Any Austin Texas nurses here?

dreatx · Jan 26, 2005

I was just curious as to what new grads start out at in this town.

i have looked at the salary sites but those numbers seem awful high.

the reason i want to know is because i am coming from a network operations background and make decent (not great) cash. i am working on cutting the hell out of my expenses now but i just want an idea of where i need to set my new life budget. at least in the beginning. and i plan to continue forward no matter what the figure may be. i just want an idea of what to expect.

if it matters, i currently make about 56k a year.

zenman · Jan 26, 2005

Couple of years ago I was in Austin. Think I made $24.00/hr but was not a new grad. Nice city though; you can live cheap.

zenman · Jan 26, 2005

Couple of years ago I was in Austin. Think I made $24.00/hr but was not a new grad. Nice city though; you can live cheap.

austin heart, BSN, RN · Jan 26, 2005

You are not going to start anywhere in Austin at $24 even with experiance.....New grads are looking at anywhere from $17-20 depending on what area you go into. You are not going to make 56k as a new grad. And Austin is not a cheap place to live! It is almost $1 a square foot to rent apartment. You can get cheaper but it depends on what part of town you are willing to live in and you really have to scope out the neighborhoods. I have been here for 5 years though and LOVE it. I can't imagine living anywhere else!

dreatx · Jan 26, 2005

Thank you. that is very helpful.

i already live here and have been here for 6 years. well, now i know what i need to do. i really need to trim some more fat from my budget and try to get it down to where i can live on that. it will be tough but i have at least one more year of pre-reqs before nursing school.

that gives me enough time.

11:11 · Jan 26, 2005

I will always say the best thing to do is go directly to the horses mouth.

I called several hospitals in Austin for you. Only two would give me wage ranges on the phone without speaking to a recruiter.

One stated 20.25-21.50/Hour for an ICU RN with four years experience.

Another stated:

RN 1- 20.13/Hour

RN 2-21.53/Hour

RN 3-23.04/Hour

I always call HR to get a range-

11

zenman · Jan 26, 2005

You are not going to start anywhere in Austin at $24 even with experiance.....

Well, I guess my good looks serve me well :chuckle

And Austin is not a cheap place to live! It is almost $1 a square foot to rent apartment. You can get cheaper but it depends on what part of town you are willing to live in and you really have to scope out the neighborhoods.

I guess cheap compared to here. The place I lived in would cost 1.5 million or more here!

I have been here for 5 years though and LOVE it. I can't imagine living anywhere else!

If Austin was only on the coast!

dreatx · Jan 27, 2005

I will always say the best thing to do is go directly to the horses mouth.
I called several hospitals in Austin for you. Only two would give me wage ranges on the phone without speaking to a recruiter.
One stated 20.25-21.50/Hour for an ICU RN with four years experience.
Another stated:
RN 1- 20.13/Hour
RN 2-21.53/Hour
RN 3-23.04/Hour
I always call HR to get a range-
11

thanks 11:11

rayniedae · Jan 8, 2006

i am a nursing student living in sacramento ca. i am planning on moving to austin right after i graduate in may, 2005. the lowest hospital in my area pays new grads $33.00/hour. how low is the cost of living in austin? can it be that much lower? i am now in a panic! :scrying: :bluecry1:

the average (3 bed/2 bath - 2000 sq feet - small lot) home here costs about 500k. gas is expensive ($2.30/gallon).

help! can i survive on 20.00/hour there?

Retired R.N. · Jan 8, 2006

i am a nursing student living in sacramento ca. i am planning on moving to austin right after i graduate in may, 2005. the lowest hospital in my area pays new grads $33.00/hour. how low is the cost of living in austin? can it be that much lower? i am now in a panic!
the average (3 bed/2 bath - 2000 sq feet - small lot) home here costs about 500k. gas is expensive ($2.30/gallon).
help! can i survive on 20.00/hour there?

survive? yes. maybe not in the style to which you would like to become accustomed, however.

don't forget that texas is an "employment at will" state and is very weak in the union field. this means that you can be discharged for almost any reason, and you have no union to back you up. how do you feel about the mandatory 12-hour shifts frequently required in austin?

also, do some research into "group one" in the dallas/ft. worth area before you choose that locale.

jessica · Jan 9, 2006

I'm a new grad (May 2005) and I'm making $21/hr at Seton (Magnet Status, non-profit, and serves the indigent). Decent "starter" homes here range from about $100-$130k for a 3 bedroom/2 bath/2 garage in the suburbs. Austin is an awesome place to live and I would not be ANYWHERE else! Apartments range from about $650/month up. I am very, very happy with my employer and absolutely adore the unit that I work on. Some units within the network prefer that nurses work 12 hour shifts for continuity of care, but Seton has very flexible work schedules. http://www.seton.org Nurses fill out thier schedule a month in advance and for the most part get the schedule that they request. On my unit the nurse that puts the schedule together will actually call and discuss with you if there are any changes that she needs to make on the requested schedule so that it works for both you and the unit. let me know if I can answer any more of your questions!

Jessica