life in AUSTIN Texas

U.S.A. Texas

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I am a nurse in the Philippines. And I'm also considering Austin, Texas as my choice of state to work aside from Tucson, Arizona. So, please help me to get more info about life and cost of living in Austin. Is it really a good state? How about the nurse-patient ratio? What is the starting wage? Thanks

I am only a nursing student but I am an Austin native. I can't answer questions specific to working but hopefully I can help you a little. Austin pays a little less than the other Texas cities. You can find some more threads on this if you search it. I think most graduate nurses start and about $18-19 per hour. I'm not sure about more experienced nurses. Even though wages are lower in Austin the cost of living is higher than the rest of Texas. I know that probably makes you think "why move to Austin?". There is a reason for this ratio and that's that everyone wants to live in Austin. Austin is truely a great city. It is green with tons of parks and great live music. People don't live in Austin to make their fortunes they live here because they love the city and are generally willing to make less money to do it. Rents are not too bad right now. You can get a one bedroom apartment from $500 and up. This can vary a lot depending on what area you live in. Buying a house is very expensive compared to the rest of Texas. I think the average house in in the $200,000.00 range. Some of the out lying areas are cheaper. Austin is the most liberal area of Texas. The rest of Texas is a bit more conservative. We have one of the larges Universities in the countries and this contributes a lot to the culture here. People here are very into the outdoors and being active. Try looking at our local paper's website to see rental prices. It's called the Austin American Statesman. As for the rest of living costs, it is fairly cheap because it's Texas. We tend to have cheaper gas than most of the country. Like all of Texas we do not have very good public transportation so you will almost certainly need a car. I hope this has helped. I'd be happy to help you with any other questions you have.

Thanks a lot for all the informations you have posted. That is very informative.

By the way, how much is the state/federal tax you pay there?

Texas is one of the few states with no state tax, only federal income tax. The federal tax varies by income. You will also have social security taken out of your check. I make about the same income as many RN's right now and it seems like I have about 20% taken out of my check. I'm not sure about that though. I get some of it back at the end of the year in my tax return.

Hi! So you are still a nursing student, right? What is your plan after finishing your college? In what hoapital are you planning to work? Oops! Forgot to ask regarding the nurse-patient ratio there in Austin. I heard that nurses there are overworked and underpaid, is that true?

I am still a student. I'm actually just finishing my pre-reqs and starting the official nursing program in January. I still have a couple of years to go. That's why I can't give you any good info yet on ratios. I'd like to know myself. I'm not sure how overworked and underpaid the nurses are in Austin. I saw a notice up today at school for a new medical center called Scott and White. They were advertising something like $20.75 for graduate R.N.s. I'm sure they have a website. I'm not sure yet what area of nursing I want to go into. I figure I will have a "calling" when I do my clinical rotations in school. What area do you work in?

I've worked in Austin for 12 years as an RT and now I'm a new grad. nurse soon to be RN. All of what RMT2RN is true.

The major hospitals are Seton and HCA/Columbia. Floor nurses can have anywhere from 6-9 patients at a time depending on the time of year. ICU nurses have 2-3 patients. Scott and White will have a hospital open sometime in 2007 in this area. There is also the Heart Hospital and an LTAC hospital called Cornerstone hospital. I have been told that Cornerstone tends to pay a few dollars more an hour than the acute care hospitals, but its limited to chronically ill adults.

New grads are being offered roughly $19-$22/hour before differential depending on what shift and what department you're willing to work. PRN employees get paid more due to the fact they usually dont have benefits. Agencies pay more but most want at least 1 year experience.

I am a nurse in the Philippines. And I'm also considering Austin, Texas as my choice of state to work aside from Tucson, Arizona. So, please help me to get more info about life and cost of living in Austin. Is it really a good state? How about the nurse-patient ratio? What is the starting wage? Thanks

I don't know what nurse salaries would be like in Austin but I lived there for six years and it's a great town as long as you're not in the high tech industry. ;)

The cost of living is among the cheapest in the United States, the taxes are among the lowest, housing is relatively cheap though it's the most expensive in Texas, the schools are good, crime is fairly low, and it's very pretty. It's a very young city; lots of people in their 20s and young families in their 30s. We considered going back there ourselves (we're in the UK right now) but I wanted to be close to my family, and they're in Dallas. Austin's great, though; I'd recommend it over Tuscon any day of the week.

Thanks everyone for the the messages you posted.

To LADY, why wont you consider tucson?

Specializes in Cardiac.
Austin's great, though; I'd recommend it over Tuscon any day of the week.

What a shame, Tucson is a great place to live...

Thanks everyone for the the messages you posted.

To LADY, why wont you consider tucson?

Arizona just doesn't blow my skirt up. Doesn't mean it's a bad place...we visited Raleigh-Durham a couple of years ago. It was lovely, and the people were the nicest I'd ever met. I wouldn't want to live there, though; it's just not me.

What a shame, Tucson is a great place to live...

So's Austin, but my husband and I are going to Dallas...so I probably have some taste issues.

I've visited the desert southwest and enjoyed it, but Texas is home and always will be. That's all.

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