Hourly Rate for an LPN in Florida

magnum68 · May 15, 2011

ANNG7 said:
Hi everyone!
I'm a student going for my LPN and I was wondering if anyone can tell me the starting rate for a new grad LPN? I am a licensed massage therapist and a medical assistant with over 5 years experience.
Thanks...

It all depends, what part of Florida do you want to work at?

gettingbsn2msn, MSN, RN · May 15, 2011

10.75/hr north florida. Maybe 4.00-6.00 more at a nursing home dependent upon experience.

tiroka03, LPN · May 15, 2011

I believe the question should read. Just how LITTLE does a new LPN make. Or an experienced one as well.

Chin up · May 15, 2011

tiroka03 said:
I believe the question should read. Just how LITTLE does a new LPN make. Or an experienced one as well.

Amen! I made more than that 26 years ago. Work at McDonalds for crying out loud. Much less stress and free food.

gettingbsn2msn, MSN, RN · May 15, 2011

But what is the answer? I have been a RN for 3 years. I make 18/hour. I am also going back to school online. I have a BSN. The town I work in is small coastal. It is a county hospital. I am right now very worried. I cannot pay my bills. It costs 50.00 to fill my tank and I drive about 10 miles to work. I cannot afford to work here. I need at least 25/hour just to survive with current gas prices. I hear everyone say "but your rent is lower". No, is not. I still pay 700/mo. Utilities are still 100 plus. So, please someone tell me how I am coming out ahead because cost of living is lower. I do not believe it for one minute. BTW, my hospital states this all the time.

sweetnurse63, BSN, RN · May 15, 2011

I think it is a shame what some places pay nurses, with all of the accountability, responsibility, challenges and stress that we endure. With the price of gas these days, experienced or not, I would not accept less than 20/hr.

westieluv · May 15, 2011

Seriously? An LPN in FL makes $10.75/hr. and an RN makes $18/hr.? Wow. I am RN, I live in Michigan, and I just resigned from a job where I make $28/hr. for a job that pays $34/hr. base, with a $1.95 shift differential, although it is a contingent position with no benefits. I'm not bragging, because it's nothing that I have any control over and I'm no better of a nurse than any of you, I'm just amazed at the disparity! I'm sure I don't work any harder than those of you in FL. Those hourly rates are way too low for the amount of work and responsibility that a nurse has to shoulder. Suddenly our long, cold winters seem a bit more tolerable.

Getting To Great · May 16, 2011

gettingbsn2msn said:
But what is the answer? I have been a RN for 3 years. I make 18/hour. I am also going back to school online. I have a BSN. The town I work in is small coastal. It is a county hospital. I am right now very worried. I cannot pay my bills. It costs 50.00 to fill my tank and I drive about 10 miles to work. I cannot afford to work here. I need at least 25/hour just to survive with current gas prices. I hear everyone say "but your rent is lower". No, is not. I still pay 700/mo. Utilities are still 100 plus. So, please someone tell me how I am coming out ahead because cost of living is lower. I do not believe it for one minute. BTW, my hospital states this all the time.

Wow...$10.50 for 3 years of RN experience. IMO, that is not good at all.

itsmejuli · May 16, 2011

I was a new grad LPN in Tampa Bay, I made $18 an hour with no benefits. New grad RNs are lucky to get $22 an hour.

I do agree that the cost of living is increasing in FL and wages certainly aren't keeping up. This has been a fact in FL for at least a decade.

BTW, I left FL in March. :)

ValDonovan · May 16, 2011

Guess it depends on the part of FL. Here in central FL floor LPNs make about $14. School nurses are $13-$15. LTC of course pays more.

Hope that helps,

Val

MHSA LPN · May 16, 2011

I work as a substance abuse LPN in South Florida. $15 an hour. I make more money and work fewer hours as a freelance writer. I'm keeping the LPN job for the benefits.