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.

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

I'm curious how you have 6 years experience at age 24? I'm not trying to be smart but it took me 6 years just to get my BSN and I was 25 when I graduated. I did do 2 years as a tech, if that's what you're referring to.

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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.

He probably calculated his yearly income based on 36 hours/wk.

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I feel grateful that I just got hired at my hospital in Southern Cali. With differential the pay starts at $35.98/hr. There are plenty of openings but are rare for new grads. Good luck to you all~

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Remember, first, salary is VERY dependant on not only your location geographically, but also the type of work you are doing. In the bay area, salaries for experienced RN's vary by over $40/hr depending on what type of nursing you're doing & what facility you work for. (very informal survey, but my experienced RN friends make from $22 to $75+ an hour).

Also, when median average salaries are calculated, it's usually for acute care & includes people with 20 or more years of experience & a multitude of geographic areas, so, when you think about it, it's not a very accurate indicator for your situation. (BTW, we live in the land of $2000/month studio appartments)

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I'm probably dating myself, but I started at $9.25

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I have been a LPN for two years and currently work in home health care. I make $19+ an hour and live in the Panhandle of Florida. I am happy with what I make and love the one on one with my patients and the Monday to Friday schedule.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Surgery, Post Partum, GYN.

I graduated in 2002 in PA and started at $25/hr.

Currently I am in Kansas and make less than I did as a graduate nurse - even with seven years of experience and certifications. Graduate nurses here make $17/hr. CNA's start out at $7/hr. I just think this is insulting. My brother-in-law just graduated from a BSN program and is working in PA at $28/hr.

Just be thankful that you have a job right now, given how our economy is.

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If your nursing is the same as your math be careful. 2000 hours a year (average) times $19.50/hour is $39,000. That is only 40 hours times 50 weeks, you may get paid for the 2 weeks vacation, giving you over $40,000 per year. I don't know any RN's that are not regularly offered extra shifts.

Charlie

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I started as a new grad in Aug 2008 and the starting pay was 28.63 (regardless of where in the hospital you work). I live in Corvallis, Or and rent a 2 bedroom townhome for $850/mo. The hospital I work at goes by 'step' pay. Since I was a new grad I started at the lowest step. After 1 year of being off of probation I will go up to the 2nd step. I work noc shift and get 12.5% diff for that and if when we work weekends there is another 5% diff. I do plan on moving to Folsom/Sacremento, Ca area and am happy to hear that the pay there is good :)

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Forgot to add- you can make an additional 1-4% on top of your base pay if you have your BSN and/or specialty cert's

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I live in St. Louis and graduated in June 2008. I started at 18.88 and then we received a race where i went to 19.50..Now I made 21.25 with 1.50 evening shift. and 3.75 night shift differential and a 1.50 on top of that for the weekends. but we have absolutely no overtime. We even get in trouble if we stay 2 hours over in 2 weeks! I didn't go to school to work only 3 days. I'm looking for a second job at this moment. I have way to much free time.

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I work in critical care and we have lots of OT (if you want it!). I will start picking up an extra shift here and there now that the summer is over. We are union and we also get consecutive weekends (if we work the weekend before our scheduled weekend- both weekends are OT). We have a lot of training oppurtunities that we get paid for too. Our contract has been up since the end of July and we have not been able to agree on anything so we are in limbo about knowing where our benefits, OT and pay are heading. It's a good hospital to start at though. The support by upper management and most of the other RN's is great!

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