Fair salary

Where in CA? In some areas, that's good, in others it's paltry. CA is a big state.

San Jose being the Regional Medical Center

I'm from the central valley and not super familiar with pay rates in San Jose. But I do know that their cost of living is very high. For 10 years of experience, I'd think you'd get more than that, and I think that you may struggle to make ends meet unless you're single and planning to have a roommate or live in a studio apartment.

To give you an idea, I'm in the central valley and our lowest paid hospital staff RN II (at least 3 years of experience) starting pay rate is $38-47/hr. With 10 years of experience, you'd be at the higher end. And at a unionized hospital, it could be closer $50-$60 an hour. And cost of living here is probably half of cost of living in San Jose.

Thank you for your help.

Was expecting something like that. I am using a recruiting agency because I'm an international nurse. If I sign with this hospital I would need to be with them for three years or pay a lot to broke the contract. According to the agency I'll be payed by them and not by the hospital so I believe they should keep some of the money. They tried to "sell me" (don't know if it's true or not) that any international nurse hired at the beginning will earn an income similar to a new graduate nurse.

After what you told me probably I'll refuse it because if I'm intending to move there (with all my experience) is because I want to pursue a better quality of life and do not want to be struggling each month and being frustrated with this exploration for the next three years.

It's a shame as I was really excited though. :/

For the Bay Area that is low, but I'm not sure how challenging it will be to get a job with international experience. Some hospitals require US experience.

That does not sound like a competitive wage for a city in California.

That does not sound like a competitive wage for a city in California.

This.

$42 in CA with that much nursing experience is really low. I'm only 1 year experience at a community hospital in CA and I'm not that far off from you...

So I was told today by the agency that I'll earn 42$/hr for the first 8hrs and 63$/hr for the last 4hrs of the 12hrs/shift. Would this be more acceptable as will be roughly 7000dollars/month?

@pjsrav hello there, just wondering what recruitment agency did you contact to? any information is appreciated. Im a struggling foreign nurse looking for jobs. thank you[/COLOR][/font]

New grads start in Bay area hospitals in the mid $50/hr to high$50/hr range, not including differentials. You can see some hospital's wages online like UCSF and UCD, surrounding hospitals are usually fairly competitive.

Hello pjsrav,

I think we were recruited by the same company because they also offered me $42/hr at Regional Medical Center in San Jose. I have about 9 years experience in Cardiology and Respiratory medicine in Australia and New Zealand.

Although I know nurses in that area earn about $55-60/hr, I still think it is a good deal because you will find it really hard to find a hospital that will sponsor you. It is easier for them to go through an agency rather than shoulder all the expenses associated with immigrating a nurse. They are also wary of the future in case the economy does not do so well and they find themselves in a position where they no longer need you. That way, you are not directly employed by the hospital, the recruiter employs you and pays your wages.

San Jose is a very expensive area. Rent for a decent place does not come cheap (at least 2k a month).

Hello,

I'm Paulo. Nice to meet someone that is "in the same boat" :)

Yeah I tought the same and then three years just goes very quick. After, we can negotiate a better contract.

Have you done your interview with the hospital? Mine will be next Tuesday. How was it? Any hints?