$39/hr Wound RN pay in Fort Worth, TX. Fair? or should I negotiate for more?

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Jul 26, 2015

Good Morning and welcome to allnurses! It is a great place to find an answer to all your questions about nursing

I am sure you will receive good answers to your questions

rearviewmirror, BSN, RN · Jul 26, 2015

I'm going to guess that the system you work for in ft.worth starts with T and ends with R, if I'm not mistaken. I had couple of colleagues quit and move over to that system and they tend to love it way more than other systems, because they can afford better staffing because their administration doesn't suck as bad (although they have their problems I am sure).

I was an ED nurse until I recently quit to get off the bedside, but 7 yrs exp with $39, holy smokes??? I think that's pretty good considering other nurses I worked with had 20+ yrs and was making $40 something, but wound care is its own specialty. Hope you find better answer!

ThatBigGuy · Jul 26, 2015

That's a solid offer considering the location and your experience as long as it is a full time with benefits position and not a PRN job. It will end up being around $75k depending on OT and such, which is above average for DFW.

The cost of living in SoCal is approximately 50% more than DFW and housing is approximately 136% more expensive in SoCal vs DFW, according to a quick Google search. In other words, housing is more than twice as expensive in SoCal.

The other bonus is Texas does not have a state income tax. Cali takes 9.3% of the average RN salary for state income taxes (between $50k and $250k).

Adding up the lower cost of living and the lack of a state income tax will likely show that this offer is pretty solid.

PinayUSA · Jul 26, 2015

$39 per hour is great pay for RN in D/FW area. Signing Bonus was a nice offer.

Don't look at the pay so much, look at the cost of living.

There is a reason why so many companies are leaving California and relocating to D/FW area

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 26, 2015

I'm originally from California. I have been living in Fort Worth for the past 10 years. $39 hourly is damned good pay for an RN in this part of the country. I work with nurses who have 25+ years of experience who haven't surpassed $35/hr.

The cost of living here is a consideration. In Fort Worth you can purchase a nice house for $90k to $125k or rent a decent apartment for $600. My house is 1,800+ square feet, was built in 2004, and cost $105,000. You cannot live this cheaply in CA.

Jujubee21 · Jul 26, 2015

Thanks PinayUSA! BTW, the job is in southwest part of Fort Worth. Can you suggest the good areas in Fort Worth for someone with a 2 yr old?

Jujubee21 · Jul 26, 2015

Thanks ThatBigGuy for breaking it down! It is a full time position with benefits. I am seriously considering the offer.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Jul 26, 2015

Thanks ThatBigGuy for breaking it down! It is a full time position with benefits. I am seriously considering the offer.

If you don't take it I wish I could!!!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 26, 2015

Thanks PinayUSA! BTW, the job is in southwest part of Fort Worth. Can you suggest the good areas in Fort Worth for someone with a 2 yr old?

The southwest part of Fort Worth is highly regarded, especially along Bryant Irvin Road, Oakmont, and Overton Ridge Blvd. The Hulen Street area is also a good part of southwest Fort Worth, but it is somewhat congested during peak times.

Other clean parts of town include North Fort Worth along Western Center Blvd, Northwest Fort Worth (Saginaw), and Northeast Fort Worth (Keller, Watauga). The area near Texas Christian University will be close to southwest Fort Worth, but it is pricey.

Benbrook and Crowley are suburbs that are only five miles from where you will be working.

VANurse2010 · Jul 26, 2015

That's a solid offer considering the location and your experience as long as it is a full time with benefits position and not a PRN job. It will end up being around $75k depending on OT and such, which is above average for DFW.
The cost of living in SoCal is approximately 50% more than DFW and housing is approximately 136% more expensive in SoCal vs DFW, according to a quick Google search. In other words, housing is more than twice as expensive in SoCal.
The other bonus is Texas does not have a state income tax. Cali takes 9.3% of the average RN salary for state income taxes (between $50k and $250k).
Adding up the lower cost of living and the lack of a state income tax will likely show that this offer is pretty solid.

Yes, but the tradeoff is that you have to live in Texas

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 26, 2015

Yes, but the tradeoff is that you have to live in Texas

I personally think many parts of this state are ruggedly beautiful. My issue is this: there seems to be a plethora of people here who are undereducated and 'backwards.' In addition, most of the 'isms' (ageism, racism, sexism) are socially acceptable here.