New Grad RN Salary Range

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Jun 7, 2017

What would be an appropriate starting for a MSN, RN graduating from a top 5 nursing school?

You would definitely get more per hr since you graduated from a Top 5 nursing school (sarcasm).

What are the Top 5 nursing schools?

Purple_roses · Jun 7, 2017

Your chances of being hired may increase if you come from a good school, but I don't think where you came from usually translates to higher pay. How much you make will also depend on what area you live in. To get a very general ballpark of what people in your area are making, use something like GlassDoor.

kp2016 · Jun 7, 2017

An easy way to find out would be to ask the newer nurses at the hospitals you are doing your clinicals at what the current starting pay range is. Most hospitals pay more for nurses taking weekends, night shift or with experience as an EMT. The "extra" for BSN over associates is normally around 25-75 cents / hour. I have never heard of a hospital paying extra for a "top school", but I have never worked in the two states you mention.

MsBrain, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN · Jun 7, 2017

According to U.S. News and World Report:

#1

Duke University

#2

Johns Hopkins University

#3

University of Pennsylvania

#4

Emory University

#5

Ohio State University

SaltySarcasticSally, LPN, RN · Jun 7, 2017

I just got my first nursing job as an RN and while the school I went to did help me in getting hired, everyone is paid based on experience, not where they went to school. The two states you mentioned are lower cost of living areas so your starting salary is going to be lower than places like New York or California.

I am not sure how much an MSN would get you more on the hour but if your looking at new grad residencies, then everyone is pretty much started at the 0 experience salary range with 50 cents more on the hour if your BSN.

I am familiar with Tennessee and wages are similar to the state I am in. Give or take a few dollars if your in a big city vs rural areas. Per hours rates range from $23-$27/hour base pay.

Nurse_ · Jun 9, 2017

Do you have prior experience? Are you a straight RN-MSN person?

Nursing isn't like medicine or law or any other profession where the value of the school you came from is as valuable as the person. It may open doors in terms of interviews but that doesn't translate to job offers.

Experience and emotional intelligence and how well you play with others does.

Now being a new RN, I'll be more concern on getting in and having a job. Getting your feet wet, acquiring skills will make you a more valuable candidate.

MsBrain, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN · Jun 9, 2017

Do you have prior experience? Are you a straight RN-MSN person?
Nursing isn't like medicine or law or any other profession where the value of the school you came from is as valuable as the person. It may open doors in terms of interviews but that doesn't translate to job offers.
Experience and emotional intelligence and how well you play with others does.
Now being a new RN, I'll be more concern on getting in and having a job. Getting your feet wet, acquiring skills will make you a more valuable candidate.

I do not have any prior RN experience. While I agree with your main point, I still believe it is important for me to know what is an appropriate salary range for the job I'm seeking while considering level of experience and education. Many new graduates get taken advantage of and sometimes price themselves too low. I'm not desperate for a job where I'm just going to accept anything someone offers me without knowing critical information.

guest769224 · Jun 9, 2017

What would be an appropriate starting for a MSN, RN graduating from a top 5 nursing school? I'm looking at jobs in Tennessee and Mississippi.

The exact same as it will be for an ADN, or BSN new grad RN from any regular college. In TN or MS, expect about $21/hr. Those are two of the lowest paying states for RN's in the nation.

That's reality. Your MSN won't get you higher pay unless you're in management. But you don't have any experience.

AceOfHearts<3 · Jun 9, 2017

A friend started out in MS and was paid about 19/hr. This was less than 2 years ago.

As stated most places have an algorithm for the pay scale and all new nurses start with the same pay- no negotiations. Many places do this to avoid allegations of pay discrimination. As a new grad you'll be paid the same as other new grads- many places don't pay new grads anything difference even if they have different degrees (ADN, BSN, MSN, etc).

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Jun 9, 2017

I do not have any prior RN experience. While I agree with your main point, I still believe it is important for me to know what is an appropriate salary range for the job I'm seeking while considering level of experience and education. Many new graduates get taken advantage of and sometimes price themselves too low. I'm not desperate for a job where I'm just going to accept anything someone offers me without knowing critical information.

You can't price yourself at anything since you have no experience. You have zero room to negotiate wage. You get what you are offered, take it or leave it. You may be offer a wee bit more since you have an MSN but it will absolutely nothing to do with the fact that you graduated from a "top 5 school". No one will care, seriously. It never came up in any interview I had what school I went to. Because in the end we all take the same exam to become nurses.