compensation in your state

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Hi all, so I'm a fairly new nurse, i have been doing home care for 7 months in NJ and I just had an interview with a LTC in my area. The pay is astounding . Im sure I'm preaching to the choir but i just feel like I worked my butt off in nursing school and I'm not sure about this anymore. I can't find anywhere that pays more that 25 an hour. Is this typical? I want to do nursing, specifically peds, maternity or l&d. I have no doubt about that. And I get that you have to start at the bottom. Trust me LTC is not my idea of fun but I'll start anywhere...But considering I have no kids and nothing keeping me in Jersey, I'm wondering if there's any other states that are cheaper cost of living and pay a little more. Nj is expensive and I Litterally can't live on the nurses salary here! Anyone who can tell me salaries and if they know who's hiring RNs who dont have BSN yet, it's much appreciated!!

Specializes in Hematology/Oncology.

Did your friend that got a travel position out here have experience?

1 year of acute.

I was trying to say she is no longer considered a new grad after a year of experience.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

Sounds like you are more than willing to relocate so some research is definitely in order. My opinions are based only on a few nurses I know in different parts of the country and their first hand accounts so this isn't exactly scientific evidence. For what it's worth here's what I know: Here in WI jobs are reasonably easy to find without a BSN, especially out of the hospital setting. Pay is pretty decent compared to cost of living, at least away from urban areas. I don't know anybody in Madison or Milwaukee so I can't comment to this in the major metropolitan's. Jobs are easy to find in North Dakota, but because of the oil boom housing can be very high. Pay is good though. Arizona and Texas seem pretty good too for job market and cost of living. I don't know about the southeastern states but I am guessing the job market is pretty open since I get recruitment letters from Florida and Georgia pretty often. Places to avoid seem to be California, New Jersey and New York...basically most of the eastern seaboard sounds tough, but sine you're in Jersey you already know this!

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Specializes in public health.

what percentage of your monthly income goes into paying rent/mortgage? I am interested in moving to CA but want to know whether higher wage is just an illusion? :)

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.
what percentage of your monthly income goes into paying rent/mortgage? I am interested in moving to CA but want to know whether higher wage is just an illusion? :)

The market is SOOO tough here. Don't do it without significant experience. There are AT LEAST 200 applicants per job posting.

Even with the FT job, after taxes, rent is 1/3-1/2 of my take-home.

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