It truly makes no sense to look at salary numbers without looking @ cost of living. You could make your $45/hour as a new grad (pretty doubtful, if you ask me), but if your living expenses are proportionately high, you will never realize the standard of living that you're imagining when you think "I'd like to make $100,000 right off the bat."
As others have said, an associates degree vs. BSN really won't make a huge difference. I think an above poster mentioned a $0.66 differential. I've heard anywhere from 0.25 to 1.00.
...As others have said, an associates degree vs. BSN really won't make a huge difference. I think an above poster mentioned a $0.66 differential. I've heard anywhere from 0.25 to 1.00.
There are so many employers who don't bother with the BSN differential anymore.
I'm a new grad with a BSN in a medium-sized city in the southwest. I'm making $24/hr base plus a night shift differential. According to the hospital, I'm budgeted to make around 45k/year.
I think it's unrealistic to expect to make 80-100k in your first year as a nurse, though I do know many have done it with overtime and working at big medical centers in big cities.
As a new grad I make $28 an hour plus night shift diffs. It's nice, but my state is very desirable to live in so the price is slightly higher. I know some hospitals here start new grads at $21 per hour or less.
I have 3 years experience and am in ICU..in the Texas Med Center in Houston which supposedly pays more than other Houston hospitals. I make base pay around $29 and have a BSN. Granted I work nights and am on a weekend program so I make more like $42 an hour, but that's definitely not my base.
In response to the question on why hospitals now prefer BSN students.
Most hospitals are now aiming for Magnet status and those that have it, are working just as hard to keep it. And for many other marketing reasons, big city hospitals now believe that nurses with BSN's function better in these environments. They also believe that BSN's have a more likely to pursue higher education in nursing or management, which in-turn improves the hospital's status. I am not saying these are factual statements. I am truly using my experience working at big city Magnet Hospital in Maryland. Secondly, this same hospital decided several years ago that in order for experience floor nurses to advance into supervisory position, they must have a BSN or preferably a MSN. As a result, a good percentage of old-fashion managers, with nursing diplomas/ADN's have been indirectly forced back to school to get a BSN or MSN. For those who didn't comply, a significant percentage of them have been replaced by MSN graduates with little to no experience.
My two cousins who graduated about 2 years ago from ADN programs, have been trying super hard to get hospital jobs. However, to no avail. On the other hand, I'm in a BSN program and I already found a job in a big city hospital without even graduating yet. The hospital offered me a position as a student nurse so that when I graduate, I can easily transition into the RN position.
I hope this answers your question. Plus if nayone else wants to add or correct a wrongful statement, please feel free. :)
roser13, ASN, RN
6,504 Posts
It truly makes no sense to look at salary numbers without looking @ cost of living. You could make your $45/hour as a new grad (pretty doubtful, if you ask me), but if your living expenses are proportionately high, you will never realize the standard of living that you're imagining when you think "I'd like to make $100,000 right off the bat."
As others have said, an associates degree vs. BSN really won't make a huge difference. I think an above poster mentioned a $0.66 differential. I've heard anywhere from 0.25 to 1.00.