Austin, TX job market?

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Specializes in Family Practice.

I currently reside in the Midwest and in my state the average NP salary (from those in my class and the NPs I know) is about $65000-80000.

My boyfriend got accepted to law school in Austin so I am planning to move with him. I have done a preliminary search and it seems like there are not many positions for NPs available and there are no hourly or salary wages discussed.

Any information would be appreciated.

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There are plenty of positions, but Austin is highly saturated with nurses.

We have something like 5 nursing schools in Austin, I think 3(?) of these have FNP programs and just down the road in San Marcos TX State is pumping out FNPs as well and many, many of these grads try to stay in the Austin area once they finish school.

Salaries I've been told by some FNP associates seem to be between the high 60's to low 80's.

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Austin, TX is a highly desirable place to live. There are NP positions that are available but it will be very competitive since everyone and their mother wants to live or go to Austin. It is the same in San Antonio, TX but not as bad. You may want to try outlying areas of Austin like Bastrop, Kyle, Luling, Gonzales, New Braunfels, San Marcos (New Braunfels and San Marcos are pretty good and safe places to live) Not that I am discouraging you to seek opportunities in Austin...it will be just competitive and you may not get the salary that you want. I know a couple of my new grad colleagues that got a job in Austin and they started in the low to mid 70's... Perhaps you'll have a better salary range if you have a lot of experience. Houston Area has a lot more positions and better salary range. San Antonio market is a bit better than Austin and not as crowded.

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Specializes in Family Practice.

I appreciate the feedback. I currently make mid 70s and I'm not going to delude myself that I will ever make much more than that. I just don't want to take a pay cut because at that point, I might as well go back to bedside nursing.

I've been looking into surrounding areas and I don't mind commuting, at least for awhile. But living in a different city isn't an option because of my boyfriend's schooling.

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I commute to Austin from kyle, if you plan ahead to dodge traffic it's only a 30 minute drive, from San Marcos it's about 40. If you get caught in traffic it's considerably longer, of course, but living in Buda/Kyle/San Marcos is very doable with a little planning.

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I don't think you will take a pay cut. If you guys are willing to live in one of the suburbs you will do fine.

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Specializes in Mental Health.

65k?? Wow. Please do not take a salary that low! 80k should be your minimum as a new grad. Also you didn't mention your specialty which makes a big difference. Psych NPs make considerably more than FNPs and are in higher demand.

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Specializes in Family Practice.
65k?? Wow. Please do not take a salary that low! 80k should be your minimum as a new grad. Also you didn't mention your specialty which makes a big difference. Psych NPs make considerably more than FNPs and are in higher demand.

Well, maybe NJ is different but I don't know any NPs in my state that much. My OB/GYN NP has been in practice for 20 years and she doesn't make $80,000. So it's not really a choice to take a low salary when all the jobs have low salaries. My specialty is FNP. Psych doesn't interest me. I have been considering going back for an ACNP post master's certificate.

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Wow. That slays me. Starting salary here in Texas (five years ago even!) was around 87-88K with around 95K after a few years experience. ALL of my NP friends are making at least 50-53.00/ hr which translates nicely to 97-102K per year if they were full time (I have lots of part-time working Mom friends !)

If you have experience you should easily be able to negotiate to 95-100K....47-52.00 an hour if hourly. Of course this varies with practice setting. Small family practices may be able to pay the hourly rate but would not include bigger benefits like health insurance. Austin has several large health corporations (Seaton, etc.) so you should be fine. I have a family member who is in healthcare and we regularly discuss/compare NP salaries between DFW area and Austin and trust me...they are within a few dollars of each other. You will be fine!

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Specializes in Mental Health.
Well, maybe NJ is different but I don't know any NPs in my state that much. My OB/GYN NP has been in practice for 20 years and she doesn't make $80,000. So it's not really a choice to take a low salary when all the jobs have low salaries. My specialty is FNP. Psych doesn't interest me. I have been considering going back for an ACNP post master's certificate.

What state are you in? Please tell us so that I can tell everyone I know never to move there, lol Wow but seriously. As more NPs accept low offers, it kills the job market for everyone in that area. Anything below 80k is too low for an FNP. They are just taking advantage of you. And your OBGYN NP with 20 years of experience perhaps needs some business lessons because if she's in private practice she should be making six figures easily. Something definitely is not adding up. BTW, ACNPs I know make well into the six figures as well (150-200k+). It's a great field

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