Houston! "Oh you're an RN, nurses make great money"- Seriously....

U.S.A. Texas

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I am trying to figure out why the general population seems to think that Rn's make great money. Granted I've only been a nurse for 2 years now but I work 3 twelves plus call as a PACU nurse and after insurance and taxes, I take home less than 50K/yr. I am making 25.50 base plus a 3.50 diff. for part of my shift and i get 3.50/hr. for on-call pay. Sounds not too bad on paper but 48K/year and I work my butt off. When I think back to my college days of waiting tables in a sushi bar, there were many nights when I took home $20/hr. I recently did a salary compare on monster and it says the average pay for nurses in my area is around 60K with the low end around 56K! Hmmm.... I'm not even close!

So, now that I'm done with my whoa is me story:) Can someone please tell me if it gets better, is my pay the norm here in Houston, do I need to find another hospital??? I am physically exhausted after my shifts so the thought of picking up over time is not an option. Besides the last time I did that, taxes ate up most of it. I need some advice b/c with student loans due, bills, etc.. this pay barely cuts it! What else can I do as an RN that might offer better pay? Any ideas??? Thanks!!!

Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.

My wife is a 20+ year RN, and is currently making the most she's ever made, working away from the bedside (management - trauma coordinator). She makes approx. $38/hr. When she worked in the ER in San Antonio, she made considerably less (~ $29). When she worked in the ER here in the Valley, she made about $32/hr, but received a very large sign on bonus.

According to what I've read here at AN.com, she would probably make around $35-38.00 an hour if she was working bedside in Houston.

I graduate in 6-8 months, and I've been told I can expect anywhere from $19 - $22.00 an hour, not counting differentials. This was for Houston and Austin.

You're about in the middle of my wife and I.

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Thanks, I appreciate your information. I guess my pay is typical then for Houston area. I moved here from Phoenix about 9 months ago and the cost of living is very similar but the pay difference is I think where I lost a bit. I worked my first year in nursing and I was making $25/an hour right out of school, no diff. but I was on day shift. So, now another year and I only went up by .50 plus my night diff. Phoenix pays double time where I worked for anything over 36 hours and insurance was great. Here, I have the worst benefits, almost not even worth it. Dont get me wrong I love Texas and I am glad to be here but I am thinking I need to look into some of the larger hospitals like Methodist or Hermann????

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Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.

I suspect the well-known and well-loved hospital systems would pay better, yes.

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Specializes in NICU Level III.

I'm not in a med center hospital and I make only about .50 less than people I know with the same amount or a little more experience than I have that are in the med center.

The thing about agency is that it's unpredictable and you don't get benefits.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
and after insurance and taxes, I take home less than 50K/yr.

No the 50k is before taxes...

:confused:

I don't understand how you're only making 50K gross if you are paid a base of $25.50 an hour.

Realistically if you work a 7 day pay period (what most people do around here), that equals:

($25.50/hour x 76 hours/ pay period + $38.25/hour x8 hours/pay period) x 26 pay periods = $58344

That's $58344 prior to shift differentials, holiday pay, and bonuses, and the fact nobody works 12 hours (closer to 13).

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Specializes in Critical Care.
My wife is a 20+ year RN, and is currently making the most she's ever made, working away from the bedside (management - trauma coordinator). She makes approx. $38/hr. When she worked in the ER in San Antonio, she made considerably less (~ $29). When she worked in the ER here in the Valley, she made about $32/hr, but received a very large sign on bonus.

According to what I've read here at AN.com, she would probably make around $35-38.00 an hour if she was working bedside in Houston.

I graduate in 6-8 months, and I've been told I can expect anywhere from $19 - $22.00 an hour, not counting differentials. This was for Houston and Austin.

You're about in the middle of my wife and I.

Where in Houston quoted you as low as $19? Even the suburban Methodists, St. Luke's, Memorial Hermanns are quoting me ~$24-$26 starting.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
Thanks, I appreciate your information. I guess my pay is typical then for Houston area. I moved here from Phoenix about 9 months ago and the cost of living is very similar but the pay difference is I think where I lost a bit. I worked my first year in nursing and I was making $25/an hour right out of school, no diff. but I was on day shift. So, now another year and I only went up by .50 plus my night diff. Phoenix pays double time where I worked for anything over 36 hours and insurance was great. Here, I have the worst benefits, almost not even worth it. Dont get me wrong I love Texas and I am glad to be here but I am thinking I need to look into some of the larger hospitals like Methodist or Hermann????

Both Methodist and Hermann have awesome benefits.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

I know that all of us feel that we are certainly worth more money - especially since we work hard and fulfill such a vital role. How many other workers have to make 'life and death' decisions on what we make??

However - society does not support a system in which wages are determined by societal worth. If so, school teachers & social workers would be making 6 figures! Jump on over to the educator forums and find out how little our nursing faculty are paid - and they have to have advanced degrees. :cry:

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:confused:

I don't understand how you're only making 50K gross if you are paid a base of $25.50 an hour.

Realistically if you work a 7 day pay period (what most people do around here), that equals:

($25.50/hour x 76 hours/ pay period + $38.25/hour x8 hours/pay period) x 26 pay periods = $58344

That's $58344 prior to shift differentials, holiday pay, and bonuses, and the fact nobody works 12 hours (closer to 13).

I work 3 twelves minus 30 minutes for lunch. Since I work PACU, we dont do the whole shift change thing because everyone is staggered. So for the most part, when my shift ends i'm done especially since I am the late person. So with my shift differential I gross $49, 816 a year not counting a 3.50/call pay which evens out with what they take out for insurance. I'm [paid every 2 weeks for 6 shifts, not sure what you meant by the 7 day pay period. Anywho, in the end its the career I chose so perhaps picking up some agency shifts to supplement may have to be the answer:(

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Specializes in Critical Care.

By "7 Day Pay period" it's common to work 84 hours every two weeks in most facilities. That equates to 42 hours a week, or 36 hours (3 shifts) one week, 48 hours (4 shifts) the next week.

Of course, because overtime is counted on a weekly basis, the week you do the 4th shift you will receive 8 hours of overtime. This may be why you're getting shorted on income.

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Um... Considering the average salary of an american we do get paid well. But like most people we start to expand our lifestyle to meet our income. We like to "look like" we are doing well and that can include living beyond our means. Even a small amount of that can be stressful.My coworker went out and got a new car when she finished the LPN to RN bridge even though her current car was very nice and paid for. I have been a nurse about 15 yrs now and after being on staff, travel, agency, and everything in between I have found that the $$ is there but sometimes you have to find it. I currently have PN friends that made 45k last year. One got 60k, I got 80, and another 92 (shes crazy though:wink2:). This was all before taxes of course and it depends on the amount of "hustle" that you have in you. Its not always about working an insane amount of hours, just finding the highest pay and best schedules. Ive done a weekend program requiring 2-12 hr shifts on Sat/Sun, got paid for 32 w/full benefits and then did two doubles during the week at 34 an hour. I still had three days a week off and made a tidy sum. Its a very personal thing to put together though.

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Pageantnurse, these nurses you are talking about......where are they?

I'm just curious because I'm studying for my Nclex boards. I live in NY. The pay is decent but I plan to move to TX. I'm assuming TX is where you are talking about. Are these jobs in the hospital, LTC, or home health?

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