Low starting pay for new RN?

charley75 · Oct 3, 2009

I was wondering what area are u in? I am a recent grad and started at 19.75, I live in St. Louis. I didnt shop around and took my first offer because it was in the ER, which is hard to get as new grad. I was hoping for more also and unsure of the average starting amount.

jdub3 · Oct 3, 2009

I was started at less than that with no raises hospital wide right now. Not very ideal for for retention especially with my level of current responsibilities! Nevertheless, I feel as if I have job security more so now than ever, "I think:confused:"

kittykatty · Oct 3, 2009

Hey guys/gals,
I'm not meaning for this to sound like complaining, I'm sort of just wondering if it's a low hourly wage to start at. I just got hired last week and found out the starting wages are 19.60/hr. When I figure that rate per year it comes out to just under $34,000 per year. This is less than my spouse makes who is in her first year of teaching at a grade school, who we thought made bottom of the barrel salary. I guess we can't really complain as we're both newly out of school? I also checked several websites and most reported that the median average salary was quite a bit higher, this is why I'm surprised. Please add your insights.

Could people answering this please state where you are from or the info is useless!! Thanks all!!!

I am starting 21.18. I'm in Delaware but this is a state job which is lower than the hospitals around here but they are not hiring.

09NewGrad · Oct 3, 2009

I was wondering what area are u in? I am a recent grad and started at 19.75, I live in St. Louis. I didnt shop around and took my first offer because it was in the ER, which is hard to get as new grad. I was hoping for more also and unsure of the average starting amount.

I'm about 2 hours south of you, in Southern Illinois.

TransplantRN3 · Oct 3, 2009

I am in Washington, DC... all of the new graduate nurses at my hospital start at $26.52, regardless of the unit they work on.

BethulieRN · Oct 3, 2009

NEW GRAD SINCE 09/09, I WORK IN CHICAGO, IL AND LIVE IN HINSDALE, IL

I DRIVE ABOUT 25 MINUTES TO MONT SINAI HOSPITAL MED-SURG.

RATE 25. 60 $/H, PLUS 3.50$ SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL FOR WORKING NIGHT SHIFT.

IN MARCH I STARTED A SECOND JOB PART TIME IN NURSING HOME HERE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. I DRIVE 10 MINUTES TO WORK. PAY RATE 26.50$/H NO SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL.

I RENT 3 A BATHROOM AND 2 FULL BATHROOM APPARTMENT. COST 1100 $ PER MONTH INCLUDE HEAT.

ELECTRICITY BILL AVERAGE 80$/MONTH. WATER BILL AVERAGE 25$/MONTH.

PLease include also the cost of living such as morgage/rent cost, this will shed light for those who want to move to your city.

caliotter3 · Oct 3, 2009

In my area $19/hr is within the LVN pay range but we also have the cost of living that goes along with a higher pay rate.

Steffers · Oct 3, 2009

That's seems a bit low, that's what I have been offered for LVN, actually higher than that, but I live in Nor Cal. I have a friend who graduated in June from a community college, ADN, and she got hired at a local private hospital and they pay her 48.00/Hr!!!! plus full benefits! and tuition reinbursement! Gotta Love Cali! OH, and this is not the bay area this is like the Sacramento area.

aromarn · Oct 3, 2009

Wow, I am in NY , new grad and makes $66843 plus shift diff of $5600. I make 32/hr and I did not calculate the shift diff. Either way I am happy and blessed. But it looks like some of you are getting paid less.

Take what you can for now but really 32000/year is way too low.

D.R.A. · Oct 3, 2009

To the OP, I'm just south of you in Western Ky, the hourly rate sounds right......hospitals here start you at about $20 from what I hear. The cost of living is far less in our area than, lets say, Chicago area.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Oct 3, 2009

I am in NY, but way upstate in a rural area. The "big" hospitals start at 20 to 26 (one magnet facility), LTCs and smaller CAHs at 20ish.