Low pay in Seattle

Published

I recently got my RN license and I am in Seattle metro area. The nursing pay in Seattle is rock bottom compared to other metro cities and the living cost is as high as bay area in California. The starting pay at children's hospital in Seattle is $22.72, Evergreen in Kirkland is 23.98, Harborview/Swedish is $24. The living expense is sky high and the pay is so low. Outside Seattle area is pretty low...starts from $22 and up to $23.84 the max like in Spokane, Tricities, South Puget...I have called a lot of hospitals and talked with their HR and pretty disappointing pay scale. My friend in bay area starts minimum from $35 for new grad. The living expense is as same. Right now for 1 bedroom apartment in downtown Seattle, I am paying $1400 for rent + I have to pay utilities. If I stay in suburb of Seattle, the traffic is so bad...it is like stop and go...action throughout the freeway. I just feel WA state hospitals need to learn from California and even Oregon.

Why doesn't the nurses union aggressively protest against these low paying jobs in WA state. Why are nurses so mum??? We need more proactive nurses against this type of negligence against nurses. I am pulling my head because I have to pay $55000 of student loan + oter credit card bills and that low minimum wage supporting my family. Forget about saving!!!:sasq:

Hello everyone ..

Iam rn nurse , 53 y old with 24 y experiance . Right now i live oversea and i must tell you nursing salary is hell law . For full time jobb , whichh include 180 hour /month i get 580 dollar .!!! Apt and bills coast is between 300- 320 .. So now you can see how very little money is left for living .

I also tryed cna at missouri -rolla they want pay me day shift 8 night shift 20 doll . I also try nursing home at mesquite nv , where night shift was payed 22 dollar .

Iam looking forward to move seattle in an studio . I would be happy if i can get 24 ! Hour .

Seriously .

Rgds

hope

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hello everyone ..

Iam rn nurse , 53 y old with 24 y experiance . Right now i live oversea and i must tell you nursing salary is hell law . For full time jobb , which include 180 hour /month only-- i get 580 dollar .!!! Apt and bills coast is between 300- 320 .. So now you can see how very little money is left for living .

I also tryed cna job at missouri -rolla -they want pay me day shift 8 night shift 20 doll . I also try nursing home at mesquite nv , where night shift was payed 22 dollar .

Iam looking forward to move seattle in an studio . I would be happy if i can get $ 24 /hour .

Seriously .

Rgds

hope

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Wow, didn't know pay was so low for such a big metropolitan city

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cath Lab/ ICU.
Wow, didn't know pay was so low for such a big metropolitan city

The previous posts in this thread are 3+ yrs old...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I hope this post isn't too old to get some questions answered. I'm pretty serious about starting the ASN program at SCC in Spokane. Because of time constraints and wanting to get the degree, i really don't have time to sit on a waiting list for the BSN. I'll get that after the ASN as soon as possible, but atleast I can probbly land a job to get some experience beforehand.... anyway

I was under the impression that the medium income for a starting nurse in WA is about $33 an hour. i've looked this up in the bls and have seen other posts. However, I am hearing some negative things. If I want to make $22 an hour I'll stick to selling pianos, or health insurance. Sure, an education is somewhat priceless... but not in an economy where going into debt is pointless if you are going to be in the same place financially.

Has anything changed in the past few years from when this post took place? I read about how there is a nursing shortage and that it is one of the best professions to get into from now until 2018 and beyond, but I am hearing contradicting stories here. Any help or information would be much appreciated. I don't want to waste my time! Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cath Lab/ ICU.

Starting pay for new nurses is NOT $33/hr. Where did you read that? Have you looked at the pay ranges for UW, harborview, overlake, evergreen, or swedish? See the bottom $ in the range? That's new grad pay if, and I mean IF, you could land a job. You'd be competing with hundreds, if not thousands of new grads for the precious few new grad spots. Many new grads are going months to years without finding nursing work.

Also, there is most definitely no Nursing shortage!!!!!!!

But, choose this career not based on income (albeit a very important consideration) but on your desire to work as a nurse. Being a nurse is brutal, and even $35-50/hr is not enough pay for what we do. Bru-tal.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Im a new grad out of Kirkland and i started at the VA Hospital in Seattle at 61k/year. Not too sure how you market yourselves to get paid that salary. I am content for a new grad at that wage.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi Josephgene,

Was it hard to get on at the VA hosp? I have heard it's difficult for new grads to find work. Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma/ED.

I'd probably start a new thread to the new poster's on here...very outdated info from years ago. Also if you start a thread with your specific question you will get better responses...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion