Difference in pay between Seattle, Tacoma and Vancouver

U.S.A. Washington

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Hello! Just wondering if anyone has any info about the difference in RN pay between Seattle, Tacoma and Vancouver. I am considering all 3 areas and even Olympia. I know that Seattle cost of living is crazy high but I am curious to see what the pay scale is. I know that people have given me links to a place where I can find out pay scales however, I have gone to those links before and found nothing. Maybe i am not looking in the right spot. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!!

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Hello! Just wondering if anyone has any info about the difference in RN pay between Seattle, Tacoma and Vancouver. I am considering all 3 areas and even Olympia. I know that Seattle cost of living is crazy high but I am curious to see what the pay scale is. I know that people have given me links to a place where I can find out pay scales however, I have gone to those links before and found nothing. Maybe i am not looking in the right spot. Any help would be appreciated!

Anyone have any info at all?

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I don't know about the pay scale for sure, but it's probably higher in Seattle than Vancouver. You could try googling nurse salary and location; they might have that on Indeed. The most important, though, is not the salary, but whether you'll be able to get a job at all, in a reasonable amount of time. In the Olympia area, jobs are hard to land. Pierce county also is listed on the "balanced" list rather than the "in demand" list for R.N.s. I think King County and Clark county are both on the in demand list, though.

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I work in Vancouver and make $29/hr in an outpatient setting. There are two hospitals. The starting base pay at one is just under $32 and at the other is $34.

You can look at the websites for PeaceHealth Southwest and Legacy Salmon Creek. They list their openings and salaries.

Are you a new grad? I think the situation here is pretty much like it is everywhere else....tough. If you have some experience under your belt there seem to be opportunities.

Good luck!

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No, I have 5 years as an LPN and then 5 years as an RN at an acute care facility on a neuro floor. I'm hoping thats enough to get me a good job! :)

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I know this is an old thread but for those reading now: In Portland/Vancouver area I started at $33.49 per hour and was making $35.93. In Seattle, with a nurse of 2.5 years experience. standard rate (whether clinic or hospital) seems to be about $30-$31/hour. I'm having trouble finding specifics but from a few interviews I've had and looking at the WSNA contracts with different counties/hospitals, that seems to be pretty standard so...not great.

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Specializes in Adult Psych.
In Seattle, with a nurse of 2.5 years experience. standard rate (whether clinic or hospital) seems to be about $30-$31/hour. that seems to be pretty standard so...not great.

uhg. Im looking to relocate there next year, I make $34/hr at my hospital in MA, and I have less and 1yr exp. Do you know if the low pay is just in the greater Seattle area or WA in general?

This is so disappointing, MA and WA have very similar costs of living so the drop in pay is a huge discouragement.

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Specializes in CNA - ER, ICU, MS, PICU, CVICU, CCU, (+).

I have RN friends at a major hospital I work for in Tacoma, and the hourly rate for a starting RN is around $28-$30 an hour. Hope this helps.

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