How in the world do you make it in CA?

Gomer · Mar 15, 2005

25.45 + 4.00 = 29.45/hr, but with the 4 hr OT (for the 12-hour shift which most LA hospitals have) your average hourly rate would be 34.25. I think that's pretty good for someone with less than a year's experience. Also UCLA has excellent benefits, not to mention it has a great reputation.

No you wont be able to buy a house (unless you have $450,000 laying around) and most people do commute (the freeway traffic is terrible). A 1-bedroom apartment in a good neighborhood will run you at least $1200/mo (check out http://www.apartmentguide.com for more information). But still, LA is a wonderful place to live, work, and grow. As for public transportation? That's a foreign term around here. A car is a requirement of life. (By the way, I live and work on the "West Side" which is the area from the ocean to about the Beverly Hills area. My commute to work is about 15 mins., no freeway, my rent is $1600/mo and I love working and living here.)

suzanne4, RN · Mar 15, 2005

I am currently in central CA where the prices are more reasonable and traffic is considered a traffic jam if there are 6 cars ahead of you at a light.

Yet still a reasonable drive to LA, San Francisco, but only when wanted. This could be something to consider also.......And no chance of snow, other than what you see on the surrounding mountain tops.

HU_nurse · Mar 16, 2005

LA is a wonderful place to live and work and I would especially like to recommend UCLA b/c it is a great facility. As far as the pay goes and the cost of living you have to take the good with the bad and try to find an area thats decent but doesnt cost you an arm and a leg. I mean the cost of living is always higher in a place where everyone wants to live...

pie123 · May 18, 2005

LA is a wonderful place to live and work and I would especially like to recommend UCLA b/c it is a great facility. As far as the pay goes and the cost of living you have to take the good with the bad and try to find an area thats decent but doesnt cost you an arm and a leg. I mean the cost of living is always higher in a place where everyone wants to live...

That's a good point.

Sheri257 · May 18, 2005

Welcome to California. :chuckle

The only thing you can do is try to find a more affordable area, but that means moving much farther inland ... and I mean two hours away from major cities if not more than that.

Places like LA or San Fran are going to be high sky as far as costs ... no getting around it really.

:coollook:

mstigerlily · May 18, 2005

Well Indiana sounds affordable! I was born here in San Diego and have always lived here so I guess I'm used to the prices.

I am a new ADN grad. I make $27/hr and a $4 differential for nights. We have no weekend differential and we must work one weekend per month. Our holiday pay is time and a half (so +13.50 I guess), extra shifts are doubletime. No signon bonus as our hospital is great and most people want to work there. But there is a small relocation bonus, I think only $1000.

But housing is ridiculous. Luckily I bought our condo in 1999, even though I've refinanced and pulled money out, out pmt is only $800 a month. But this same condo would cost over double that now. Average house is around $450,000 and that's in a non-beach, inland not the nicest area. Gas is ridiculous - about $2.45 last I looked. Groceries are ok I guess. I'm not a coupon clipper and I have five people in my family and it usually runs about $100/wk. Is that a lot? Don't eat out a whole lot but of course if you look around you can find great deals. I do clip coupons for dinners.

Everyone wants to live here, that's why it's expensive. The weather is fantastic. I realize this every time I travel elsewhere.

Melissa

Hi Cali Nurses,
I graduate from Nursing school may 6th and I have always fancied moving to CA. I spoke with a nurse recruiter at UCLA and was alerted that the pay would be: 25.36/hr 4.00/hr for nights and 2.50 for weekends. $1500 relocation and no sign on bonus. That is NOT enough! That weekend diff is pittiful!!! The cost of living in California is soooo high especially if you expect to live somewhere near the hospital (Bev. hills) The pay here That I am being offered here in Indianapolis is this 19/hr plus 4.00/hr for nights and 5.50/hr. for weekend diff. 11.00/hr for holidays and a $5,000 sign on bonus. The cost of living in Indianapolis area is MUCH LOWER than Ca. I mean you can get a 4 br. nice house ,nice area here for 170,000 (maybe less maybe more depending on amenities such as a basement) gas ranges from 1.58 to 1.99 sometimes, groceries aren't bad, eating out isnt bad either a really nice greek place that serves a huge delicious dinner may cost 25-30 a person and you save half of it for the next day in left overs.
I have always wanted to live in NY or CA because of the liberal atmosphere and diversity. Also, I have dreamed since childhood of acting and Indiana doesnt exaclty offer much in that department. But.... In Indiana it seems I could have a much more comfortable life. How do you CA nurses afford anything???? The pay DOES NOT seem to reflect cost of living at all! Any advice on how you live, or info on how much things cost(I already know that rent and housing is ridiculous), how many hrs you have to work to be able to survive, can you afford to do fun things?
Thank you!
Also traffic seems to be horrific, how is it at night? Is public transportation good?

