Houston vs. Austin

Published

Specializes in ICU RN.

I am graduating in May with my BSN and I am wanting to move to either Houston or Austin. What are the differences in pay between the two cities? Which city would give me the best chance of getting a job in the ICU? I tried salary.com but it is not accurate. One more question. Which city has more affordable apartments?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU Level III.

Austin pays less and housing is higher. I am from Houston and thought about taking a job there until I realized that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Austin pays less and housing is higher. I am from Houston and thought about taking a job there until I realized that.

Hi Neo Nurse,

I am eventually thinking about doing some travel nursing in Texas, what are some of the NICU's with the BETTER reputations in the bigger cities (Houston, Austin, San Antonio)? Thanks in advance for your reply. :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.

Scott & White in Temple has an excellent NICU with cooling cap technology and ECMO capability. SW is about an hour north of Austin.:yeah:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

i worked for Seton in Austin and was paid approx $26/hr at the end of 3 years in med/surg/tele. i have my bsn. from what i've heard houston pays more and has a lower cost of living. austin is a smaller, greener, more artsy city vs. houston. keep us posted!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

yiy thats a tough one. ICU is everywhere. Houston is big and more crime also I dont know about apartments and housing but austin housing is pretty high if you want a apartment its awesome with beautiful hillsides and clean air the ST. DAVIDS healthcare system is like working in a mall its beautiful. Houston pays pretty darn good. I would try to get a job as a traveler thru core on careerbuilder they will get you a awesome sign on bonus etc. good luck

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU Level III.
Hi Neo Nurse,

I am eventually thinking about doing some travel nursing in Texas, what are some of the NICU's with the BETTER reputations in the bigger cities (Houston, Austin, San Antonio)? Thanks in advance for your reply. :D

I only know about Houston and Texas Children's and Memorial Hermann are both huge and great. Both do ECMO and Hermann also does whole body cooling.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

If you want to work in a neonatal ICU, stick with Ben Taub Hospital, Texas Children's Hospital or Memorial-Hermann in Houston or Seton in Austin. Austin is a great place to live if you can afford it. Houston is great also but stay away from those apartments just around the medical center and don't live over by the University of Houston. Stay away from north Houston as well. High crime areas. Try to find a place over by West U, Rice University, Montrose, The Heights, and areas west but inside the 610 loop. Houston is my home and I will always love it. One of my nursing school buddies manages the neo ICU at Seton and I know they are busy. I don't know if they have vacancies or not.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion