Highest nursing salary

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After reading many starting nursing salaries in different states, I have come to realize that nurses are under paid in many states. That prompted me to ask what state pays the highest rate and have good benefits.

I think NY rate/benefit is pretty decent. My job base is 67k, 6k for night diff, 1.2k for BSN diff, 1k for every experience, 1.2 for certification.

Four wks vacation and 5 after 5yrs, 12 sick days, 8holidays, 4 personal days, 16 credits tuition reimbursment regardless of the cost after probation (3months), free health insurance for you and your family after 60 days of employment, free pension, free life insurance- 1 yr base pay, 1.2k for ce a yr. We are fighting for a free parking.

What do you think?

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Specializes in Home Health.

I think that salaries are so relative due to the area where each of us live. The cost of living in my state is very low so we make WAY less than you do. Numbers are all relative.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

My thought too - New York takes many more bucks to live comfortably. I live in central IL and there is much difference in pay between my area and even Chicago which is only 170 miles away. However, my cost of living is much cheaper.

Living situation means much to me too. I couldn't fathom living in Chicago or New York - way too many people and its just too crowded. However, conversely my colleagues in Chicago and other big cities probably would go nuts in my little world - lol.

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i started at 31 an hr plus night differential.

we get for experience also.

we have to pay co payments for our insurance and pay for parking. we have no food options on the night shift and are lucky if we can find left over milk for our coffee.

i have to say that i appreciate being paid well, however it is never enough.

ny is very expensive to live in and at our facility most of the patients get government medical coverage.

sometimes i ask myself why i bust my butt for a meager existence. i pay out over 1/3 of my pay in taxes.

my kids have to do without a lot of things so our patients can get quality free medical coverage.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

California has the highest nurse salaries BEFORE cost-of-living adjustments are made.

Texas has the highest nurse salaries AFTER cost-of-living adjustments are made.

Read the link below. Even though it is dated for December 2005, it is still interesting!

http://www.ga.unc.edu/NCCN/research/quickfacts/Salary%20Adjustment%20Table.htm

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I had to throw in my opinion on this one....

When I graduated 5 years ago I started at 45K year...this was much more than many of my friends with bacholors degrees in other areas. Now I make 62K. I know we as nurses always talk about wanting to make more money....and I agree. But when I think about it....I think for having a BSN, 5 years exp, working 3 days a week....I really can't complain. BTW I am in Texas....

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I make 69K annually, have an ADN and don't work at a hospital. I consider myself blessed.

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California has the highest nurse salaries BEFORE cost-of-living adjustments are made.

Texas has the highest nurse salaries AFTER cost-of-living adjustments are made.

Read the link below. Even though it is dated for December 2005, it is still interesting!

http://www.ga.unc.edu/NCCN/research/quickfacts/Salary%20Adjustment%20Table.htm

Well ... the California cost of living can kill you but, I live out in the sticks where I minimize those costs. So I'm still pretty bullish on California nursing salaries.

I currently make $43 an hour ($90K) with bonuses, which gets up to $48 an hour ($100K) in three years so, I have no complaints. Of course, the OT is even better.

About six percent of my income does go to pension but, it's tax deductible and the pension is 20 percent higher than the free pension plans with other employers in my area so, it's actually a pretty good deal. We also get healthcare coverage in retirement. I don't pay Social Security tax, so I do save some money there.

When you start, vacation is only two weeks but, I believe it gets up to a month after three years. We get 14 paid holidays a year. I forget what the sick time is because they give you extra retirement credit if you don't call out sick so ... I don't use my sick days.

We don't get extra money for CE but, they do give us 32 hours time off for it every two years. We also get a $450 a year uniform allowance for scrubs every year.

We pay about $220 for our health insurance ... although I believe it could be free if we went with other plans. The cost varies depending on which plan you choose.

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Specializes in MED/SURG, ONCOLOGY, PEDIATRICS, ER.
I make 69K annually, have an ADN and don't work at a hospital. I consider myself blessed.

Of course, someone is gonna be curious about your salary...What you do as a nurse? and where? Thanks! BTW, that's good money Congrats!! ;)

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Long time community health nurse!

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California has the highest nurse salaries BEFORE cost-of-living adjustments are made.

Texas has the highest nurse salaries AFTER cost-of-living adjustments are made.

Read the link below. Even though it is dated for December 2005, it is still interesting!

http://www.ga.unc.edu/NCCN/research/quickfacts/Salary%20Adjustment%20Table.htm

Very true... and you can still get a mortgage and a decent house in most parts of texas.

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I am in one of the top ranking states after the "cost of living adjustment"- and I make 10K more than the "average nursing salary". I knew I was lucky

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