First RN job & it's pay

Nurses New Nurse

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Hello everyone,

I would like as many responses as possible. I am located in Houston, Texas but looking to working to work anywhere in the US. I am about to get my RN license and I have started looking for a job. What should I expect my salaray or my wage/hr at my first job as a RN with no experience? If people would tell me their personal pay they received at there first job would be helpful. I've researched the web and found just a scattered range of pays. Your responses will be very appreciated. Thanks!

Specializes in Oncology.

This post deserves a bump. I am sick of all the "well you are just lucky to have a job." Its that mentality that keep nurses underpaid.

I'm just reading this post to see what my future holds.The main reason I'm watching pay scale now is at my current job in communications industry is about to go union and that would put me on the same payscale as a new nurse. While for me pay is a consideration, its is NOT the only consideration. Anyways, my sister in an RN in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She started at $25/hr and after 2 yrs was up to $30/hr this was at a LTC facility.

I really need to comment on those who are in opposition to nurses, especially new ones making enquires about pay. Do you guys think nurses are like the Salvation Army volunteers or something? and should work for free? There was one post I read that said oh $40, 000 is enough money if you don't like it you should not be caring for my loved ones. Yes but making $40,000 and having student debt equivalent to half a morgatage? I mean, I am just starting out and the journey to be a nurse is difficult. I practically sacrificed my family life and this is just to get my prerequisites done, so who knows what sort of hell it would be like when I actually start nursing school. Most nurses paid for their education and came out of school with heavy student loans on their back, most have families and kids. They did all this sacrifice so they can selflessly serve others, all they are asking for is just comensuration for the work they put in.

I have never seen any forum that questions the pay of new resident doctors yet they, even the ones making more than $100,000 annually, still clamour for more money, yet it is nurses who are the ones who do all the ground work and running around. When my wife had an infected C section and was bed ridden in hospital for 2 or 3 weeks, all we saw was nurses and PCT's, the doctor probably came in a couple of times during that whole period.

The very fact of another post of one nurse stating that in 20 years and new grad pay scale is still around $20/hr should be very ALARMING to all nurses in this industry, not just new grads and I dare go to say, it should be VERY ALARMING to ALL WOMEN, since nursing is considered a major bread winner for females. I believe this goes to show that with all the women liberation movements, women are still unjustly paid. I have read that once more men like myself get into nursing, hopefully issues about pay will begin to take light.

I can't say that for certain but in any case, a MAJOR employment field for WOMEN has not seen an overall increase in the industry for 20 years? something is REALLY REALLY wrong here. Those who do not think so, why not volunteer at the hospital and give your pay to another hard working nurse.

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Specializes in Oncology.

My hospital in central Iowa pays $21.50 an hour with $2.50 shift diff after 3 pm. I work as a tech right now, until I graduate in December... I hope to get hired right away as a nurse on the same med/surg floor.

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I was just hired for my 1st RN job yesterday at a nursing home (YAY!). I'm in Katy, TX, which is a suburb of Houston. My starting pay is $26/hr, which the DON actually apologized for (she thinks it's too low to start). I'm thrilled with it since I just spent the last 7 months putting in over 300 resumes and apps. I'm just grateful to finally be employed!

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Specializes in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgical.

~$21/hr base for day, $4 evening (I'll get this if the majority of my shift falls btwn 3-11p) and $4.50+ for weekends (if/when my team expands into weekend service). Other I work days/evenings M-F, 3 12s.

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Specializes in ER.

Where I live, the area is between 21 and 25. One hospital system dropped there's to 21 to compete with the other hospital system that paid 20 while the one that paid 20 raised it to 25 to compete with ours. It's screwy.

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Specializes in Medical Telemetry, SICU.

24.15 before shift differential in Maryland.

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Specializes in Antepartm and Mother-Baby.

Where I live as a new grad I will be getting $17.75 per hour, plus $1 for BSN, plus $3.05 for night shift differential.

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North Carolina and where I work I get 21$/hr with 3.50$ evening shift, 4$ night shift, and 3.50 weekends. I work 7-7 and my pay is 25$ on weekdays and 28$ on weekend nights. We get paid double time for holidays. No overtime is allowed which really stinks bc I know my friends that are getting OT are getting chunk of income in just their overtime. Cost of living is pretty good though.

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In NYC, acute hospitals, new grad BSN, the low end is in high 60K range/year (city hospitals). Top hospitals (private) pay at least 80K/year.

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Specializes in Obstetrics.
UIWnursing13 where in San Antonio did you end up if I can ask? Looks like we may end up there after I graduate for my husbands schooling......really would rather be at the higher end than the lower since I will then be the only bread winner!
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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I got my first job in Houston, Texas in 2010 and got $25/hour at my full-time job.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Infusion.

In the Houston,TX suburbs at LTC I have been making $25 and just got offered $36 for prn agency nursing in LTAC and I have my ADN.

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