Hey so young nurses, are we really making "that much"?

Nurses General Nursing

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I ponder about this all the time. If you are a RN now by this point, you know you don't make that much, but still most of us admit that "well, still among our friends, I make decent money." Are we?

I have been a nurse now about year and half, and I really wonder if people at my age group make as much as or more than I do; I live at Dallas, 1yr and half exp making $25/hr + $4 for nights ($29), and $34 for weekend nights. I think it comes to about $3100-3600 a month after taxes :angrybird1:, and I don't know about you, but to me, that doesn't feel very much. I have friends who are teachers, architects, interior designers, and etc, and seeing the way they spend, I doubt that I make more than they do. If I even increase the times I eat out by little bit, I can clearly see my budget affected by it, and it seems like everyone and their grandmother eats out everyday and they still have money to buy other stuff.

Or maybe they are broke and living by paycheck to paycheck because they are not saving up any monies? Ah... I really wish I made enough not to really care whether I eat out today or not. And by the way, I am single and childless... well, I forcefully support millions of lazy freeloaders with my sweat-stained money, so I guess I have lots of children. So, what do you think?

I'm only making $22/hr with a $4 shift diff, $1.25 for weekends & holidays. I'm in NICU with 2 years experience, but my cost of living is low, so I do feel like I'm making a decent living for only being 24. I'm not raking it in like crazy, but I'm comfortable...which is more than I can say of most of the people I grew up with.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

The vast majority of nurses are under paid when the level of thier responsibiliety is taken into account.

It's getting worse every year too.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

I think it all depends on who you ask. I personally lived "paycheck to paycheck" throughout nursing school. I was making $7.25 at my FT job while supplementing that by waitressing 2-3 mornings a week before going to class or my 3-11 job. I have been an RN 6 months now and make $27 with night shift diff., $30 if its weekend night. I live in a fairly rural area of Georgia and my rent/bills would be considered cheap compared to other areas of the country. So when I bring home my RN paycheck now, I feel like I have more money than I know what to do with! lol... Also, sooo much more time. Only working 3 days a week... its almost like not even working!

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Specializes in Critical Care.
first, thanks for the words of wisdom. i guess you pretty much nailed it; I/we will feel money is not enough no matter how much we earn (because with dose of reality, you and I know that none of us will make enough like millionaires to not worry about mundane expenditures)... I guess at my age I just want to see myself work, sleep and wake up and instead of feeling disappointed looking at the bank acct wondering why money saves up so slow, I would rather like to be surprised that money is stacking at least with some consistency and significance. Not saying I am going for NP strictly for money, but higher pay is one of very important goals. Instead of seeing $1600-$1800 every other Thursday and see little increments on my bank, I wish I could make $7000-$8000/month after taxes which is definite possibility as a NP. I know in later life with kids, mortgage and all, the money is even harder to come by!

I know people around me is what matters and all, but I do have few people next to me in life that make close to 6 figs at young age (my 28y/o brother being one), and it bugs the hell out of me that I'm not. But eventually like you implicate, when I make that much money, I'm sure I will find another problem :woot:

I think 7,000+ month is unrealistic, I know someone that makes $100,000 year and only nets around $5,000 after tax.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

7000 a month is unrealistic for an NP. 4-5000 starting out is more accurate.

However, if you haven't set a budget the money is gone. It's not how much you make.

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$18/hr. Let's say I had a rude awakening

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
7000 a month is unrealistic for an NP. 4-5000 starting out is more accurate.

However, if you haven't set a budget the money is gone. It's not how much you make.

Novice NPs around here start between 85-95k. Cost of living is very high here though as well.

Absolutely agree without a budget, most people will spend however much they make.

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Specializes in Forensic Psych.
7000 a month is unrealistic for an NP. 4-5000 starting out is more accurate.

However, if you haven't set a budget the money is gone. It's not how much you make.

That may be true for you locally, but not everywhere.

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5000 per month after taxes but before tax is 100,000? That means she's paying 4000 a month for taxes and I think that is way too much tax to be true. I don't think 6000 a month after taxes as np is not unrealistic (dallas).

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Specializes in Cardiac Stepdown, PCU.
5000 per month after taxes but before tax is 100,000? That means she's paying 4000 a month for taxes and I think that is way too much tax to be true. I don't think 6000 a month after taxes as np is not unrealistic (dallas).

That might not be too far off actually. The higher your check, the more taxes... granted it's roughly the same %, but I know my husband nets just over 2000 on his take home, and his tax deductions (not including pension, insurance, etc) equate about 1500 each check.

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

I know a nurse who makes $88K, her monthly net is $5600 (she doesn't pay for health insurance).

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So true that outward appearances mean nothing. My dad had a very prestigious and high paying job, but you would think they were peasants looking at their material things and spending habits. Meanwhile, I know another family that made 6 figures but lost their house because they just would not budget. Always had to have the latest gadget or toy and went out for dinner nearly every single night. It's not a question of what's coming in but what's going out. They could have easily kept their lovely house and paid for their kids' education and retired early, but they wanted things and wanted them now. You can outspend any budget.

Personally I'm not a nurse yet and even the lower end wages mentioned here sound dreamy lol. I've always made less than 20k and still managed to live quite well, even taking trips and owning a horse and a used car that isn't a junker.

I think nurses, as far as new grad potential goes, do much better than most fields. It seems the issue is that one hits the ceiling rather quickly and there are all too few raises and incentives to stick with any given employer.

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