New Grad Pay!!

Nurses General Nursing

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I know the 'Nursing Pay' discussion has had the CRAP beat out of it, but this thread is directed to those NEW GRADS that have just accepted their FIRST nursing job with ONLY SCHOOL-RELATED EXPERIENCE behind them. If you will, please answer the following questions:

1) Degree (i.e. Associates, Bachelors, etc.)

2) Starting Salary or Hourly pay

3) CITY and STATE in which you will be working

I am a career changer and I AM NOT going into nursing for the money, but my hopes are to get some REAL figures from this thread in an attempt to 'GUESS-TI-MATE' just what type of pay I should expect.

Any and all HONEST responses will be GREATLY appreciated!!

Thanks!!

to CRP2000 in South Jersey:

RNs at Shore Memorial Hospital in Atlantic City, NJ have begun receiving the first salary hikes under their new contract--the first ever negotiated for New Jersey RNs by the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA). I forget the actual base salary # now but its just been increased with this contract signed in January. You can call the hospital's nurse recruiter for the details. Besides the increase in base, the shift differentials were also increased, and a pool of funding has been established for reimbursement to RNs for their continuing education activities. There are other new benefits and differentials too. Take everything into account, including comparing each facility's medical benefits and pension plans. Many times, the starting salary may be a little less at one job but is offset by better benefits than a higher-paying facility may be offering. Good luck.

Originally posted by llg

I forget what the starting pay is for my hospital: I'll have to go look. But ... when looking at pay, don't forget to look at differentials (e.g. for evenings, nights, weekends, precepting, charge, etc.) I work for a hospital that pays diffs that are a bit higher than average for our area. Over time, they really add to a person's income. However, a lot of new nurses forget to calculate them into the equation. They look only at the base salary per hour, "forgetting" that the pay for most hours is actually greater than that.

Including all the differentials is the only way you can compare one institution to another.

Also, you should consider retention bonuses, etc. Some hospitals (like mine) have them and others don't. They, too, add to your income over the course of a year.

llg

Just a tip: Don't move to the Western NY area: you will start at around $16.00 an hour base rate. Shift differential of course, plenty of loan forgiveness, possibly a sign on bonus, education payment benefits, but a low base pay.

OH, and don't forget Lake effect snow and frigid temperatures!!

Thanks again for all replies!!

From what i've been reading, pay fluctuates substantially from state to state. California seems to pay the most, but of course the cost-of-living is much higher. Also the Milwaukee, WI area is looking quite nice (MY HOME TOWN!!!). Doesn't look like Philly is too bad either.

Assuming pay will continue to rise due to the nursing shortage and various cost-of-living factors, I may be doing quite well by the time my scheduled graduation date rolls around (Fall of 2005)!!!

Please keep the replies coming!

Thanks!!

Originally posted by crp2000

Thanks again for all replies!!

From what i've been reading, pay fluctuates substantially from state to state. California seems to pay the most, but of course the cost-of-living is much higher. Also the Milwaukee, WI area is looking quite nice (MY HOME TOWN!!!). Doesn't look like Philly is too bad either.

Assuming pay will continue to rise due to the nursing shortage and various cost-of-living factors, I may be doing quite well by the time my scheduled graduation date rolls around (Fall of 2005)!!!

Please keep the replies coming!

Thanks!!

Houston pay is pretty good, esp when cost of living is calculated in (CoL Index = 95.4). Harris County Hospital District (Ben Taub, LBJ, etc) lists its starting pay as $20.60/hr or $21.63/hr, shift diffs are not listed. This next is third hand info (friend of a friend), The Women's Hospital of Texas starts at $22/hr. I have a client who graduated in May 2002 and is working at Memorial Hermann and told me they started her at $22 but she's expecting a raise soon, but she didn't specify how much or why.

Incidentally, for the trauma junkie, Ben Taub and Herman have really kick butt trauma centers. Herman is where the LifeFlight choppers go. Ben Taub is the default hospital for GSWs.

I am a new grad in Los Angeles CA, I graduated in Sept of 2002, I opted to work at a county of Los Angeles facility because they have the best benifits and starting pay for RN's. As a new grad starting in The ER I started at $27.60 per hour base pay or $4410.63 monthy. There is a $2.55 per hour night time bonus as well as weekend bonuses and a monthly $200.00 extra for working in the ER. Also they allow an extra $668 per month for benifits, (If you have a spouse that already has benifits then that $668 goes on your monthly salarie as well!).

As I was reading all the other states starting salaries I was shocked and surprised to see the low salaries for RN's, we are the physicians eyes, ears, noses, hands, and mouths while they are out playing golf or fishing!!! There should be a law against paying a RN less than $25 per hour in any state!!!!:( :( :(

But cost of living in SoCal is outrageous.

In my interviewing/research process I've found that the average new grad pay for my area is right around $20/hour, with varying differentials.

Urban/suburban/rural, the pay is all about the same.

So I'm left with one question: should I commute, and pay extra in gas, to make the same wage?

On one hand, I'd say yes, to gain the experience at larger hospital centers that would help me command a higher salary (theoretically).

On the other hand, I'm a sleep whore. Why travel if I can sleep an hour longer?

The hospital where I am going to start pays $21.70 plus $4 evening or night differential. This is Seattle and it costs about $750 a month for a one bedroom apt. No bonuses are being advertised in this area though.

sitterwoman....

I am moving to Seattle in June to begin my first nursing job by August (hopefully). I do not yet have a job, but I applied to Harborview. Is this hospital one of your choices? Do you have any advice regarding job seeking there? Have you interviewed yet? I would love to hear from you.

1. Bachelor's (graduated 12/03)

2. $31.68 base (+3.66 PM diff, +5.82 NOC diff)

I work PMs so my starting rate is $35.38/hr, including a $3,000 sign-on bonus (before taxes). I believe the starting pay is the same regardless of the type of degree that you have.

3. Kaiser Permanente, San Francisco Bay Area in California

:roll

I am not a new grad, but know a few.

One told me she just got hired for tele at 21.55hr, 3.00 hr eve/noc shift diff.

Hello I am graduating in June with an ADN

Base is 21.00/hr

weeknight diff starting at 7pm is 25%

weekend diff (Fri-Sat-Sun night) is 50%

This is Hartford, Ct

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