Relocating from MI to Bay Area

[nicunursecourt]

Hello Everyone,

I am currently an RN in a level IV NICU at a children's hospital in Michigan. I graduated from my BSN program in Dec, 2016 and was lucky enough to find a job in the NICU immediately following graduation. I currently have about 7 months of experience as a NICU nurse. I am writing this because I have always had the desire to relocate to the Bay Area and I am seeking advice on how to do so. I would love to stay in my current specialty as a NICU RN and I am curious about the job market (specifically in San Francisco) for NICU nurses. However, I am open to working in other types of units as well. I have heard it can be a difficult place to obtain a job. I have yet to really start looking as I am not on a specific timeline to move. Any advice including hospitals, places to live, or where to look for jobs, or even about travel nursing, would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!!

[shibaowner, MSN, RN, NP]

I would advise waiting to start looking in the Bay Area until you have 1 to 2 years of experience. That will make it easier to find a job. Some people say it is a tight job market, but all the RNs and NPs I know who looked for jobs found one.

The big problem with the Bay Area is the cost of living. The Bay Area is also huge physically, so cost will vary depending on exactly where you are talking about - the City, East Bay, Silicon Valley, etc. You are going to be in for a huge sticker shock coming from Michigan and the higher pay you will get in Calif will not make up for the cost of living difference. In addition to rent or mortgage, Calif has a high sales tax, gas tax, income tax, and property tax. In fact, I think Calif has the highest combined state taxes of any state, or it is in the top 3. I advise that you start looking at rents and home prices in different parts of the Bay Area now to decide if it is worth it. Los Angeles is a little cheaper, depending on what part of LA. San Diego is the cheapest of the coastal areas, but it is still extremely expensive compared to Michigan. The further inland you go, generally, the cheaper it is to live.

Good luck.

[outriton]

Here's the current pay table for UCSF:

http://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/labor/bargaining-units/nx/docs/nx_2013-2017_appendix-a_UCSF-january-2014-to-january-2017.pdf

It's a lot more than you make in MI, but as shibaowner said, the Bay Area is extremely pricy to live in.

Might I suggest considering the Sacramento area? It's about 2 hours away from the Bay Area (without traffic). You make a little less than you would in the SF area, but the cost of living is significantly lower. I actually have a coworker who moved from MI and was a travel nurse in SF before settling in Sacramento. She prefers working in Sacramento and feels like her money goes further even though she makes less than she did in SF. She also thinks she comes out ahead in Sacramento compared to MI even with the increased cost of living in Sacramento compared to Grand Rapids. Here's the pay table for the UC medical center in Sacramento to compare with the UCSF pay:

http://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/labor/bargaining-units/nx/docs/nx_2013-2017_appendix-a_UCD-january-2014-to-january-2017.pdf

[shibaowner, MSN, RN, NP]

Travel nursing would be a good way to experience California before deciding on a permanent move. Generally, you need at least one year of experience (2 would be better) to become a travel nurse. That way, you can request assignments in different California cities.