DFW area, Is this a fair pay for a RN with 4.5 yrs experience?

TomCCRN1991 · May 20, 2009

You could do a lot worse. That's better than I make after 18 years in ICU in Wisconsin. You have to compare it to the cost of living though. Wisconsin's ecomnomy sucks, with high cost of living and low wages.

TomCCRN1991 · May 20, 2009

BTW, I think Texas Rocks!!!

gusblom · May 20, 2009

Pay is about right for the area. Don't know if the area hospitals are doing it now; but, it was common to get a signing bonus to supplement the low pay in the DFW area. Used to be that the only way nurses could get a decent raise would be to job hop. Also, you will find night and weekend differentials that will add to the hourly rate. Before you turn the offer down, see if they are giving a sign on bonus and what the differentials would be.
If you are coming from another area of the country, it can be a real shocker to see the low pay rates here. The only thing I can probably say to console you is that there is no state income tax in Texas. And, you can supplement your pay by taking on agency work for rates in the high 30s to low 40s/ hr.

No Nurse should have to work two or more jobs to get by comfortably. Many Nurses in Texas and most southern states work two jobs. They do not realize that by doing so they keep the pay low. Employers are making a killing down here so why can't we be paid a comfortable wage. Of all professions we are the most at risk to lose our profession and livelihood due to the many dangers of our profession and so we should be compensated accordingly. You nurses out there doing two job pull your services from one job and see how long it takes for wages to go up. I would prefer a state income tax because, property taxes is a real killer so we the property owners pay taxes for all the others. And no, cost of living is not as low as they would want you to believe. Don't do Florida either - cost of living there is probably higher than NY.

Shaka · May 21, 2009

I am a 37 year RN and was making $29.85 after working there for 3 years....it was a rural setting that had a sign on bonus plus incentives to work overtime. The full time weekly hours were 32 and there was a $10.00 per hour for any hours worked over 30 per week. There were also evening and night differentials but no weekend differential. I made $66,000 the last year I worked there. It was a good salary by comparison to other professions. I worked my *** off the majority of the shifts I worked.

I believe we all should start thinking about what we are going to do when the corporate companies start making their 2 trillion dollar cuts or medicare spending is cut or medicaid spending is cut......these are all proposals to curb the huge health care expenditures which do not allow for health care coverage for all Americans:a presidential campaign promise. We may all have to adjust to a new mind set for being in the nursing profession....we all need to be paying attention to this, uniting in the formulation of what we want to see happen to us as we will be the first effected as the changes come down the pike......and they will sooner that we think.

RNRebecca83 · May 21, 2009

My life is pretty is easy here in the Southwest, I made about 80K last year with moderate amt of OT, not a lot of overtime. After I studied online, No state income tax in Texas only can save RN about $1500-$2000 a year, depending on your deductible. Instead, people in Texas pay $4000 or more on property tax if they want live in a nice area with good school.

vamedic4, EMT-P · May 21, 2009

I just got a job offer from a busy dept in a Baylor hospital in Dallas. $27.5/hour for my 4.5 yrs experience. I I feel it is a low pay. What you think? I don't live in Dallas. I need inputs from locals. Thank you

You are correct, it is quite low for an RN with your experience. Big Baylor, a level I trauma center, can and probably should pay more. You can most likely make more at another facility, I know you can at mine. I live north of Dallas and have worked at my facility (in Dallas) for 15 years.

JGarner37 · May 21, 2009

The pay seems a little low. However, my sister did several of her clinicals there and personally knows nurses that work there. She loves Baylor downtown and hopes to start her career there. From what I understand, it is a nurse driven hospital and the low pay may be worth an enjoyable place to work.

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · May 21, 2009

You could do a lot worse. That's better than I make after 18 years in ICU in Wisconsin. You have to compare it to the cost of living though. Wisconsin's ecomnomy sucks, with high cost of living and low wages.

Wow! They must pay really low in that area of WI! I live in northwestern WI and make almost that much at a long term care facility - I have been an RN for 7 years.

DallasMonty · May 22, 2009

Are these salaries your all are quoting fulltime pay with bennies? My hospital in Denton, from what I hear, start out at $23 + $5/hr shift diff. If you go PRN, you can add $10/hr on to that. I have no proof to back this up as I am still in nursing school.

MzKGoRN · May 23, 2009

Denton Regional starts New grads at 22.85 and it is 4.00 night diff and 4.30 weekend diff. These stack (so if you work weekend nights you make 8.30 in shift diff) For 3 yrs experience it is 25.09 so 4.5 yrs will be somewhere in the range of 25.09 or slightly higher. PRN has 3 levels the highest level is you must work 2-3 shifts a week and it 37.00 and hour plus shift diff for nights and weekends. If you work a 4th shift in the week you receive critical pay (if they are still doing this)

Hope this helps the OP and Dalla Monty to stay on once he (yeah I know who you are lol) becomes a nurse.

My proof my paychecks lol

Chris56920 · May 24, 2009

I am still in school, but a friend of mine just graduated here in Santa Fe, NM and she was offered 54,000 right out of school in CCU.

smilingbig · May 25, 2009

".....But summer here is too hot, and I don't like the desert....I like DFW as it has four seasons..."

I hope you aren't moving to Texas for the weather....dry hot is usually more tolerable than hot & humid... I was born & raised in the Middle East and would take a 125 degree day in the desert than any hot & humid summer day in Texas..... and would love to live some where with 4 seasons... mother nature sure tries to give us 4.... it just usually doesn't work out that way...good luck with the relocation, I am sure that can't be easy!!