CNA/LPN/RN Pay in Georgia?

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Hey, I live in Savannah and want to enter nursing. I'm probably going to start out as an LPN and then bridge to RN later after I have some experience and I'm comfortable with the job.

I thought of starting as a CNA because it would be the quickest route but my husband says the pay is very little for the kind of work you do. I'm not really hung up on pay but I would like to feel adequately compensated, regardless of which track I start with.

What do CNA's, LPN's, and RN's in your area of Georgia make? And if you have specific info for Savannah that would be even better. I've done the Salary.com for my area but I don't know how accurate it is. I'd really like to hear it firsthand. I know as a fresh from school employee the pay will be less but that's okay, I'm just trying to get a feel for what Georgia pays for these jobs.

Regardless of the pay though I'm still going to enter nursing in one form or another. I really feel it's where I should be. Thanks in advance for any info.

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Specializes in Ob/Gyn, Ped & PACU.

I went straight for my LPN & am now bridging through Excelsior to the RN. I've been out about 18 months. The office I started out at paid $11 hour for me to do EXACT same work as the RN I sat next to every day that made $26. I am now working with 5 weeks vacation & $16.00/hour at another location. I know that Memorial offered me $13.50 right out of school in the newborn nursery but I couldn't take the 12 hour shifts due to childcare for my own kids. Hope that gives you a good idea of where to start.

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Private Duty Peds.

In the Valdosta area, LPN straight out of school start off at $10.50 and Rn's at 17.00. That is one of the reasons I am going through Excelsior to get Rn behind my name.

Oh LilDKessler how long have you been doing the Excelsior program??

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Specializes in Ob/Gyn, Ped & PACU.

I've just started this weekend. How about you? I'm on NC1 & purchased Lisa's study notes for NC1 & Ethics on ebay.

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I know up in Commerce just north of Athens, LPN's start around $15-16. I think the CNA's were starting about $8 or 9.

I've been out of school for a 2 years, LPN, and my first nursing job was at $12 in North GA. I'm starting in Valdosta this month and am taking a cut to $11.

I also work for an agency and nothing pays less that $17 when I go somewhere for them.

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LilDKessler said:
I went straight for my LPN & am now bridging through Excelsior to the RN. I've been out about 18 months. The office I started out at paid $11 hour for me to do EXACT same work as the RN I sat next to every day that made $26. I am now working with 5 weeks vacation & $16.00/hour at another location. I know that Memorial offered me $13.50 right out of school in the newborn nursery but I couldn't take the 12 hour shifts due to childcare for my own kids. Hope that gives you a good idea of where to start.

Where did you take the LPN program? i am trying hard to get into one.

I took CNA to try to get my feet wet and gain some hospital experience while I wait to get into a lpn program. however i have been out of the cna course for 1month but still have not found a job the jobs i do see want one year experience. but how am i to gain that if no one will give me a try.

In response to pay for cna the hospitals i have been applying to in the atlanta area start with 10-11 dollars. nursing homes pay less

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Specializes in Ob/Gyn, Ped & PACU.

I did my LPN at Savannah Tech, but wish I'd done the ADN in Brunswick instead.

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Thanks everyone for posting in here. It's helped me a lot. I'm still torn between starting as an LPN first or just going straight for my BSN. LilD, you've been a big help! To top it off, a job I applied for a couple of months ago (non-healthcare related) has called me for an interview. I'm going to go but if they offer me the job I'll only consider it at the top pay. I don't want anything else to distract me from nursing as it seems something always comes up.

I'm trying to get info from AASU and Savannah Tech so I can start the summer semester but getting info is like pulling teeth. Someone is always "out of the office" or replies with generic info. I didn't have any trouble at all with AASU the first time around but now it seems I'm hitting a brick wall. Oh well, I have to keep trying.

The only reason I wanted to start out as LPN is to start working sooner but with the possibility of being wait-listed at Savannah Tech, I might just as well start the BSN at AASU. I'm so confused!! Hopefully I'll get the info I need and can start one or the other soon.

I know I got off topic, sorry. I'm not too worried about the difference in pay between an LPN and an RN, it's more the time to get either one that I'm considering. If going for the BSN will only take a little longer, then I think that's the way I should go. If I can ever get the right info from the schools...

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Private Duty Peds.
merei said:
I know up in Commerce just north of Athens, LPN's start around $15-16. I think the CNA's were starting about $8 or 9.

I've been out of school for a 2 years, LPN, and my first nursing job was at $12 in North GA. I'm starting in Valdosta this month and am taking a cut to $11.

I also work for an agency and nothing pays less that $17 when I go somewhere for them.

Sorry to hear you will have to take a pay cut, but LPN's really don't make that much in this area, Valdosta, Lakeland, Adel. This area is lacking in pay for all nurses.

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Specializes in tried almost everything/LTC.

hi "ches", i would recommend getting your cna and then jumping straight to rn. it only takes a little more time to get the rn, and it opens a world of opportunity that lpn won't. i was an cna at 17, finished lpn at 18, planned to go on, but have been stuck as an lpn for 20 yrs. had kids and haven't been able to go back. my brother went back to school at 40, worked hard, went straight for the associate rn degree and is much better off than me. just don't settle like i did. go for it.

as a cna you'll get great experience that you'll miss otherwise (even though the pay stinks for the hard work you'll do). i am glad that i did that. it should be a requirment. my brother and i both worked in valdosta at a hospital, and got paid well as "float" nurses as of 2 yrs ago. i now live in co, where the pay isn't as good.

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Im from South Ga too and work at Tift Regional Medical Center in Tifton. They have lots of benefits and pay start at 13.00 an hour plus you can get a nice sign on bonus! It is a fabulous place to work . I have been there for 6 mths now and I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

April

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Private Duty Peds.

i have heard that tift regional pays more, but they only have 12 hour shifts correct? i live half way between tifton and valdosta. the reason i prefer sgmc is because i can work 7on/7off and have more time for my family.

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