Life and jobs in San Francisco

scallywags · Mar 20, 2007

Hi Kevin,

I am a nursing student, so I won't comment on jobs. I can tell you about living in San Francisco. I grew up in SF and have never strayed far from home. It is a wonderful city with so much diversity and culture.

San Francisco has many wonderful events each weekend. There is always something to do. SF is also full of "foodies" and there are many wonderful restaurants to choose from. Transportation varies. Some say that having a car in the city is too much of a hassle and take advantage of the public transportation. Others prefer to have their own car, even for just part time use.

If you want to get out of the city for a few days, you have many options. Lake Tahoe is only 4 hours of a drive. Great for skiing (water or snow) depending on the time of year. There are so many day trips you can take...the wine country, down the coast, hiking in the nearby mountains.

It is expensive to live here, but the wages are decent. I have friends who are RN and make $55/hr. They have been able to afford the high costs associated with rents and home ownership.

Hope this is helpful and good luck in your decision making.

Sensoria17 · Mar 22, 2007

Not much to add here other than my sister is an RN and lived and worked in SF for close to 10 years. Her department (ER at SF General) is so desperate for nurses that they hire new grads. She's currently training a new grad that hasn't even taken the license test. I didn't know they could do that.

CityKat, BSN, RN · Mar 26, 2007

How many years experience does your friend have that makes $55 an hour? New grads DON'T make that much. I've checked with all of the top paying hospitals back home in SF and for new grads, most start out at $39, up to $43 being the highest.

My friends who have been nurses for 5 years in SF, are still renting and can't afford to buy.

Soup Turtle · Mar 26, 2007

I looked into moving there, but it's EXPENSIVE! I decided to stick to SF as a vacation spot, instead. I would like to actually own a home someday.

wheelhouse88 · Apr 6, 2007

hey Kevin,

I just visited San Francisco to interview and find out if this is the city for me. I was very impressed, and would definitely make the move. As far as the expense, it's not that bad if you're renting. Check craigslist.com for rates and do the math. If you're looking to buy and settle down, that may be more difficult, but I haven't crunched the numbers on that one.

scallywags · Apr 6, 2007

How many years experience does your friend have that makes $55 an hour? New grads DON'T make that much. I've checked with all of the top paying hospitals back home in SF and for new grads, most start out at $39, up to $43 being the highest.
My friends who have been nurses for 5 years in SF, are still renting and can't afford to buy.

My friend was a LVN prior to becoming a RN last year. Her starting wage was $55/hr as a RN. She also worked at the hospital as a LVN and moved into an RN position. Not sure if that influenced the pay factor?

I agree, it is very expensive to live here. For those who want to become homeowners, it is very frustrating because the cost of housing is so high. People do manage to do it, but it usually takes two incomes and some compromise. I was lucky to buy when housing was more affordable. My friends just bought a house a few months ago and really had to budget in order to afford the mortgage.

pinoyRN_23 · Apr 6, 2007

whoa the rate for new grad RN's there are high..im a new grad RN and i just recently got hired at long beach memorial and they only pay you $28.33 + 4.50 night differential...thats pretty low to think that i am a BSN-RN.. i work nights so that pretty much compensates the low rate that they give new grads RN's... here in LA downtown area, the highest rate that you could be offered as a new grad RN is around $35 excluding night diffs..

im also considering moving to sanfo.

maybe that explains why she got paid so high,maybe its because she has a heck of an experience as an LVN before she got the offer as an RN... i went to straight RN program so i guess that gives me less experience since im only 23.

CityKat, BSN, RN · Apr 6, 2007

Hmm..

Yes, indeed experience is a huge factor. One of my friends who has been an RN for 8 years is making $51 an hour working at UCSF on the oncology unit. She loves it, but she said starting new grads don't start out making that much. Experience is "golden"!!

YoungWiseWoman · Apr 9, 2007

hey Kevin,
I just visited San Francisco to interview and find out if this is the city for me. I was very impressed, and would definitely make the move. As far as the expense, it's not that bad if you're renting. Check craigslist.com for rates and do the math. If you're looking to buy and settle down, that may be more difficult, but I haven't crunched the numbers on that one.

If you don't mind me asking, which hospital did you interview at?

jensfbay, BSN, DNP · Apr 9, 2007

Hmmm, San Francisco. I can't think of any other place to live...and I'm a transplant here. I've only been living here for 2 years and I love it. Some people love it, some hate it. Culture/people: very diverse. Russian hill, Mission district (many Hispanics and of course authentic Mexican, El Salvadorian, etc foods), Chinatown, Castro (gay men), Bernal heights (lesbians), Haight (the hippies), and all the other colleges surrounded by academics, collegiates, and preppies. It's all in one city. Weather is so so. Hiking trails nearby, events (upscale and free) happen every week if not everyday.

Work: A lot! I have only been a nurse for 1 year, and I'm getting paid $45/hr, granted it is the highest paid hospital in city (cpmc). Work is not hard to find at all. The most difficult part for me after nursing school (as a new grad even) is choosing which hospital, or even, which unit in each hospital to work for. Talk about opportunities.

Disadvantages: It is expensive...very expensive. For me, it's worth it. I have an apartment all to myself in one of my most favorite neighborhoods in SF, and I love it. It really is worth it for me. I'm not in debt...just living comfortably, content and happy. Well, that's my take on SF. If you have anymore questions, feel free to email me.

Testa Rosa, RN · Apr 9, 2007

I was born and raised in SF (North Beach Italian), but have lived in the outlying suburbs once I settled down.

Remember, SF is a short BART ride from the more affordable suburbs in the Pennisula (SSF, San Bruno, Millbrae) as well as the East Bay (Walnut Creek, Concord, Hayward, etc). Marin County and the lovely North Bay has dedicated shuttle busses into SF. However, nothing beats living in the city when you are young.

Prior to becoming a nursing student, I was a sales rep in the corporate world and traveled all across the US. While other places are great to visit, there's nothing like the diversity, food, activities, topography, culture even the flowers of the Bay Area. The view from my parents flat in the Marina District would take your breath away--Golden Gate Bridge, Sail Boats on the Bay, the dome of the Palance of Fine Arts and the Green hills of Sausilito--I've traveled the world and this is still my favorite view.

SF is rent controlled and very pro tenant, so once you get into the rental market, it's very unlikely your rent to get increased other than the most minor of adjustments. I have friends who have sat on their appartments since they were in their early 20's and are paying ridiculously low rents for SF now 10 years later. Enough so it is making it very hard for them to move or take on a mortgage in the suburbs, so they are cramed into a two bedroom flat in the Marina with two kids. They just can't imagine living anywhere else when I try to convince them to come out my way.

Also, the diveristy in work within the Bay Area is very compelling for nurses--UCSF, Stanford, Childrens Hospital, Kaiser. Pay is very good even for new grads, so a newbie should be able to afford rent on a decent flat in a nice area of SF or the surounding burbs.