How much $ do RNs start out at?

ASU_Sdvls · Dec 22, 2004

I will make about $76,000 after my first year as an RN. My basic wage here in Arizona is $20.56, plus $4 to $5 differential when working nights and/or weekends, plus $12 an hour working an extra shift (essentially overtime), plus $35/hr. (1.7 times my basic pay) working overtime. I generally work 4 days a week.

Overtime is considered time after 36 hours per week. I have been to Hawaii, Asia, and Mexico my first year as a nurse. My brother, who has been working as an accountant for the past 7 years and has a BS in Business Administration and makes less money than I do, is totally jealous about my ability to punch out after work and not have to worry about the project sitting on my desk while I am off somewhere. He is considering going to get his ADN at a nursing school in Hawaii, where there is keen competition for students wanting to become nurses.

His other complaint is that he is paid on a salary basis. After figuring the amount of time he works and the amount of salary he makes, he figured that he is making only about $15 an hour!

So essentially, as an RN, I am only required to basically work 4 days a week for $76,000, plus have PTO that pays for my time off, no responsibility after working hours, travel the world, and invest my money in the stock market and/or real estate. Thus there is a build in time off in my schedule where I can get 6 days off for vacation.

oneLoneNurse · Dec 22, 2004

New grads for the first year are notoriously shafted in the pay dept. I would take an educated guess that the average new grade pay is from 14-30 $/hr depending on where you live (30 being in the high cost of living areas, NYC/SF etc.)

From my prospective new grads do not get shafted in the pay department. I think the problem with nursing is that new grads make great money relative to the barriers to entry to the professional. Thats why I became a nurse( sorry, idealists). After entering the field there is no where to go. I've been a nurse since 1984 and am not making that much more than when I started. Granted I work 8-5, love what I do, free education etc, etc. That probably counts for alot more. Bedside Nursing staff received a 20% pay hike a couple of years ago. I thought my wages were hooked to theirs; no way.

marymary · Dec 22, 2004

It's great that you want to be an RN due to the shortage, but being a nurse is not just a job. Don't do it for the money. It is who you are...I don't know about everyone else, but my life revolves around being a nurse. You have to want dedicate your life to helping people. That means working 14 hour days/nights, working holidays, getting hit/screamed at by patients. It is a very demanding career not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. Good luck. Hope you make the right decision. :)

Thanks for the comment. It truly is not about money. We receive a decent salary but compared to what we do as nurses, it will never be enough. How do you pay someone for saving your life? What cost can you put on helping someone toliet theirselves or their loved ones? Or when the MD will not spend the time listening to a patient's concerns about his diagnosis and there you are carrying the ball...there are many perspectives of nursing that are priceless. If you go into nursing you have to want to help others... it is something that is within not taught...

Mommy2Maddy · Dec 22, 2004

In California (Bay Area region) new graduates start out at about $32-$35/hour without the differental. That is a base day shift rate. Evening shift has about a $2-3/hour increase and nights is usally about $5/hr increase. It all depends on the area and state in which you want to be a nurse. It truly all balances out with the difference in the cost of living.

Doug85 · Dec 22, 2004

I will make about $76,000 after my first year as an RN. My basic wage here in Arizona is $20.56, plus $4 to $5 differential when working nights and/or weekends, plus $12 an hour working an extra shift (essentially overtime), plus $35/hr. (1.7 times my basic pay) working overtime. I generally work 4 days a week.
Overtime is considered time after 36 hours per week. I have been to Hawaii, Asia, and Mexico my first year as a nurse. My brother, who has been working as an accountant for the past 7 years and has a BS in Business Administration and makes less money than I do, is totally jealous about my ability to punch out after work and not have to worry about the project sitting on my desk while I am off somewhere. He is considering going to get his ADN at a nursing school in Hawaii, where there is keen competition for students wanting to become nurses.
His other complaint is that he is paid on a salary basis. After figuring the amount of time he works and the amount of salary he makes, he figured that he is making only about $15 an hour!
So essentially, as an RN, I am only required to basically work 4 days a week for $76,000, plus have PTO that pays for my time off, no responsibility after working hours, travel the world, and invest my money in the stock market and/or real estate. Thus there is a build in time off in my schedule where I can get 6 days off for vacation.

