How much to LVNs REALLY make just starting out of school in SA??

[smjones0130]

I have an ultimate goal in mind, but I can't get there until I take the steps. So, I'm looking into the LVN program. Anyway, I've searched this forum for hours trying to find out how much LVNs in San Antonio REALLY make just coming out of school. I saw an ad that said they paid LVNs $20 to $25/hr., but I think that was for a short term contract thing. Then my husband found an ad in the want ads that said only $13 to $15. If I'm going to spend $20,000 on a school then I thought it should be a little more worth it once I got out. If it truly is only $15/hr then I'm not even going to bother, but I was hoping for some realistic input.

Thanks for the input. (sorry for typos)

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

In San Antonio the LVN pay is lower due to the abundance of nursing schools around the area. An oversupply of nurses equals lower salaries.

I am a new, inexperienced LVN in Fort Worth who earns $18.50 hourly. My friend is also a newly inexperienced LVN who earns $20.00 hourly in North Richland Hills, a suburb of Fort Worth.

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

I think cost of living is also a big factor in San Antonio salaries. You can find a place to live there for a lot cheaper than many other areas of Texas. Although I don't have a link or a source, I think that $15 would be on the high side for an LVN in San Antonio. When I looked at job listings there, even new RN's were lucky to make $17-$18.

[jetgirl]

smjones, are you planning on going to a bridge program to be an RN after you become an LVN? That's my plan.

I was wondering, has anyone gone through or heard anything about Texas State Technical College?

[NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN]

That's insane that they pay that much in texas! I make 18.25/hr as an LVN in california! Condos around here start in the 350,000's. I am so jealous! (I want to move, I'm just trying to get my RN first)

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

That's insane that they pay that much in texas! I make 18.25/hr as an LVN in california! Condos around here start in the 350,000's. I am so jealous! (I want to move, I'm just trying to get my RN first)

I moved from California at the end of 2005 and love the salaries here. Also, I live in a spacious home that would easily sell for $600,000 in my California hometown.

[NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN]

I know, I've heard. I'm tempted, but I've already taken all the freaking prereq's for the schools here. I'd hate to move and have to take some different ones for RN school.

[RedHeadNurse2B]

As a new grad in DFW I make $18.25, which is about average for here I think. Another place I work was paying me $19.25 for evening shift and $20.25 for nights. Add in over time which I always have and it's about $40,000 gross, not too bad...

[rionurse06]

I live about 4 hours south of San Antonio and I my first nursing job I was making 15.00 an hour. I now work home health and make 22.00 and hour, have a company car, and get paid for my gas! And the cost of living down here is not as much as up there. I've recently gotten an of for home health at 27.50 and hour w/company car as well. Now, I know that the hospitals down here only pay around 13.00/hr, just depends what you want to do.

[sonja77]

i live in san angelo (about 3 hrs nw of san antonio), a newly graduated lvn and i will start my first job next week at $10.94/hr.

but then i didn't pay $20000 for school, i only paid about $6000 (prereqs and nursing school).

[lilypad2424]

20,000 for LVN school? I'm starting in August, and it's going to be $2,000.

[Kiya]

Concorde costs $20k for their LVN program. I'm debating on whether to accept their offer for enrollment or not simply because I am still unsure of the wages vs. demand for new grads here in the Fort Worth area. I really don't want to pay $20k for school and only make $13/hour at a job.