I thought Washington Nursing pay would be higher than I expected.

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I thought pay would be a lot higher in Seattle. I live in Tucson where my base pay is higher and the cost of living is lower. I'm really disappointed because I wanted to move to Seattle.

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

And your purpose in posting this is?

Sometimes you have to sacrifice to get to where you want to go.

Which is more important - being in Seattle or having better pay?

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Just very shocked, that's all. Because I thought I was at the bottom of the barrel. But apparently not. That's my purpose.

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

Try Florida as bottom of the barrel, though the pay in Utah used to lousy (don't know how it rates now). There are alot of places lower than Arizona.

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Specializes in L & D; Maternal/Child.

Union wages. I moved from TX and was also surprised to see the pay scales. However, I love Seattle and am glad we transferred here.

I was working as a .6 FTE, but decided I wanted more flexibility to travel with my husband so I went per diem. I choose to work night shift and I work every other Friday as my weekend. With the 15% per diem instead of benefits, I find the pay adequate.

We don't live in Seattle, but can be in downtown in 20 minutes (depends on traffic and road construction). I work at a medical center 15 minutes from my house and never have to take the freeway to work.

There is so much to see and do and the region offers it all. Don't let the pay keep you away. There are always ways to make something you want work!

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Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

How long have you been a nurse? For me, having been a nurse for so long, the salaries in Seattle area were better. But I know for the nurses just coming into the field from graduation, they are making about half of what I make.

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I am from AZ and have lived in Tucson as well as Phoenix. I now live in VA and am shocked by how LOW the RN wages are here. AZ overall is pretty crappy in the wage dept but surprisingly pay a decent RN wage. In a few years, we plan on moving to Seattle as well. All of the research on the WA RN wages surprised me as well. I thought it would be way higher, kind of like how CA has a high cost of living but the highest RN wage.

Good luck, btw, it is DEFINITELY worth it to me because I love Seattle and the Pacific NW. I have been trying to move back there for years. :) It blows Tucson out of the water and I went to UA and lived in Tucson for many, many years.

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