How Much was your First RN Paycheck?

Nurses General Nursing

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I'm just wondering. I'm not trying to get in nursing for the money, but I have heard a lot of other nurses complain about how low their income was as a new nurse.

Specializes in icu,prime care,mri,ct, cardiology, pacu,.

I made 526 yearly in 1978 As an I am looking at getting social security at 62. That how I know. Sad huh

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

In 1981 I started at roughly $1200 per month, before deductions. Since I'd previously made $800 as a secretary I thought I was rolling in it.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Women's Health, LTC.

1998, Arizona. Acute care hospital on Oncology/Med floor. $13 per hour with benefits. I was allowed to work as GN until license came in. Once that came in, I was bumped to $15 per hour.

My first CNA job in 1980 was $3.10 per hour. As a 15 year old, I really thought I was RICH!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Women's Health, LTC.
12 hours ago, winniewoman9060 said:

I made 526 yearly in 1978 As an I am looking at getting social security at 62. That how I know. Sad huh

Those statements we get every year make me laugh. I cannot believed I survived, let alone raise a child as a single Mom on the wages for some of those years!

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It’ll depend where you work and what you do. In Florida an LPN with 15 years experience at the time I got a letter, I think it was nurses week actually, that my pay was getting cut from $16/hr in 2013 to $15/hr in home health. I left hospital nursing in 2009 when LPN starting rate was $13/hr, RN $18. Started in 2002 LPN 11.32/hr, RN $15.

Fast forward 2016 RN $27/hr-compensation adjustment for prior LPN experience. New RN was $22 for that hospital organization.

Now I hear it’s $24/hr RN start. So, the wages have “improved”, but cost of living is up and gas will never under $2/gallon again and health insurance is costly and doesn’t cover half of what it used to.

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Specializes in PACU, OR, PREOP.

In 1995, I made $11.50/Hr, and that was in a big city where the cost of living was extremely high.

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2016 in Utah made 21.50/hr.

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Specializes in NICU.

I dont exactly remember I am sure it is in my closet somewhere.

I recall looking at it and saying to myself it is so little ,it is hardly worth it doing this difficult job.After I switched hospitals and unions,it grew better. But then prices went up again,everything cost more,seemed mostly just breaking even. Never understood how someone with a same bachelors degree but in a different field can charge $100/hr as a counselor or life coach and we rns have to fight to get a bathroom break or justify OT.

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Started out at 25.14 as a new grad in 2014 now 32.48

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

First job as an RN working at the highest paying SNF on Cape. $8/hr for day shift. I went to the hospital and made $10.32/hr on evenings... thought that was sweet. 1982.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

I started out at $6.31/hour in 1978. I was absolutely thrilled when I topped $7/hour.

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It depends on your location, whether you work inpatient or outpatient, the unit you work on, and the shift you are willing to work. Typically, the states with a higher cost of living will pay more. Working outpatient mostly excludes you from earning overtime and weekend/holiday pay. You can earn the most by working a weekend, 3rd shift, inpatient program. I'm hearing up to $15/hr added to your base pay near me, but again that varies according to where you live. I work outpatient knowing I would have to transfer to inpatient if I wanted a significant pay increase. New inpatient grads by me are starting at around $27/hr with a signing bonus.

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