LTC vs. Hospital Salary for New RN - Help!

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I live in Northern NJ and interviewed recently for a part-time day RN position at a LTC/sub-acute facility. I was told by HR that the starting rate for a new grad RN is $22.50 per hour. I thought this was low. Hospitals in my area start new grads at anywhere from $28 - $31.50 per hour on days. Is there really such a big difference in starting salary between LTC and hospitals? If I'm offered the position, I'd like to try to negotiate the starting rate. Thanks for your help!

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I live in WI and I was offered only .25 cents more in the hospitals that I applied at compared to the LTC facility that I accepted a job at. I would've had to drive an hour each way to the hospital - 25 cents more an hour isn't enough to cover the gas that would be used!

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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.

From what I have read on this site, this seems to vary greatly from region to region. It seems some areas pay more for LTC than hospitals, but this is not always true!

I have 20 years of only LTC experience. Just this week I had an interview at my local hospital and was offered $1.50 more than my previous salary.

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Hi,

I also live and work in Northern New Jersey, but as a new LPN, not RN. At my Assisted Living Facility the starting pay for an LPN is about $22-23/hour. At my first job at a sub-acute center RNs got $30/hour, and LPNs $21/hour. For an RN the rate offered seems rather low for this area.

Good luck with finding a great job.:nuke:

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

In my area, new grad RNs are paid more at LTCFs.

Hospitals pay new RNs anywhere from $21 to $23 hourly; this is with no shift differentials factored in. The nursing homes pay new RNs between $25 and $27 hourly.

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Specializes in med/surg, TELE,CM, clinica[ documentation.

That sounds low for LTC. I am in South Jersey and RNS start at 25.75. Of course north Jersey is higher due to proximity to NYC. I believe our LTCS start RNS at 24-26 per hour.

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hi! i',m an rn as well and i just started working here in north jersey ltc, sub-acute unit. starting rate in my facility for rn is $26 plus 1.75/hr if you'll be assigned in sub-acute.

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Specializes in Did the job hop, now in MS. Not Bad!!!!!.

Upstate NY:

Hospital RN/BSN - $20.75 plus diffs

LTC/NH for RN/BSN - $17.86 plus diffs

No lie. That's what I got and what I'm being offered. But I feel it's worth it considering what I left and what I'm looking forward to. My quality of life is no less than those I'm taking care of. And in the hospital I was in, I was just a warm body filling a space. At the NH I'm applying to, it's clean, happy, and I should be so lucky a to take that major pay cut.

Chloe

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

We are one of the lowest paying places around but even WE pay RNs more than 17/hr....heck, the LPNs make more than that to start. There is no extra for a BSN or any kind of other certification.

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Specializes in Did the job hop, now in MS. Not Bad!!!!!.

It's all about cost of living for the area. Being a new grad I sure don't have haggling/negotiating power.

Chloe

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Specializes in Cardiac/Step-Down, MedSurg, LTC.

I am currently making $22.60 base + $2/hr for nights and I believe $2/hr for being supervisor a couple times a week. I'm in Northeastern MA and I'm a new grad. My colleagues in this area are making $26/hr base as new grads, and I'm sure more in the Boston area.

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Thanks to all of you who replied to my post! I ended up accepting this job offer. I knew that the starting rate was low, however, as a new grad in a tight job market here in Northern NJ, I felt I needed to get some experience on my resume. Hopefully, in the short-term I will be able to move on to bigger and better opportunities. Wish me luck!

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