how much do you make an hour/year?

Magsulfate, BSN, RN · Dec 29, 2008

I know that Nursing is not all about the money factor, but lets get real, we need to eat and we all like nice things/toys.
With that said, what is the best paying RN specialty field to get into? I am still in my pre-req stages at school, so I want to make sure I pick something that is not only fun, and challenging, but something that nets me the best bang for my financial aid buck! If I am going to go into debit, I want to get the best return from it;)
Eddie

It is probably going to be the critical care areas like surgery, ICU, ER, NICU and pediatric ICU.

gagurl · Dec 30, 2008

I know that Nursing is not all about the money factor, but lets get real, we need to eat and we all like nice things/toys.
With that said, what is the best paying RN specialty field to get into? I am still in my pre-req stages at school, so I want to make sure I pick something that is not only fun, and challenging, but something that nets me the best bang for my financial aid buck! If I am going to go into debit, I want to get the best return from it;)
Eddie

I'm a nursing student also and I plan on getting my BSN after I get my RN, then I'm going to get my CRNA (certified registered nurse anesthetist) degree. It's a masters program and they give anesthesia just like an anesthesiologist and make about 120k per year. As far as I know they are the best paid nursing specialty there is. They make more than a nurse practioner or PA. And there is a huge need for them. They are paying huge bonuses because a hospital or surgery center would rather pay a nurse anesthetist 120k a year than pay double that for an anesthesiologist to do the same job. The same reason they hire, nurse practioners in doctors offices instead of hiring lots of doctors, because they do the same job for alot less money.

sunray12 · Dec 30, 2008

It is probably going to be the critical care areas like surgery, ICU, ER, NICU and pediatric ICU.

Good thread. I'm pre-nursing so nothing to report but when I get there I hope to do well salary wise. At present I make a fraction of what many are reporting here and I am ft and experienced in my field, so I won't ever be one saying nurses don't make decent money.

Question: I'd gathered from all nurses that 1) wages don't go up significantly for bsn or general msn. 2) RN specialties pay the same. Exceptions CRNA, and sometimes other other APN's. Is this incorrect? I realize that OT is a big factor in RN salaries, so a RN who does a lot of OT could earn as much or more than a APN but a RN who does little or no OT would earn quite a bit less than a APN. But ... do some RN's make more than others based on specialty alone even if they are not APN?

oncnursemsn · Dec 30, 2008

I haven't read the entire post- but wanted to add my :twocents: . I live just outside Boston and make 47.00/hr teaching with a Master's degree. That's 40 students, 8 for clinical and grading clinical work, plus updating lectures, teaching, etc. I work in town at a teaching hospital and with my 3 patients, make over 55.00/hr + shift diff, weekend diff, and time and a half for holidays. Yes, with both jobs, I made over 100,000/year, but my house that I bought for 285,000 five years ago won't sell. Three houses on my block alone: foreclosed. One has been up for sale for well over a year.

I'm not complaining- just grateful that after 26 years in nursing I think the pay is pretty darned good. Cringe when I see nurses in rural areas making 20-something/hour. Yikes.

adventure girl · Jan 6, 2009

I'm in North Carolina, an RN working at my hospital for 10.5 years. I make $31+ an hour.

sbuxdrinkr · Jan 9, 2009

Per Diem Paramedic 21.50/hr

(thankfully i have a day job to pay my bills)

(also, an excelsior nursing student)

Edit: As a side note, I live in DUMBO NYC

lee1 · Mar 10, 2009

I know that Nursing is not all about the money factor, but lets get real, we need to eat and we all like nice things/toys.
With that said, what is the best paying RN specialty field to get into? I am still in my pre-req stages at school, so I want to make sure I pick something that is not only fun, and challenging, but something that nets me the best bang for my financial aid buck! If I am going to go into debit, I want to get the best return from it;)
Eddie

Nurse anesthesist

EJSRN, BSN, RN · Mar 10, 2009

i live in western ny and made $22.39 at my last hospital when i left. The nursing home i worked in before that I made $17.61. It depends whether or not the hospital is union. If so they usually make quite a bit more. There are other hospitals in my area that only make 18-19 per hour

lisaksemt, ADN, BSN · Mar 10, 2009

Base pay for new RN grads is $18/hr where i work. Sad, but true.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Mar 10, 2009

I am amazed at the salaries in other places. RNs here in New York start at about at least $62,000 a year.

Magsulfate, BSN, RN · Mar 10, 2009

In 2003 when I was a new grad, I was making 16.50 in ICU..in a rural area. There was NO pay raises other than the dollar or so you get every year.

I told myself that I wasn't going to wait 15 more years to get up to where I wanted to be, so I moved to Houston. 5 yrs later I'm making on average $34/hr.. with benefits.

It all depends on the area of the country that you're working, rural or metro... and/or if you are in a critical care specialty or a specialty in need for that area.

diane227, LPN, RN · Mar 11, 2009

I live just outside Seattle and work at a very small county hospital there. I work 32 hours a week, 3-11 charge, and I bring home about $71,000 per year. Cost of housing is high up here however. My husband works at the trauma center in Seattle. He works 24 hours per week with an extra day here and there and brings home about the same.