Help Please--where are the best salaries?

[suzanne4, RN]

Cost of living is also higher here too, don't forget that.

[epiphany]

$63 to $68K a year, but rents are high and public schools are dismal. Shouldn't you be thinking about the cost/quality of living as well if you have a child?

[fifi9857]

Recruiter or Direct Employer? What is the difference?

I'm so disappointed with the wages here in lower Alabama. You'd never guess there was a nursing shortage when all they are offering is around 15-16$/hr for an entry level nurse.

I am getting divorced and I have a new baby and I cannot live on that. PLEASE can someone advise me where to go or who to go thru to get a better salary? I can move to Florida if I have to, but I'm getting desperate here.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Is there any way you could work 3rd shift? (I live in northeast Alabama and know where you are coming from.) At my hospital there is a $3 differential for 3rd shift. Also, does your hospital increase your salary for certifications? 50 cents an hour for ACLS is not a lot, but it helps. Also, prn pools make more money, but have no benefits. I agree with the other replies about looking at nurse to patient ratio's. In my first job in a neighboring town, I was responsible for 10-12 patients. That is way too much for new grad's or experienced nurses.

[Berta]

New grad pay rate here in Massachusetts is $23/hr plus diff.

[GGodwinRN]

Central FL, base just under 21/hr for a new grad, evening diff 18%, nights 25%. Weekender program (every S/S) diff 33 1/2%.

Where at in Central FL - I'm at Florida Hospital in Central FL and our new grad base is $18.15 + diff. Thanks

[NikkiS]

Where at in Central FL - I'm at Florida Hospital in Central FL and our new grad base is $18.15 + diff. Thanks

Lakeland - between Orlando and Tampa along I-4.

[rdy2go]

Thanks all for your input...The thing is...cost of living here is not THAT much cheaper. Housing, maybe but that's it. Some incidentals are even more expensive than when I lived in Los Angeles. My electric bill, for example, was 250.00 this month. Some kinds of food are more expensive too. I'm thinking Florida. Minnesota does sound nice but I admit, I cannot STAND cold weather. (I think it has something to do with growing up in the north without heat or hot water!)

I live in Florida, I'm not a nurse yet; however.......I've lived here 18 yrs. (from Michigan) and I think the way people are down here is terrible!!!! No ethics. I can't believe the things people do and get away with it. I stay for the weather (winter) but as soon as I graduate, I plan to move to N.C. or Tennessee. I hear the wages are good, and I'm sure the cost of living isn't bad. The weather isn't as drastic as that of the midwest, and the people are nice. I want nice people with good ethics to work with and for in my near future.

rdy2go

[Grayeagle]

Phoenix, AZ seems ok

I am an LPN atm, been one for a year and a half, this is my 3rd nursing job since graduation.

The VA was wonderful ..didnt pay much tho.

The next place had a patient-acute ratio that was crazy, I left after a month and a half there,

I just could not do 14 hours of work in 8 hours ..

..then I found the place I am at now ..it's *wonderful* ..I get everything done by the end of shift,

I have 15 max (usually 13 or so) long term and respite mostly hospice ..I am just over 20/hr with time and a half for overtime (which I admit I dont do much of, my choice as they are always asking)

..we rock as a team.

Cost of living here is a bit high ..but ..it definitely does not get cold!

I have to drive to Flagstaff to have a snowball fight ..and I am all over that :)

It's a great place to own a Corvette :)

-Frank (takes the top off regularly)

[IWILL262]

Pacific Northwest - Salem, Oregon specifically starts with a base pay of $26.50/hr. Standard of living is higher than the midwest but not as high as California.