Minimum Wage + LVN Wage

Nurses LPN/LVN

Published

I've always been curious about becoming an LVN some day, however, with recent news that the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas will be increasing their minimum wage to $15 by 2020, would it even be worth it to consider working as an LVN?

From what I know, LVNs are paid around $22 starting in the SF Bay Area. With a $7 difference with minimum wage, it doesn't even seem worthy to pursue. What do you all think? Would healthcare wages go up along with minimum wage going up?

Thanks!

Honestly, the idea of working hard to become a nurse only to make a little more than minimum wage is discouraging, if we're being honest. But, being a nurse sounds a hell of a lot more interesting than flipping burgers and coming home smelling like french fries. I would much rather smell like pee, thank you very much. ;)

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
Honestly, the idea of working hard to become a nurse only to make a little more than minimum wage is discouraging, if we're being honest. But, being a nurse sounds a hell of a lot more interesting than flipping burgers and coming home smelling like french fries. I would much rather smell like pee, thank you very much. ;)

Me too. ;)

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Am I the only one who thinks a 7 dollar pay difference is a big deal? I'd do it for that alone.

Not to mention, I know several people who had to work 2-3 part time jobs for months and months before they could be somewhere full time, collect benefits and actually get paid time off (at chain restaurants). And the people I know only got full time status after joining management.

So yes, I'd go the LVN route (which I did, except I'm an LPN) and make the extra 7 dollars per hour (except my income increased by $9) and maybe find a career that you love.

But I will say, you have to dedicate yourself to school to get through. And after that, you have to strive to learn if you want to be a truly good nurse. So I'd say, if there's no passion there for this profession, maybe take another route.

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I don't work for free. I worked full time and put myself through nursing school to become a nurse but I didn't do it for the money I did it because I wanted to become a nurse. I just wanted the OP to realize there is more to nursing than just a paycheck. It's a lot of hard work.

You're really in no position to assume that "I'm in it for the money". I know how that goes, so please find someone else to flame and hate on.

It's unfortunate how often aspiring nurses have to constantly justify themselves and explain to others that they are actually in it because their heart wants it. People assume just because it's a decent paying job that everyone is in it for the money. Yes, money is a factor, but not as big as the one that keeps the flame and passion going.

It's rare to find someone with a heart that suits that of a nurse. Caring, kind hearted, kind of like a mother that cares deeply for her child. You have to have a passion for people, and I know that. So please, let's stick to the topic.

With minimum wage being so close to that of an LVN's hourly wage, it seems that at this point it's best to try and go straight to RN instead of taking it one step at a time.

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Unfortunately, in the SF Bay Area, ~$20 is no where near close enough to be happy and make a good living. I live with family, and so I'm trying to look at my options.

I work full time at a job that pays a little more than half of what an LVN makes. With that said, the maximum amount that my job can make is that of an entry level LVN.

LVN schools in my area are $30K for a one year program. It might not be worth it if LVN school costs that much. In the meantime, I am going to try and get into the LVN program at my community college which costs $3K but is lottery based.

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You're really in no position to assume that "I'm in it for the money". I know how that goes, so please find someone else to flame and hate on.

It's unfortunate how often aspiring nurses have to constantly justify themselves and explain to others that they are actually in it because their heart wants it. People assume just because it's a decent paying job that everyone is in it for the money. Yes, money is a factor, but not as big as the one that keeps the flame and passion going.

It's rare to find someone with a heart that suits that of a nurse. Caring, kind hearted, kind of like a mother that cares deeply for her child. You have to have a passion for people, and I know that. So please, let's stick to the topic.

With minimum wage being so close to that of an LVN's hourly wage, it seems that at this point it's best to try and go straight to RN instead of taking it one step at a time.

I never said you were in it for the money. I said IF you were in it for the money. There's a difference. And the topic was money so I was sticking to it.

Like a PP said, $7 is a big difference. I don't think minimum wage is close to that of an LVN. You could be done with school before 2020 if you started now. If your making minimum wage hours now, think about how much more you could be bringing home in a year as an LVN.

For what it's worth, RN's in my area start out making less than what LVNs make in your area.

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I live in San Francisco and the minimum wage won't be 15 dollars an hour until 2018. The average salary of an LVN in San Francisco is 58,000 dollars right now. Saying that flipping burgers wouldn't be much better than being an LVN is simply false. That said, you can spend over 30,000 dollars studying to be an LVN and not be employed in that field after one year of searching. A substantial number simply can't find work. This is according to the stats provided by the schools themselves.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

You are not a nurse. You are not a nursing student. WTH are you asking?

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If you are scared about minimum wage getting close to LPN pay and not being worth going to school for think about how CNAs are going to feel when we are left in the dust and flipping burgers will be making $5 more an hour then us. They pretty much make the same wage as us already but to think CNAs will be devalued even more then any other employed worker will be a sad day in coming

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If you are scared about minimum wage getting close to LPN pay and not being worth going to school for think about how CNAs are going to feel when we are left in the dust and flipping burgers will be making $5 more an hour then us. They pretty much make the same wage as us already but to think CNAs will be devalued even more then any other employed worker will be a sad day in coming

This is happening now. If you do home health care you don't get paid for commuting from one home to another and you often get paid minimum wage. That means flipping burgers is a better deal because it gives you a full eight hours of continuous employment without the unpaid travel time.

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Specializes in Pediatric.
Unfortunately, in the SF Bay Area, ~$20 is no where near close enough to be happy and make a good living. I live with family, and so I'm trying to look at my options.

I work full time at a job that pays a little more than half of what an LVN makes. With that said, the maximum amount that my job can make is that of an entry level LVN.

LVN schools in my area are $30K for a one year program. It might not be worth it if LVN school costs that much. In the meantime, I am going to try and get into the LVN program at my community college which costs $3K but is lottery based.

I think you stated this well. I was already an LVN prior to moving to San Francisco... Would I have began an LVN program whilst living here, I do not know. Because I was already a nurse with 3 years under my belt and a move here was unavoidable, I took in stride and am making things work. I could never live *on my own* out here on just my salary, LOL. I don't regret becoming a nurse by any means. The last LVN position I held prior to my move paid $25 an hour... I make $18 here.

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Very true points delen. I was hired for a little over $9.00 being an aide. Got my CNA and my pay went up and I've gotten a few pay increases in my 3 years working there and I may only be at 11.00 when I get my review soon. My anniversary was in April but I have not yet gotten a call to have my review. I might have to call them so I can get it and hopefully get an increase.

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