Do new nurses make more than experienced nurses?

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Hi - I'm just curious if it is true that a new grad could start out making more than a nurse with many years of experience due to economic reasons. I know this to be true in other professions that you'll have someone working for 10+ years and the newbe comes in making a whole lot more. Just curious! Thanks for any feedback! :)

Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.
We don't have the cash flow to pay you what you're worth! ;)

Yeah, talk about the national deficit

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Specializes in Neuro.

My boyfriend's sister left a job at a very prominent hospital to work at a smaller one closer to home. She took a pay cut with the new job, but was promised it was "all they could really do at the moment" and they assured her it was a competitive wage for her 4 years of experience. Because many schools here graduate in November, the hospital publicized its new grad rate for the unit she works on. She makes $.60 more than the new grads, with 4 years of experience.

So technically she makes more... but it's pretty negligible, and needless to say she's not terribly happy about it.

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Specializes in Home Health.

I've been a nurse for 2 years and I recently found out that the brand new grads were hired in at more than I make. Pretty disheartening.

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Specializes in Rodeo Nursing (Neuro).

At my facility, the rate for new hires goes up whenever the rate for current nurses goes up, but the base rate for current nurses is always a bit higher. A GN will start at less than I make, although a new hire with previous experience may start out higher.

There's a little dismay among some experienced nurses that the gap between a GN's pay and theirs isn't greater. A nurse with 5 yrs experience doesn't make a great deal more. But the gap does get wider over time, and nurses with a lot of experience make substantially more than newbies.

That's before differentials, though. Working weekend nights, I do make more than some nurses with several years more experience working weekday days.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, mostly.
Will have a hard time beating 37.75 with 4.75 shift diff and weekend diff , charge and preceptor pay, let a lone add on OT and critical call in pay. (work in Ohio) Had a nurse that has been working 3 years say, If I made that kind of money I would be dancing into work every day.. The thing is she is already talking of leaving nursing because it is so hard. I told her, wait till you've done it almost 30 years then come tell me how hard it is. I've earned every last sinkin' red cent of that. I remember whein I made 4.76 an hour on night shift.

I work in Ohio in an QWE committment charge nurse position..Fridays included..and I also am a preceptor..(BTW, let me know how you get paid additionally for that!)..and I have been doing this for about 8 years...and I know I have the above numbers beat.

I also know how hard it can be in her position...it's not all about the money...we as nurses do a very commendable job, and we are sometimes the only ones that recognize that. Sure management can tell us that we are "a good nurse", but I think it weighs more when it comes from our co-workers.

I am not a co-worker, but I commend YOU for being a 30 year Nurse! That is quite an accomplishment! And 4.76 and hr...wow...when I started as an aide 12 years ago, I made 7.10/hr...and do you know I have kept all my paychecks since then? :uhoh3:

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Specializes in Educator, OB, Critical Care.

The new nurses make more money than one's with >20 years experience, where I work. Personally, I work 'premium weekends' for the extra $4hr. and the new grads that do not work weekends are making more money than we are! Such a sad thing to think that hospitals value new and unexperienced help more.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, mostly.
The new nurses make more money than one's with >20 years experience, where I work. Personally, I work 'premium weekends' for the extra $4hr. and the new grads that do not work weekends are making more money than we are! Such a sad thing to think that hospitals value new and unexperienced help more.

Now, don't shoot the messenger...but I don't think they "value new and unexperienced help more".....as maybe they are trying to fill positions because most hospitals are so short staffed. So, that's why the big sign on bonuses...and the increased pay scale. Fair? Not a chance. But it succeeded in getting more staff...THEIR goal...

Plus, alot of the new grads are working CSP, or some hospitals offer different options. These nurses make much more than a nurse with >20yr exp.....BUT, with those options, come little or no benefits.

Now EVERYONE hears about the budget...am I right? Boy, they have certainly dug themselves a hole.

I already buy my own pens/pencils....shhhh....don't tell.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.
The new nurses make more money than one's with >20 years experience, where I work. Personally, I work 'premium weekends' for the extra $4hr. and the new grads that do not work weekends are making more money than we are! Such a sad thing to think that hospitals value new and unexperienced help more.

My personal thought is what are you doing wrong, Ive been in this for 3 decades, and longer when you consider I started out as a corpsman. I can guarantee you no newbies start out even close to what I earn. Ive always bargained for myself. I always get more.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
My personal thought is what are you doing wrong, Ive been in this for 3 decades, and longer when you consider I started out as a corpsman. I can guarantee you no newbies start out even close to what I earn. Ive always bargained for myself. I always get more.

This might be true for the job hoppers who negotiate what they make. But those of us in the same position year after year don't usually get to negotiate our raises all that much. Why should someone fresh out of school come into to the facility and make more than a nurse whose been a loyal employee for many years, and has gotten good reviews?

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Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.
This might be true for the job hoppers who negotiate what they make. But those of us in the same position year after year don't usually get to negotiate our raises all that much. Why should someone fresh out of school come into to the facility and make more than a nurse whose been a loyal employee for many years, and has gotten good reviews?

I would say that someone isnt doing the right thing for themselves. You dont have to job hop to renegotiate oa an annual basis. They go Oh God Here he comes again

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