That's really cool and I'm kinda interested. I worked in Phoenix over the summer and possibly might be going back later. Could you give me more details on the steps required to do what you're doing?

Kingbandit · Dec 22, 2004

I'm in Columbus, OH and I just took a job in the ED at a level one trauma center starting at $23.77 and $4.75/hr shift diff X2 for weekend nights. I also got a sign on bonus of $6000 for a 2 year commitment.

Quickbeam, BSN, RN · Dec 22, 2004

After entering the field there is no where to go.

That's interesting,onelonenurse. I hear that a lot from other nurses.

I think nurses need to understand the importance of planning a Part B to their career. You may make great cash right now but what if you can no longer do floor nursing? Figure out what training you'll need to fill a niche market or go into another form of care. For many less strenuous nursing roles, a BSN can open a lot of doors. Just MHO.

oneLoneNurse · Dec 22, 2004

That's interesting,onelonenurse. I hear that a lot from other nurses.
I think nurses need to understand the importance of planning a Part B to their career. You may make great cash right now but what if you can no longer do floor nursing? Figure out what training you'll need to fill a niche market or go into another form of care. For many less strenuous nursing roles, a BSN can open a lot of doors. Just MHO.

BUT thought I had found a niche that would set me apart and command more money than usual. BUT, unless I am prepared to move will not be offered more money.

lmcnabbkv · Dec 22, 2004

In SF area I'll start out 33.84 plus all the differentials and benefits...

riley108 · Dec 22, 2004

I live in Memphis.It's $18 to $22 an hr starting out,depending on your shift.I know someone who makes $32 an hr.She has been a nurse for 8 yrs.She does research and goes into the OR with the dr to conduct some of her research.She has a BSN.

My best friend's sister has been a nurse for 4 yrs.She's an ADN.She makes $27 an hr in ICU.She works nights and rotates weekends.

solo369 · Dec 23, 2004

You can do very well depending where you work. Keep away from poor county and Catholic hospitals. Get specialized in ANYTHING but floor nursing. Out here in S. Florida people make about $40 an hour. With all the differential, and no over time, I am bringing home about $80K this year. Good luck.

LT Dave, would you mind telling me where in S Florida? I am in Ohio and am planning on permanent relocation to FL in the Spring. (I was at Pepin Heart in Tampa for 10 months in 2000). I am RN with 15 years PCU/Stepdown and CCRN cert.--I made $66K this year with no overtime. But in the areas I have looked in FL I am only getting quoted $20-22/hr --well thats a 16-20K pay cut from what i make here. Im looking for an area where the pay might be higher. The most I was offerred was 24/hr in naples but it's so expensive there. I lived in tampa-and the cost of living is no better than ours up here. I would like to stay on the coast-east or west. I almost went to stuart instead of tampa. Thanks for your time. sue ([email protected])

ASU_Sdvls · Dec 23, 2004

That's really cool and I'm kinda interested. I worked in Phoenix over the summer and possibly might be going back later. Could you give me more details on the steps required to do what you're doing?

I applied to the hospital after a friend recommended I go there. The interview took less than 15 minutes and I was hired pretty much on the spot.

I only had to fill out the application form, give them a copy of my AZ license, copy of my ACLS and BLS cards, copy of my vaccinations, and voila worked there the next week. It was fairly simple.

Hopefully, I will be making about $90,000 gross next year by working 4.5 days a week. With my earnings from this year, I have bought a couple of rental properties. Will try to do more of the same next year as the real estate market in the Phoenix area is hot.