Ok, so as I'm scrolling these forums, I keep seeing posters post things like "$30/hr is normal for a staff nurse", etc.
In Indiana as a RN(BSN) with 3.5 years experience (2 years M/S, 1.5 years Periop), I only make $23/hour... and I was excited about that until I saw these posts! I started at $17.78/hour!
Obviously I'm disillusioned and need to know what a good pay rate to ask for is, because I thought $30/hour would be good...
Obviously pay seem to vary greatly depending on region and I can't believe that the rates in some part of the country are so low for the same job. I work in a large hospital in the Northeast and our starting rate for new-grads is around $30/hr - it's a union hospital. Pay raises are 5% annually up to a max of $60+/hr plus whatever negotiated cost-of-living increases annually in each contract. Pay is the same whether you work in ED, Med/surg, ICU, just based on years of experience. With almost 8 years experience I'm making $42+/hr + $5 night differential
Local pay rates are based on local conditions but traveler pay is much closer to an efficient supply and demand market.
In particular, scarce specialties are paid higher. This translates to a national market for travelers where hospitals and bill rates in different regions compete with each other for qualified travelers.
Some hospitals do have incentive pay for specialties or hard to staff areas to help balance staffing. Other hospitals as described by several posters in this thread are able to balance staffing without incentive pay. Lucky for them to beat the normal rules of supply and demand because of a captive local staffing pool, but other than a personal interest or need for professional growth, what could motivate a staff nurse to undertake the extra burden of training to work in high burnout areas?
Yes that is actually a pretty average pay depending on your geographical area. I am from a rural area and work in a cah with low turnover rates and that is in line with our pay scales. Generally the cost of living is much lower in these areas so it works out in the end.
Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.
RN in Oceanside CA. (North County San Diego) Make $44/hr and we are in desperate need of nurses! If you are looking to come to Southern California and make good money look here. You can rent a place for a reasonable price in Escondido. I've been an RN for 6 years (no specialty) and just started at this hospital last year. They pay extremely well.
It totally depends upon where you live. New Grads in CA can make $40-50/hour. BUT you can't afford to live there. The housing costs are so high, that unless you already have a home here, you are looking at $850K to buy a 3 bedroom house in need of repair. So, it is all relative.
Compared to some of the others I've been reading, it is. I thought I made decent in Memphis. It's tough to make $37 here...$34 is cap for 13 years experience. Im at 36.74 but I'm also a weekender and PCC so I feel inadequate now haha
I live in Ontario Canada, and all nurses at the hospitali work at make the same. With our union (Ontario Nurses Association or ONA) you get a raise every year up until 8 yrs and nothing until 25 yrs. I'm 10 years in and make just around $45/HR base pay
RN-Fred
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Obviously pay seem to vary greatly depending on region and I can't believe that the rates in some part of the country are so low for the same job. I work in a large hospital in the Northeast and our starting rate for new-grads is around $30/hr - it's a union hospital. Pay raises are 5% annually up to a max of $60+/hr plus whatever negotiated cost-of-living increases annually in each contract. Pay is the same whether you work in ED, Med/surg, ICU, just based on years of experience. With almost 8 years experience I'm making $42+/hr + $5 night differential