Are You Satisfied With Your Income?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Aug 13, 2007

I am an LVN, so I would expect my earnings to be lower than my RN counterparts.

I am rather pleased at the earning power that has been bestowed upon me by my completion of a 12 month diploma program of vocational nursing. I was initially licensed in January 2006, and I earn $19 hourly. I have full awareness that I am doing much better financially than many people who have earned BA degrees in lower-paying humanities majors such as English, sculpture, philosophy, sociology, fine arts, and classics.

I earned $47,000 last year, which is more than what many teachers and social workers can expect to make. Admittedly, I did work some overtime days, but overall I had most days off. I live in a nice single family home, drive 2 newer cars, and have amassed enough money to live on for 1 year or longer if something drastic were to occur (illness, unemployment). By the way, I have no husband or boyfriend to help me financially.

Quickbeam, BSN, RN · Aug 13, 2007

I'm a 20+ year RN/BSN and I currently have worked for the past 9 years in community health, full time. I'm the only nurse at my agency, where they consider me a "highly compensated employee". :)

I make much less than hospital nurses in my region and barely more than my next door neighbor, a newly minted kindergarten teacher. However, I opted for a lower paid, better benefitted position for many reasons including physical disability. I can remain at my current job with regular raises and union protection until I retire even if I end up in a wheelchair. The pension is wonderful.

I'd say I'm underpaid by about 10-20% given the expertise I brought to the job and additional degrees. However, I'm satisfied in that I ended up finding a perfect job for my intellectual needs and decreased physical capacity. Not everyone is so lucky in nursing so I'm going "glass half full" on this one.

longjourneydream · Aug 13, 2007

i have often wondered what nurses should really make.

i will not disclose what i make,

but as a new grad

my hospital starting rate was 18.50, other areas 19.50 per hour.

i really don't know if any one would consider that fair or not.

i am curious to what others around the nation get paid, and do they match their standards/costs of living.

i live in sw fl, where it is no longer inexpensive to live.

our retirement community is catering to the wealthy, so the working

class cannot afford to live in these areas any more.

there are many nurses moving away because of this....

i would be interested in feedback.

i'm a 20+ year rn/bsn and i currently have worked for the past 9 years in community health, full time. i'm the only nurse at my agency, where they consider me a "highly compensated employee". :)
i make much less than hospital nurses in my region and barely more than my next door neighbor, a newly minted kindergarten teacher. however, i opted for a lower paid, better benefitted position for many reasons including physical disability. i can remain at my current job with regular raises and union protection until i retire even if i end up in a wheelchair. the pension is wonderful.
i'd say i'm underpaid by about 10-20% given the expertise i brought to the job and additional degrees. however, i'm satisfied in that i ended up finding a perfect job for my intellectual needs and decreased physical capacity. not everyone is so lucky in nursing so i'm going "glass half full" on this one.

luvschoolnursing, LPN · Aug 13, 2007

When I left the hospital for school nursing, I had to go back to school and get my BSN, then I had to go another year to get my School Nurse Certification, now I need an additional 24 college credits to be permanently certified in Pennsylvania and I'm making way less. YES, I am very happy with my income. I love what I do and I was miserable before, so I guess it's all a matter of perspective. Find what you love to do and as long as it pays the bills, it's enough.

NeosynephRN · Aug 13, 2007

Not the highest paying job in the history of the world...LOL...but you know what I can pay all my bills on time, go out to eat once in a while and have a little left over. So all and all not to bad!!

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Aug 13, 2007

I know that we would all like to make more, but overall, are you happy with the $ you make as a nurse? I hear so much about how nurses feel underpaid, but then I've also heard people say that you can make quite a bit of $ as a nurse. Do you have to nearly break your back doing tons of overtime to make good money?
There is a large hospital in San Antonio where I would like to work after completing school, but they start nurses out at $19.50/hr. Do hourly earnings go up fairly quickly with years of experience?
Just curious!
jollyjenny

Unfortunately, that is one of the downsides of nursing - hourly earnings do NOT go up much at all with experience. Not compared with most other careers, which readily reward education and experience.

TooterIA · Aug 13, 2007

I am a RN with my BSN in Iowa and I make $25 an hour. I get slightly more because I also am certified in ACLS and PALS. On one hand I feel my income is good because it only takes 2 years to get a RN degree and I cant think of many professions that start out that good of pay for 2 years. On the other hand, my pay is not good enough because every day I have to be responsible for my patient's condition.

FWIW I have been in my facility for 4 years and our pay scale is good the longer you have been there and each year we get a raise from 1-5 %.

Jessica

fergus51 · Aug 13, 2007

I'm very happy with my income. It would never be enough to buy a house in this area, but I could buy a condo. I currently rent and am able to save a fair bit of money each month. I think being happy with your income is more about what you spend than how much you earn.

I don't think anyone would turn down a raise, but I am content with the amount of money I make.

Sassybottom · Aug 13, 2007

I feel like I make enough to get by but I am always so disappointed in my paychecks. It seems so little for all the sleepless nights, strain, and aging that working is doing to me.

I am thankful that I don't have any school or car loans or kids or pets to take care of but I still feel like I never have enough money for luxuries. Thankfully I have pretty simple tastes and needs but it is hard not to compare myself to some of my friends who work in different areas and are driving shiny new cars, wearing designer jeans, own beautiful homes, going on vacation, buying $10+ drinks, and getting pedicures.

not now, RN · Aug 13, 2007

I'm very happy with what I make. I've chosen to live simply and minimally so I have enough money to pay bills and still have some fun (just got back from a cruise last weekend).

My best friend make a little less than I do herself (not a nurse but the combined income with her husband is more than what I make) and she never has money because she can't live within her means. She thinks she needs a new car, a closet full of clothes, tanning sessions, ect. Sometimes it's a matter of reviewing what one really does and does not need and adjusting accordingly. I'm not saying being cheap, just mindful.

agent66 · Aug 13, 2007

I am happy with my salary only because after 19 years i have figured out the formula for the correct amount of hours to work without being taxed to death and keep my sanity. Being part-time in Ontario has its benefits because you get in lieu of benefits and vacation time so that is extra money tacked on again. Of course the taxes in canada take a large hunk of your salary also, but is a wonderful place to live so we complain and learn to live with that aspect. I too would certainly not turn down a raise but live quite comfortably with what i make now, at the top of the payscale and enjoying being one of the top senior people to get time off when i want , go home early etc. Overall can't say i could handle making $10/hr in a job i loved, I do like some material things afterall, as do most of us.

66

freedom 35 has passed me by but freedom 45? Maybe!!