How much do new BSN nursing grads make?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · May 5, 2013

Your pay depends quite heavily on the geographic location in which you work.

For instance, a new RN with a BSN degree earn a starting wage of less than $20 hourly in Oklahoma City hospitals. The same RN/BSN will earn more than $50 hourly in most unionized San Francisco hospitals.

So, one nurse is earning about $40k annually while the other is earning in the $100k range yearly even though they possess the exact same degree. However, the cost of living in OKC is significantly cheaper than living in SF.

jennafezz · May 5, 2013

It also really depends on what setting you are working in. A hospital will likely pay more than a SNF/clinic/etc. I recently graduated and the salary range of my classmates who have gotten jobs varies widely based on the setting. Like a $20+/hour difference between jobs.

PediatricRNTX · May 5, 2013

Houston,tx. Hospital $23 to $31

You have to consider shift differentials....night shift weekends can make a good $5 more an hr.

UNITEDRN · May 5, 2013

I agree with all the posts that it depends on the geographic location but as for west ( CA) , BSN is becoming very popular. In fact some HR offices n hospitals here have clearly said that ADN's should not apply as BSN is preferred. BSN' s usually get $2 more than others and are preferred for managerial positions.

rumwynnieRN · May 5, 2013

What everyone else said. I can tell you right now with my current job, I make $17.50 an hour, totaling to around ~$31000/year in a hospital in the Little Rock Area. I would be making double that starting in Houston, TX.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · May 5, 2013

BSN' s usually get $2 more than others and are preferred for managerial positions.

I live and work in a very large metro area of several million people. The hospitals around here pay ADNs and BSNs the same starting wage. RNs educated at the BSN level do not earn any additional money for their additional education.

A hospital will likely pay more than a SNF/clinic/etc.

Again, this is regional. In the city where I reside, I earned a significantly higher hourly pay rate as a nurse in SNF/nursing homes than the new grads who started in the acute care hospital setting. Hospitals and clinics pay the least around here, whereas SNF, home health, hospice, psych, prisons, dialysis centers, and other areas outside the hospital offer higher starting wages.

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · May 5, 2013

In my area, SNF pays slightly higher than hospitals. BSNs seem to get around $0.50 an hour more sometimes. When I started working about 2 years ago the going rate in Philadelphia for new grads was in the 27-28/hr range not counting shift differentials.

pinkiepieRN · May 5, 2013

Baltimore, Maryland chiming in. As a new grad BSN at a community hospital, I started out at $25 and change (not including shift differential) in 2009.

gonnaB37nursedoc · May 5, 2013

Thank you everyone for your responses. This is really disheartening! I currently make $17 per hr in a non-nursing field and the thought of not becoming financially liberated EVEN after working so hard to get my BSN is depressing. I live in the chicagoland area. I was thinking that BSN grads make over $33 per hr over here. I did not ask anyone but that is what i thought.

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · May 5, 2013

Well, maybe you should ask some folks in Chicago. Chicago should be on the higher end of things and as just about everyone in this thread has pointed out, it completely depends on where you live.

Altra, BSN, RN · May 5, 2013

Overview of BLS Wage Data by Area and Occupation

Data on wages by occupation / geographic area.