What should I get paid in Austin?

Yes. Unfortunately, that pay rate sounds right on target for Austin.

Realize that Austin hospitals can get away with paying lower wages because it is considered a hip, cool, trendy, and desirable place to live. Nurses from all over the country have flocked to Austin, and this has helped to depress wages in the local healthcare market.

Even though the cost of living there is higher than most other major Texas cities, people willingly accept the lowball pay rates in order to live in the city.

I've visited Austin, but have never lived there. I also have a couple of family members who live in a suburb of Austin, so I wouldn't be able to tell you much about living there.

When I first started looking into moving to Texas 7 years ago, I researched Austin and quickly crossed it off the list because the nursing pay rates were low and the cost of living seemed rather high for a city in a Southern state.

My boyfriend and I rent a very very nice 900 sq ft apartment. Each have car payments, insurance payments, groceries, internet, cell phone, etc.

I make half of what you're starting out on and he makes about $14 per hour right now.

We have more than enough for our bills and a bit left over. Considering you'll make a little under what we make as a COUPLE -- you'll be fine.

I wouldn't run out and buy a house right now, but you can definitely live. If you have an entire family to support on your own, you may want to look elsewhere.

I ended up in Fort Worth, a city of 750,000 people located approximately 35 miles west of Dallas. I have been living here for 7 years.