Low starting pay for new RN?

Nurses General Nursing

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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.

Specializes in NICU, previously Mother baby.

I'm a new RN, & my base pay is $20.68. I get 10% differential for 7p-11p, 15% for 11p-7a, & 10% weekends. I'm in Omaha, NE.

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WOW I would be so grateful if I'd earn 19.00 per hour let alone 26 or 32!!!

I don't know what kind of work you guys go through in school to be a RN. I'm guessing ALOT OF HARDCORE STUDYING!! I haven't went to school yet, but I live in FL and I'm going to start the CNA program $696.00 for a 3 1/2 month program then move on to LPN. But good luck on being an RN!!

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With the enormous number of unemployed new graduate nurses, I will be blessed if I'm employed. Its about attaining the one-year golden experience under the belt and moving back to the area where nurses are well-paid.

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Specializes in Legal, Ortho, Rehab.
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.

I second that...it seems very low to me...then again, I live in south Florida...

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Specializes in Sub Acute/Rehab; LTC.
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.

At my facility (LTC/Rehab) in Connecticut, I start my new grads at 28.00 + shift diff/ full benefits if >24hrs/week. We are expanding and just posted 3 new positions.

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Specializes in Sub Acute/Rehab; LTC.

Its all relevent. The higher the pay, generally, the higher cost of living in the area.

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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.

I was just curious which hospital and unit your friend got hired. I live in the east bay but I am looking at the Sacramento area when I take boards in Jan.

To add to the post I would say that you and your wife ride it out for a year then you will have the expereince to move to a new hospital or location with better pay. new grads are having bad time finding any hospital work so good luck to you.

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Specializes in ER, OR, PACU, TELE, CATH LAB, OPEN HEART.

In Baltimore a new grad is about $22 to 24/hr with benefits, add additional shift differential for evenings, nights and weekends which varies in each facility.

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Specializes in LTC.

I'm a new grad lpn and make 22.50. your pay is low but better than nothing !

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MPLS MN=29/hour starting...

Middle class income COL for a family of 4 is 58,000 in MPLS.

See epi.org for a COL calculator for cities....

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.
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.

19.60/hr * 40 hours = $784/week x 52 weeks/year = $40, 768/ year.

That's not a lot of money of course but it beats the heck out of the $12.34/hr I started out at in 1991.

I don't know where you live so it's relative but once you add in shift and weekend differential, I bet you are closer to the new grad starting average than you think.

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19.60/hr * 40 hours = $784/week x 52 weeks/year = $40, 768/ year.

That's not a lot of money of course but it beats the heck out of the $12.34/hr I started out at in 1991.

I don't know where you live so it's relative but once you add in shift and weekend differential, I bet you are closer to the new grad starting average than you think.

Actually, it's about the same amount as the pay you made in '91, if you allow for inflation:

http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl

In my area of Florida, new grads start at about $18.30 plus shift diff... with inflation, about the same as a decade ago (so we haven't gained a thing, but considering the economy, I don't think we can expect much).

Still, it's no wonder that there is little if any loyalty among new grads, who typically move on to greener pastures after a year or so (contrary to previous years, no sign on bonuses are paid).

Hospitals are so short-sighted... a huge nursing shortage will occur in a few years (but I digress).

DeLana

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