Making 100k salary/ income as a nurse?

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Members are discussing the cost of living in NYC and the salaries needed to live comfortably, especially for single individuals. There is a debate about what constitutes a comfortable lifestyle, with some mentioning that a nursing salary can provide a comfortable life in NYC, while others highlight the high cost of rent in certain areas. Additionally, members share personal experiences with rent prices in different boroughs of NYC, emphasizing the importance of considering individual circumstances and needs when accepting a job offer.

I am interested in what specialties are making 100k. I have 3 daughters in nursing school and can advise them on a lot, but not necessarily give them a big pic of the financial opportunities from across the nation. I am a 25 year RN and have a 65k salary, but double it most years with ot. not much fun working 68-72 hour weeks though. please tell me your specialty, experience , salary, and salary with diff and ot. oh, and where you r in the USA thank you all and hope your practice is professionally and financially rewarding

No OT required in NYC private hospitals. I'm making >100k/year as a staff ED nurse. 36 hour weeks. This is due to night differential and CEN differential. Decently high COL though, but my family is living very comfortably.

[h=2]Overview of New York Taxes[/h]New York is generally known for high taxes. In parts of the state like New York City, the taxes are even higher.

Do you actually live in NYC? The housing costs are astronomical, and NYS has a state income tax on top of everything.

In my next life, I live in a pied-a-terre in Manhattan. :)

Specializes in Emergency.

Yeah, I was born and raised in NYC, never left. I guess I'm used to working with the incredible costs here and getting by more easily than a transplant would. While I can live decently on my own salary, I have to say that my husband makes more than double what I do. Many of my co-workers live comfortably on the same salary, as singles totally ready to mingle :)

Specializes in Oncology, Surgery.

I work in New Mexico and would consider it a rural area. It is very difficult to get nurses to come here and stay here so they pay more than the usual wage. As others have said I have had to job hop to work my way up to where I am. I have been a nurse 8 years and have consistently made 80k a year since coming here 3 years ago. The cost of living is very low but the drawbacks to that is in the area I live there are not a lot of amenities some people feel they need. Those things don't really bother me so it's been perfect. Also, in some rural areas you commit to work there a set time and they pay back your loans. Something to think about.

Specializes in ICU.
I work in New Mexico and would consider it a rural area. It is very difficult to get nurses to come here and stay here so they pay more than the usual wage. As others have said I have had to job hop to work my way up to where I am. I have been a nurse 8 years and have consistently made 80k a year since coming here 3 years ago. The cost of living is very low but the drawbacks to that is in the area I live there are not a lot of amenities some people feel they need. Those things don't really bother me so it's been perfect. Also, in some rural areas you commit to work there a set time and they pay back your loans. Something to think about.

how much are homes in that area? Avg median home price.

Bay area and other Northern Cal cities make more than any nurse in the USA. Some areas nurses making a lot, still can't really live being house poor. Let's look at the expensive Palo Alto. Nurses in Palo Alto, CA might be making 200k as staff with 5 years exp but, I bet you nobody lives in Palo Alto, CA due to the median home. Currently its 2.4 million :eek:. However many 700k-1 million homes nearby.

Bottomed out said:
how much are homes in that area? Avg median home price.

Bay area and other Northern Cal cities make more than any nurse in the USA. Some areas nurses making a lot, still can't really live being house poor. Let's look at the expensive Palo Alto. Nurses in Palo Alto, CA might be making 200k as staff with 5 years exp but, I bet you nobody lives in Palo Alto, CA due to the median home. Currently its 2.4 million . However many 700k-1 million homes nearby.

And those 700K homes are not nearly as nice as 700K homes in low COL areas. It's deceptive sometimes.

I posted this in another thread:

Quote
This 1200 sq. foot home in Burbank costs $640K

1719 N Pass Ave, Burbank, CA 9155 | Zillow

This 5598 sq. ft. home in a Dallas/Ft. Worth suburb costs $599K

7 Heritage Oaks Drive Mansfield, TX 7663

Property taxes are higher in Texas, but there is no state income tax. Overall living costs are significantly lower in Texas. But no doubt the nursing salaries are lower as well.

What is the cost of living difference between Texas and California? | Investopedia

Bottom line is when we discuss nursing salaries, we have to view them in context.

I live in the southeast. My base pay is 85k. With overtime I can make around 95k. I work 7am-5pm in an outpatient clinic that's affiliated with a major hospital. No weekends or nights, off on holidays. When I started as a RN seven years ago I made 52k. I job-hopped to get big pay increases. Cost of living is relatively low in my area. I only have an ASN.

I make six figures without any OT or supplemental income/jobs. To maximize pay I would suggest working nights and joining the float pool. I have 12 years experience and get differentials for BSN, certification, nights, and floating. Granted, I also work in a high COL city.

Love the information shared, what state are you in?

I live in the southeast. My base pay is 85k. With overtime I can make around 95k. I work 7am-5pm in an outpatient clinic that's affiliated with a major hospital. No weekends or nights, off on holidays. When I started as a RN seven years ago I made 52k. I job-hopped to get big pay increases. Cost of living is relatively low in my area. I only have an ASN.

What state are you in trying to determine because your salary is nice (especially not having a BSN) and it appears you have a balanced family/work situation that is sweet with no overtime or nights?

Specializes in ICU.
And those 700K homes are not nearly as nice as 700K homes in low COL areas. It's deceptive sometimes.

I posted this in another thread:

Having two incomes is much more breathable in the Bay area. Especially two nurses whoa.. If you are committed to work OT as much as possible. 300k can easily be obtained. A SF Nurses with OT made 330k. I even saw a nurse salary in Los Angeles 273k..I think she was Staff level II with like 110k in OT or something crazy like that. With pay like that, buying a 1 million dollar home is easier.

What state are you in trying to determine because your salary is nice (especially not having a BSN) and it appears you have a balanced family/work situation that is sweet with no overtime or nights?

Metro-Atlanta

I easily make more than 100K/yr working as a... prison nurse! I am a relatively new nurse (received ASN in 2010 and BSN in 2012; only working as an RN since 2012). I worked four years in med-surg/tele at a couple of hospitals. Then I obtained a position in as a correctional nurse and easily make more than 100K due to high demand, and relatively few takers because everyone thinks they will be raped and murdered in the prison setting. Yes its true that prison nurses are throwing themselves into the lions' den so to speak, but overall, it is safe and I work with nurses who have been in the environment for 10-15 years with no incident. In addition to the great starting base salary for my state, there is great benefits of course, good pension plan, so much LESS stress than the hospital setting (as long as the guys behave themselves, there is relatively little to do), and usually OT available because nurses are always calling off sick. The biggest drawback is that management can force you to stay to cover the next shift if that nurse calls off, or no one picked up the shift, etc., and it is a 5-day/week job unless you are able to swap shifts with a partner. I tell my friends about it, but I get the same response that they are afraid of being killed or raped so they continue to work in the super stressful hospital settings and make 65-70k like I did when they could make much more with so much less stress overall. Just my 2 cents...

Metro-Atlanta

Awesome; planning to relocate to Atlanta immediately upon graduating in May. Did you work in a hospital as a new grad after graduating? In an effort to maximize my learning I'm prayerful of getting a new grad Residency position in ICU, which I currently work in on a p/t basis (primarily during breaks). Thanks

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