nursing because they only want to work days.

*** Uh, me either but that's not what I said. They can WANT to work days all they like, as long as they are prepared to work nights if they have to. If not be disapointed or pick a different field.

If your ultimate plan is to work days, I think it's good to have a realistic idea of what you'll be making. Not many people can work nights long term - maybe this is why getting a day job is so difficult?

*** Working nights and weekends, especialy for new nurses IS realistic.

Apparently, taking on the politics and added BS far outweigh the stress/inconvenience of putting yourself through the grave yard shift?

*** Certainly for some people. The Daywalkers.

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Specializes in critical care, Med-Surg.

BSN in southern state.

Hired at $27.50/hr. I think that's about 53K/yr. Day shift. Pretty much in line with what you've gleaned. I have kids; no OT or nights for me. There you go.

But if you are young and unencumbered, OT or agency can push it up.

There is also management, charge differentials, and specialty differentials that can help.

I am quoting you bare bones, day shift.

You will not get rich as nurse without being a business owner.

And I don't know ANYWHERE one can maintain a 5000 ft property on a nurses salary without a second income from spouse.

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There are 21 8 hour shifts in a week, 16 of them Aren't days M-F. Those positions are generally more desirable, and pay less because more folks are competing for them. If that's what you are shooting for, fine. Just realize they don't always come easy.
I agree. I want a regular life with regular hrs. This might mean taking a paycut once I get some experience.
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*** Naturaly. I thought that was so obvious as to not need mentioning.

So why mention $140k?

*** Two things. One I really have no idea why you have mentioned Wisconsin twice when I made it clear that I don't work there so what is the point of talking about it? Second IMO it's NOT pointless. If I were a nursing student or newer nurse and there was a possibiliety of making a lot more money I would want to know about it. I just looked at the open positions here and there 11 full time RN openings listed, a PICC nurse position and an assistant nurse manager position open. If anyone wants to see the listings just PM me.

The state is irrelevant regardless. Average pay in MN is $74k, BTW.

*** New nurses should expect and plan on working nights. It is possible they may be among the few new nurses who land a day job right out of school and it's highly likely they could eventually work themselves into a day position but expecting to work days and no weekend is unrealistic. Anyone not prepared to work nights & weekends should not pick a 24/7 field like nursing.

I happen to disagree with "several people". I don't stay awake nights waching TV and am in exellent health.

Apperently you agree with me:

https://allnurses.com/pre-nursing-student/really-need-some-790237.html#post6974060

I never said new nurses shouldn't plan to work nights. I'm talking long term...

*** Uh, me either but that's not what I said. They can WANT to work days all they like, as long as they are prepared to work nights if they have to. If not be disapointed or pick a different field.

I don't disagree.

*** Working nights and weekends, especialy for new nurses IS realistic.

Key words were "ultimate plans" - I'm not talking about what new nurses HAVE TO do.
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And I don't know ANYWHERE one can maintain a 5000 ft property on a nurses salary without a second income from spouse.

If they could make $140k+ they could do it around here...but that might make them the highest paid ADN/BSN south of the mason dixon line. :)
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