Low starting pay for new RN?

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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 Peds.

I'm in the DC/Metro area. I don't have a job as of yet (major tears and frustration), but from my understanding the average starting salary is roughly $23/hour...some are less, some more. At this point, to get my foot in the door to gain experience, I am willing to take as little as $15 an hour. That is how much I have a passion for nursing, and I just want someone to take a chance on me and help support me as I can grow into a professional RN. It's been endless apps and rejection since April.

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That seems pretty low. I live in Mesa, AZ. The new grad pay here starts at $25.42 plus shift differential if you work at night depending on the facility in which you work.

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Specializes in PEDS ~ PP ~ NNB & LII Nursery.

ADN grad 2006 first job offer in small rural hospital (6 bed) running the show (including ECU, and ED) at night straight off orientation for 16.50/hr, second job offer required relocating to southern part of the state to a 99 bed facility for $20.50/hr with NOC diff. Cost of living wage increases now at $23.73 with 3 years experience and a new grad is starting at my facility at $23.50. My starting pay was good, I am happy with what I make now, however, with 3 years experience in Nursery and PEDs I feel I should make more than .23 over a new grad.

rags

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Specializes in Telemetry, Cardiacf.

I also have to wonder what area you are practicing in. I graduated in Dec/05 and the starting wage where I work was $20.80, but I have to drive 45 minutes to get there. The starting pay in my town is probably comparable. Are you in a small town? I'm not sure what my hospital starts their nurses at currently.

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Specializes in Emergency Room, Specialty Infusions.

RN's in Ontario, Canada with over eight years experience make $40.05/hr.

Full time is usually four 12-hour shifts a week and you actually get paid for only 11.25 hours. There are 11 holidays you get paid time and half if you work them.

The RN's are union.

Taxes are very high. I guess to pay for the "free health care" and snow removal from November to April.

They want all their RN's to have a BSN.

Some hospitals pay for required continuing education. Where I work, I have to take it on my day off......without pay.

They won't pay for CPR......I guess that's not a necessity for an ER nurse?

I'm hoping the economy will be better in a year or two inthe USA....I want to come back.

I have never worked so hard for 12 hours every single time I go into work. My joints/muscles are really taking a toil.

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I would say you're getting ripped off because my best friend is a new LPN, no experience, not even as a CNA, and she's making $25/hr. Then again she lives in Chicago, where the cost of living is sky high & climbing. Don't forget to factor in the cost of living in your area when considering your salary.

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Specializes in PEDS ~ PP ~ NNB & LII Nursery.
I'm in the DC/Metro area. I don't have a job as of yet (major tears and frustration), but from my understanding the average starting salary is roughly $23/hour...some are less, some more. At this point, to get my foot in the door to gain experience, I am willing to take as little as $15 an hour. That is how much I have a passion for nursing, and I just want someone to take a chance on me and help support me as I can grow into a professional RN. It's been endless apps and rejection since April.

Have you considered relocating? Here in the west the job market is still pretty desirable and seems to be on a pretty steady hire.

rags

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Welcome to nursing. You can be a nurse for 20 years, such as myself, and the new grads will come in making so much that it is unbelievable. Nurses are not rewarded for their experience. Don't move to Florida. The pay stinks here. Nurses in the large hospitals make a fair wage and I know the per diem rates are around $30/hr. I am working for a private plastic surgeon and only make $24/hr. The stress is low though but I will be asking for a raise within this next year. I feel bad for the nursing instructor who makes less than $20 /hr. That is absolutely insane that your students come out making more than you. This is why we do not have enough teachers and a nursing shortage! Unless we all band together we can never make a difference.

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I hope to eventually make $19.60/hr someday. Will probably be a while though. I agree with some other posters here - how much you get paid depends on the cost of living in your area. Jobs in NYC, San Francisco, etc. pay more but the cost of housing, rent, food, etc is way higher too, so they sort of cancel each other out.

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This is probably your base pay. You will make extra for shift diff/ weekend diff, etc. It adds up to a lot more than your base pay. I work in North Louisiana and my pay started at 21.54 hr. However if you work from 3p - 7p you make $3.50 an hour more and from 7p - 7a you make $4.50 an hour more. If you work weekends you get an extra $1.50 an hour more so it really will add up. Good luck. I just graduated in 2008 from RN school and I will tell you it's all worth it! LSW1956 HITRN

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Specializes in ER/ICU/CCU School Nurse.

The salary you are getting may depend on the state you live. I used to work in PA and the salary when I got there my salary was what I had started out with when I had initially graduated from school and at that time I had already been a nurse 6 years. The starting salaries now is about in the high 50's to low 60's depending on the type of degree you have. Take my advice find another job. Don't sell yourself short, you worked so hard to be getting such a little bit of mney

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Specializes in Peds.
Have you considered relocating? Here in the west the job market is still pretty desirable and seems to be on a pretty steady hire.

rags

You need money to relocate....I have yet to see a job willing to pay for me to relocate when there are so many ppl already in the area who are fighting for the same position. I have $92 to my name...so that kinda ruins any chance at relocation.

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