Wow

fergus51 · May 18, 2005

I live about an hour from LA and my wage is fine. I rent (one beroom $1000 a month in a nice neighbourhood) and have a car (not a superfancy one) and eat out all the time. After paying bills at the end of the month I always have money left to put towards savings or a vacation. I couldn't afford to buy a house here, but that isn't one of my priorities right now. If I want to boost my earnings, there are a TON of agency gigs. Even with the cost of living, you couldn't get me to give up California for Indiana. I think the wage you are being offered at UCLA is more than reasonable, especially since you are starting at the bottom of the payscale (no experience as a nurse). You could always move here and just try it for a year, Indiana will still be there if it doesn't work out.

Also, don't forget that signing bonus is taxable so you'll probably only see about $3000, you'll get all $1500 of the relocation money. Is that enough to make you give up on California? If it is, then you probably didn't really want to move here that badly and you'll be happy in Indiana. Good luck, whatever you decide.

prmenrs, RN · May 18, 2005

There are 5 hospitals in the UC system: San Diego, Irvine, LA, SF, and Davis (near Sacramento). Unless your heart is set on LA, check them all out. My hunch is that Davis would be the least expensive for living. It's hot in Sacramento. But it is the State Capital, there's lots happening.

There are a lot of other terrific hospitals in CA, look around. Good Luck, I hope your experience out here is very positive.

HONEYBEAR · May 18, 2005

I lived in California....(Long Beach) from 1993-99.........loved the weather, beaches, desert, and Big Bear hated...the smog, crime, cost of living.......the parking lots: 405, 91, 605, and the 710, my hubby and I are the very few that mostly likely do not miss California :rolleyes: But saying that, we do not like Ohio......cannot wait to move to Texas...... ....Do not mean to offend anyone.

allnurses Guide · May 18, 2005

California is a very diverse state and not all liberal. :) Except for the cities on the coast of course.

I grew up in So. Cal and live in faaaaarrrrr Northern California now and love it! I can see Mt. Shasta and Mt. Lassen. The wait at the DMV is rarely over 5 minutes and sometimes you are the only one there. There is no traffic. We live 70 miles from "culture" . . museums, art galleries, malls, convention center, plays. The City of Mt. Shasta is an hour away with nice restaurants and an art gallery and skiing. Ashland is nearby also so there are the Shakespearean plays and a lovely park and great shopping to be had.

The housing market is unfortunately rising but no where near what So. Cal and the Bay Area has.

Redding has two large hospitals, Mercy and Shasta Regional. Red Bluff has a Mercy affiliate, St. Elizabeth. Mt. Shasta has a Mercy affiliate also, Mercy Mt. Shasta. We have a small rural hospital here.

Lots of things to offer in CA . . . it is a big state.

steph

Roni725 · May 20, 2005

Hi,

I actually just moved to California from Indiana last year and really like it. I'm living in LA make around $27/hr with $4 differential for nights and find that it is defintely enough money to survive on here. I feel like I do just as well, maybe even better, money wise as my nurse friends that still live in Indiana. I live right by the ocean, drive a nice new car and have enough money left over at the end of the month to put in savings or splurge on vacations and social activities. If you are young and don't have to worry about anyone but yourself, I would recommend living here...there is just so much to do and experience here and is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I am never bored here because there is always something to do. Yeah, you most likely won't be able to buy a house here on your own, but that's not really a priority for me right now...why would you even want to buy a house when you're young. I don't anticipate living here for the rest of my life (but you never know), but let me tell you, I will never move back to Indiana. It is sooooooooo boring!!