How much do RNs make in San Francisco Bay Area? Is it hard to find employment there?

U.S.A. California

Published

I'm expecting to graduate from a BSN program soon. I have a friend who lives in St George Utah and is certain he can help me get my first job as a nurse at a detox facility where he works, but they said they would only pay me like $24 an hour as a new grad. I recently travelled to San Francisco and met an ER nurse who told me he takes home $120k and could help me get a job there. He also told me that he had been working as a nurse for 14 years before moving to cali. My question is, do SF nurses really make that much money? Is it feasible for people with little or employment history to land a position in california? It seems ludicrous to me to make so much even though the cost of living there is very high.

Specializes in Peri-Op.

Everyone here has given you solid advice. Apparently you already know everything and don't want to hear anything even though you asked the question initially. Kind of reminds me of talking to my teenage kids.

Pay in a hospital, if you are lucky enough to get in, will start in the high $50 to low $60/hour range based on their pay scales. studios in town run around $2300/month. Taxes are very high in SF and CA. You could do it if your other bills are low.

As for public transit, BART is only good if you live in the east bay. Caltrain is for Southbay and has a very limited schedule for nurses schedules. Northbay is really only commuter buses or the ferry. Their public transit is not great or efficient, it may seem like it is from someone that hasn't seen a good system before.

Personally I would get experience else where, wherever you can get a job in a SPECIALTY anywhere in the country. Then go where you want after a couple years with experience.

I'm sure your way smarter than us though and have it all figured out already.

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Wait, I thought you were expecting to graduate soon but you're now a first semester student that got kicked out of nursing school? I'm assuming it's a 2-year program, unless you're fast tracked RN-BSN, but you're not currently a nurse since you didn't know what "NPO" meant at the time you gave that patient the water...I doubt you have a bachelor's which would qualify you for an accelerated BSN track (youre 21 I don't think you'd have a bachelors and already be expected to graduate soon..?) so which is it, are you a first semester student or is your definition of "expecting to graduate soon" different than mine? I'd say on at least second to last semester but you're a first semester..lol. Anyways, you obviously done extensive research based on your post history and argumentative-dismissive approach of others' responses so why even bother coming here.

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I can tell you as someone who is an RN (5 years) in SF and is leaving California due to the high cost of living, you will never be able to make enough to justify living here.

I make around 120k a year and it's pretty much paycheck to paycheck. After you take out Federal + State taxes (hello 13% CA tax), you're not left with much.

To answer your last question - no, we don't really make that much money. Unless you're married/partnered with someone who is also pulling in close to 6 figures, it'll be pretty difficult. And even then, good luck with buying a house within a 60 mile radius of SF on that budget.

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I use to live in the Bay Area. I suggest if you move out this way you find a place to live in the central valley. It is MUCH cheaper and you might find a good paying job in the Central Valley. You can commute, but you're going to be looking at driving 1hr+ a day if you're okay with that. The traffic in the Bay Area is HORRIBLE btw. Everything in California is going to be more expensive. Rent, gas, groceries, taxes, etc.. It adds up. I'm assuming you do not have a family yet, so maybe you can roommate. On a good note, our economy is doing really well for the moment.

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70K in the Bay Area is nothing. You'll take home about $4000 a month with that income. More than likely close to half of that or more will be spent on rent. You can do the rest of the math.

Just came across this on facebook

Study: San Francisco has the highest rent in the world - Story | KSAZ

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Imagine living in the Bay area on maybe in a good year, an income of $38,000? When a landlord won't rent to you because of your lowly nurse income working two full time (with some overtime) jobs, then you have to wonder. Look around at the "neighborhood" atmospheres where you might not fit in appearance-wise. How do you think they are making it if their family does not already own the property? Something to think about before you even visit. Nobody here is embellishing anything. I wish someone had clued me in before I moved back to the Cali area.

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