I'm starting to get concerned about salary...

Nurses General Nursing

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I thought we had a salary forum, but I couldn't find it. So mods, if there is one, and I missed it...feel free to move this post.

I am starting to wonder if the hospitals here pay the lowest possible rate.

I am making $11.00 an hour as an extern.

I found out today that the starting salary for a New Grad ADN is $17.50 an hour, and they'll bump you to $18 for a BSN.

I was really surprised the base was that low. I have been looking at their benefits, and they are horrible.

Most of the nurses have to pay on average $1000 out of pocket for medical care per year b/c of deductibles. I have actually never worked a job where I had to pay more than $250 a year, and at most jobs, nothing if you stay in-network.

Am I nuts? Or is this low?

As much as I love California people and NY's...your states are not going to be a good comparison.

Specializes in Med-Surg/Tele, ER.

With the current state of affairs, hospitals will always pay as little as possible.

As a GN, I started at $20.49/hr, went up to $21.49/hour when I passed my NCLEX. I would kill to only spend $1000 a year on medical costs. As it stands now, we pay $260 a month, plus $20 with every office visit, plus $30 a month for my one prescription, plus $10-$50 for diagnostics like x-rays and US. It doesn't cover much at all, with the exception of being an in-patient, and the dental / vision included in this is horrid.

Cost of living here is also quite high, especially when compared to the rest of the area. Our little house with a loft converted to 2 bedrooms rents for $925/month + utilities.

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Specializes in Pediatric Intensive Care, Urgent Care.

I would move...seriously!! Sucks to live where you do...!!

Mex

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Specializes in Chiropractic assistant, CNA in LTC, RN.

I live in NC (near Winston) and the economy is terrible due to all the manufacturing layoffs. However, nursing pay is better here than in many parts of the country. Starting pay in Winston is $20.45 an hour and is going to $21.15 or so in the next month or so. You also get $4 an hour diff after 3 PM and $1.25 an hour on weekends. I am surprised that so many areas of the country pay less than that. Even the Pacific NW pays low when you consider the COL there compared to here. Starting at $27 an hour may sound great but not when you factor in housing. Most job areas are awful here but if you work in healthcare, NC isn't a bad place to be right now.

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What state are you in? As a new grad ten years ago in California I started at 19.50/hr. I now work in Tennessee and have ten years of experiance and make 29/hr +differential and weekend pay. I don't know what he new grads are making. I worked in Pensacola, FLorida and was making 19.60 an hour with 5 years experiance. I believe that wages are really variable depending on where you live and the amount of competetion for nurses. I suggest that wherever you end up working that you leave that facility after a year and go somewhere else. It is the one of the only ways to see your first big bump in pay. Good luck to you. Support unions and you will make more money and have better benefits and you patients will get better care.

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

here in midwest IL....got 23 bucks/hr for new grads, 5/ shift differential, benefits pretty good with a 6% match for 401a, and basic health insurance is free with 3000 deductable...

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pack your bags and move honey!! i made 34 and change as a new grad.

i have a question for you guys. of course i get paid more because im in a populated area, cost of living, etc. however, are cars cheaper in areas that pay low (like this poster is describing?)

for example, if my bmw here costs 45,000, is it like, 25,000 where these really low wages are??

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Specializes in ER/OR.
pack your bags and move honey!! i made 34 and change as a new grad.

i have a question for you guys. of course i get paid more because im in a populated area, cost of living, etc. however, are cars cheaper in areas that pay low (like this poster is describing?)

for example, if my bmw here costs 45,000, is it like, 25,000 where these really low wages are??

You definitely have a point. Usually COL is referring to housing costs and utilities, and to a lesser point food as I understand it.

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Specializes in ER.
I thought we had a salary forum, but I couldn't find it. So mods, if there is one, and I missed it...feel free to move this post.

I am starting to wonder if the hospitals here pay the lowest possible rate.

I am making $11.00 an hour as an extern.

I found out today that the starting salary for a New Grad ADN is $17.50 an hour, and they'll bump you to $18 for a BSN.

I was really surprised the base was that low. I have been looking at their benefits, and they are horrible.

Most of the nurses have to pay on average $1000 out of pocket for medical care per year b/c of deductibles. I have actually never worked a job where I had to pay more than $250 a year, and at most jobs, nothing if you stay in-network.

Am I nuts? Or is this low?

As much as I love California people and NY's...your states are not going to be a good comparison.

I live in NC (near Winston) and the economy is terrible due to all the manufacturing layoffs. However, nursing pay is better here than in many parts of the country. Starting pay in Winston is $20.45 an hour and is going to $21.15 or so in the next month or so. You also get $4 an hour diff after 3 PM and $1.25 an hour on weekends. I am surprised that so many areas of the country pay less than that. Even the Pacific NW pays low when you consider the COL there compared to here. Starting at $27 an hour may sound great but not when you factor in housing. Most job areas are awful here but if you work in healthcare, NC isn't a bad place to be right now.

I had lived in N.C. (moved from there a year ago) and when we moved there from Washington state (in 2003), the cost of living was HIGHER. Wages were about the same, though..

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Transplant, Education.

28.88 at one of the hospitals i interviewed at, not including differentials--but im in boston, so if you're more rural, or in another part of the country, the cost of living is much different.

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Specializes in ER.
28.88 at one of the hospitals i interviewed at, not including differentials--but im in boston, so if you're more rural, or in another part of the country, the cost of living is much different.

is that IN Boston? That's not so great - was that a union hospital? That's new grad, right?? Are we talking Brigham, Boston, Mass General????

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Wow some of those are really low but I guess if it is cheaper to live then its all the same. Here new grads start around $28 with benefits. Fortunately there is a great need for nurses so there is some room for negotiation also.

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Specializes in MICU.

my hospital starts you out around 20-21 dollars depending on the area (specitaly/med surg) but they have pretty good benifits 28 dollars bi weekly deducted from your pay with no annual deductible, pays 100% for hospital lab etc pretty good plan....but then parking that can be anywhere from 30-100 dollars a month it all depends where you live...btw im in pittsburgh if that helps

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