The Real Deal on Salaries?

[MsBruiser]

I was wondering if someone can give me some honest feedback on nursing salaries. From the research I am doing -- seems like you can start off around $16-20 per hour including differentials, etc. Having done the math -- seems like that working 4 12 hour shifts a week means some pretty decent money. With experience -- it increases, especially if you get more education. Is this a correct observation?

Right now I earn $72,000+ a year in business working a 60 hour week, always on the road, etc. It seems like nursing really isn't a "step-down" at all in terms of pay -- especially if you are willing to learn new skills and clock the hours. Is that accurate?

BTW, I've worked as a paramedic, so I know the upsides and downsides of the nursing profession....

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

You seem to be on the right track. It will also depend on the type of degree, the location of employment and the willingness to give up a certain amount of autonomy in the way of hours and days worked.

In SC with 28 years as an RN working in a hospital for ~/=25.00/hr and working 84 hours every 2 weeks...(that's 3-12s one week and 4-12s the next) I made about 60k a year. That's time and a half over 40h a week, so the 2nd week 8hrs was OT. Then there was 1.25/hr diff for 3-11 and 1.50 for 11-7.

In New York you might make more and have a contract. In SC or Ms or Ga you might make more or less and be an at will employee.

You can go to http://www.salary.com and put in parameters and get some generalized comparisons.

This is as truthful (if not skinny) as I can get.

P