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...
I wish we were unionized. Here you start around $21-23, raise depends on hospital and if theyre under budget restraints you won't get one, so if you want a raise you have to get a job with a different hospital. Pay tops out after 13 years at like $34. You can make more by working weekends or nights etc.
I'm from the Northeast, 10 years experience and make 39.37 an hour. I could make more than that( in mid 40's) but it's a surgery center. No weekends, holidays or call, which means more to me than the money at this point.
It's relative. I just retired after 47 years of nursing, with a BS. I was recently teaching at $27./hr, and that is the highest I've ever been paid. I've worked 60 bed med/surg wards, classrooms, Infection Control, physician offices., military facilities, small towns, large cities etc The money was never what I was there for, but I have found in recent years that Financial Assistance professionals have essentially called me a liar since the "average" is $35. hr. So, you do have to watch out for your future! Of course, I also remember moving from Arkansas to Texas and taking an increase as a staff nurse, moving up to $3.27/hour. So, where you live, the type of facility, the job (ICU's, etc., pay more than staff nursing, for instance), all play a roll. Biggest thing to ask yourself is whether you're happy and fulfilled in the job you're doing, and can you live now and put aside money for the future. Good luck and enjoy!
nurse.ethel.RN
25 Posts
I wish we were unionized. Here you start around $21-23, raise depends on hospital and if theyre under budget restraints you won't get one, so if you want a raise you have to get a job with a different hospital. Pay tops out after 13 years at like $34. You can make more by working weekends or nights etc.