Can RNs really make this much?

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Ok, so I started a CNA program this week as I want to work as a CNA while completing my direct-entry MSN program. My instructor last night whom's a RN/CNS and administrator at Kaiser, said that she has RNs on her floor making over $50/hour after their first year. I know nursing can be lucrative, but I was surprised at this type of earning potential after a year. I'm in Los Angeles so I know Cali can make more than other states, but this really shocked me. No wonder programs are impacted everywhere. I know (at least I hope) most people get into the profession for reasons other than money (although this helps and shouldn't be ignored), but I can see how it could attract those looking to make an excellent salary.

Specializes in onc, critical care.

I did research on this after getting out of school. This was about 4-5 yrs ago, and the pay scales in the US ranged from $22/hr to around $40 per hr, a huge difference for a new grad. (The lower hourly amounts were in the Midwest.) ---I think CA was the highest and NV, where I live, was toward the bottom of the scale.

The next chart on the site modified the list by cost-of-living indicators for the states and CA was near the bottom and NV was #4. I was very happy to see I was not doing so bad in NV after all!

Another interesting thing is that when they modified by cost of living, the compensated differences between the highest hourly and the lowest hourly was not very much, it came out to 4-5 dollars per hour.

I wish I could find the link so you could all look it up, but cannot find it today.:uhoh3:

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In my area of northern indiana, the top rate for hospital nursing is $30/hr. I left an inpatient facility 7years ago to do outpatient chemotherapy(no weekends/holidays), and have yet to make what I did inpatient even though I have 14years experience and an OCN. The hospitals range is $17-30. It truly does matter where you live!

Good Luck!

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Yeah, I want to know as well. You sure you're working as an RN and not a CRNA?

If you're working as an RN, hook me up so we can be colleagues.

"central texas, $40/hr. with call, bonuses and OT I was at 130k last year. My house cost me $100k(9 years ago) and my house payment is $950/month"

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Specializes in onc, critical care.

A friend in nursing school who graduated a year after I did, went to a very large city to work in a university medical center & after coming in there with just one year of med-surg floor experience, was making $51/hr on nights !

I envied this person a little until I found out she could not afford to live in the city and lived in a dorm room for staff, with three other people.

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We are 1.5 miles outside Boston MA. in a small community hospital. Top pay on the union scale ( 20 yr as RN)

42.00 an hr. w/o diff.

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I think nurses should be paid much more across the board. I'm not a nurse yet, but I'm just thinking about returning to school to become one (and not for the money). Nurses have saved my life and improved the quality of life for me and my family. To me, $50 per hour is too little compared with what nurses do. Ten years ago, as a copy editor at home, I made more than that per hour, and I wasn't even changing someone's life, helping to sustain it, or caring for a newborn. It's ridiculous how much money relatively unimportant jobs command...most of my friends work in entertainment, and they make a lot of money...$241,000 per year to start...and those are not jobs that make a difference in someone's life. You nurses should DEMAND higher pay. You are making real-world, real-life differences.

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Specializes in ED only.

Blackheartednurse: I too worked in Iowa and Wisconsin. Moved from Iowa at $18/hr to Wisconsin at $24/hr base, moved back to Iowa 10 years later and started at $18.75/hr in a CCU, moved back to Wisconsin into a $28/hr base. Now at $35/hr base - not enough!!!!! Although housing costs are low here, the pay still doesn't keep up with the cost of living even modestly.

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That is not the norm @ ALL, but yes, it is possible.

Also, $50/hr is STILL not enough for what nurses have to go through.

I'd hate to be one of the people that got into it purely for money. It's

not a job you get rich of off.

I agree, but I'd take the $50. !

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Yeah, I want to know as well. You sure you're working as an RN and not a CRNA?

If you're working as an RN, hook me up so we can be colleagues.

"central texas, $40/hr. with call, bonuses and OT I was at 130k last year. My house cost me $100k(9 years ago) and my house payment is $950/month"

I've never met a staff RN making more than $24./hr in Texas.

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Specializes in Med-surg, IP surgery.

It all depends on where you live and work. I am in NW FL and the pay here is dismal. Base is 17-19.00. We were told upon graduating(4 yrs ago) we could expect to make 30-35k a year.

I lucked out and was hired right out of school for a PRN weekend position, work about 136 days a year and average 60K. Cost of living here is not too bad. I don't work so much I get burned out and am fortunate I can provide for my family with what I do make.

My best friend works full time in NC and averages about 35k.

Another works travel and get 45-50 hourly.

It depends on what you do and where you do it.

Just as long as you do it wholeheartedly it is always worth it.

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Another factor for salaries is what Medicare reimburses for procedure/codes-- there is a trickle down effect. Iowa nurses notoriously have the work ranking in pay (some years 50th and some 51st after Puerto Rico!). We have the worst reimbursement from Medicare and no one knows why. Our cost of living is moderate. Not nearly as expensive as the coasts but not as cheap as the south. So this may explain part of it.

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To the above person who feel nurses should make much more than $50.00 an hour. I agree there are many nursing

jobs that deserve this type of pay-and many that don't. To get out of school with a 2 yr degree-it's a pretty gd start

here @ 26.00 hr. That's a 5:1 ratio btw. When I see people have a enough time to 1) study for there BSN during

work hrs on the computer 2) plan their weddings 3) talk to various family members at least 6 times a a shift and say

"I don't know why I did not look up my labs" or "report my labs"...."Guess you will have to hang the blood". I'm

not looking to start a war. I said many many jobs in nursing deserve this type of money; mabey that's you

and all the nurses you work with. But we all know at least someone that does what I was talking about above and

usually they feel they deserve more.

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