NOR-CAL vs. SO-CAL

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Geezz.. I've been applying to both Southern and Northern california specifically the Los Angeles area and the San Francisco Bay Area. Why does Northern California New grads make much more then in Southern Cali?? Its crazy...the cost of living is very similar.

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The cost of living is definitely not similar, far from that. Cost of rents are significantly more than the LA area.

Please be aware that most new grad programs in the Bay Area are already full for their next start date which is coming up soon. Very hard to get a position in the area as a new grad, even more so if from out of state.

Best of luck to you.

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Thanks! Yeah I actually got hired at Garfield Medical Center in Monterey Park which is about 15 miles from Los Angeles. I'm glad to hear then that cost of living is much lower. Thanks!!

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It all depends on which part of Northern California and which part of Southern California you're moving too.....The Bay Area is a desirable area (the traffic is horrible though) so cost of living is higher vs if you're looking at somewhere like Moreno Valley in Southern California......The Greater Los Angeles Area is definately going to be more expensive than Redding Area which is in Northern California.....so it all depends on where you want to go...Good Luck!

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One reason wages are generally lower in SoCal is that there is a proportionate larger number of available workers willing to work at lower wages. People can't afford to work at low wages in the Bay Area so employers offer higher wages (but not that much higher) in order to have workers and to keep their workers relatively happy. Turnover in the Bay Area is low because workers know that job opportunities are not that plentiful.

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Northern California nurses unionized YEARS AGO with CNA. It is a much more liberal community than Southern California. Southern California is much more conservative and Republican and VERY anti union. It was like pulling teeth to get nurses in Southern California to unionize. It took all of the changes that occurred in the last 15 year, and the resultant devastation on conditions in hospitals, to finally get Southern California nurses to unionize. That is the difference.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

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ahhhh ok! thanks! Actually I live in the Bay Area..in Concord, CA to be exact..I got a job in Southern, CA around the Walnut, CA Area and there rent there is actually the same as here in Concord, CA. The only thing is So-CAL is starting me off at $30 an hour. But I am still looking around here since I dont start this job till September.

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But thanks guys!! Now I understand!

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Hi Des11283, Walnut is a nice area, somewhat suburban with plenty of places to go for fun. Just curious are you a recent graduate with a BSN or ADN?

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Concord has never had the rents that downtown San Francisco has, or the Peninsula has. They are more expensive in those areas by far.

There are not any new grad programs starting in September in the Bay Area as well.

Best of luck to you in your new job.

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Specializes in ICU.

i'm originally from LA area and moved to the Bay. Rent is definitely much more expensive here, and small for what you would pay in LA. To compensate, the pay is about $20/hr more.

Gas prices here are a little more, but not dramatically different. Same with cost of food.

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Yeah I got my BSN in December..I applied for summer and Fall new grad programs because I just had a baby this past march

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