Confused about new grad salaries!

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I live in Charlotte, NC (while finishing nursing school) and my husband lives in the DC area. I have been researching salaries for new grads in both areas since I'm not sure which of the two places we will end up in. The thing is, I believe that most of the sites I've researched are stating salaries that are way too high and unrealistic for RN's (60k in Charlotte and 70k+ in DC). I've seen salaries on the hospital job board in Charlotte and they were quite low and nowhere near this, especially for a new grad, so what can I expect? Can anybody give me more realistic information or a site that is more reliable? I'd done a general Google search and came up with a bunch of sites, but can't decifer what to believe. I am sure these salaries are for RN's with years of experience, but what about a new grad? I am thinking I may have a better chance of getting a position as a staff nurse on some sort of med-surg floor in a hospital (even though I can't stand med-surg), but if you know what salaries are for other area as well, I would welcome any and all info.

Thanks!!!! :uhoh3:

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You also have to look at the cost of living. A lower salary can look "bad" but when the rent/mortgage is 1/2 of that in a bigger city, it looks a lot better.

Check the wage finder websites.... there are several- I don't remember the names- but if you search, you should find something :)

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I would check the website for the department of labor of a particular state. They do frequent wage and salary surveys, although they don't necessarily break them down by level of experience. I do think they're a lot more accurate than sites like monster.com and salary.com, however.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

There is a surplus of nurses right now. If you get hired by a hospital a good range to go by depending on where you live would be about (give or take a few dollars) $18.00 to $22.00 ACUTE CARE. Less for subacute or rehab. Plus shift differentials/weekend differential IF those exist anymore. You would probably make more in DC and less in NC because of cost of living.

Good luck..

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