LPN starting pay $26.50!

I make 26.50 (that's with shift differential) on weekend 3-11 shifts. I am per-diem, that's not unheard of in north jersey, if you do per-diem. I was making $28, per-diem (no differential), but a terrible job, not worth it at all!

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

With benefits or without?

That's great pay- where I live experienced RNs don't even get that much- and that's w/out bennies.

And I know housing is cheap in Detroit right now.

WHAT....im so jealous

That is excellent pay even without benefits, considering Michigan state median income is at or below national averag. New Jersey is probably number one (just my guess).

I don't get any benefits, and the cost of living is way high here. RN's (not per-diem, with benefits) get between $28 and 35 an hour.

That is with benefits he started at $26.50

I am in MI too, here LPN's start out at $11-14 an hour

Hi,

Actually a starting pay of $26.50 for LPN is not bad. I live in NYC and an LPN can make w/o any exp. from $24 - $30 per hr. Please don't listen to anyone. If your goal is to be in the nursing field and you would like to 1st start out in the lpn field to gain exp. that is a great idea. you can easily move on to gaining your rn, bsn and eventually your msn if your choose to. Compensation differential is based on the state or city you live in and also exp and prior educational background. You can definitely make $ in nursing field but please remember don't make that your only focus. Also, in will have many options I know in NYC you have many options. Hospitals do hire LPN my cousin is a CNA and she works in the hospital. There are ppl that work two seperate jobs...one in LTC and another for a agency and end up with a yearly salary way over $65K or more.

Good Luck

One thing you need to watch out for with the particularly high paying jobs is what your work environment will be like. Some facilities pay well because it is the only way to retain employees because they are so crappy. You don't want to start off as a new grad (or even with experience) with a work load that is so unsafe you are setting yourself up for failure, just because it pays better than other places.

As an LPN, you will have a license to protect too, not just a job. You have to consider all the potential repercussions of working in different environments, not just how much money you can make.