what is the normal salary for a new grad RN

MikeyBSN · Apr 16, 2009

There is no "normal" salary for new nurses. Salaries vary, mainly by geography. Some facilities also pay more for different shifts, and different department. For example, some places pay more if you work at night, or if you work in an ICU or ED. Some places without a union will take other factors into consideration, such as health care experience, work experience and grades.

CABG patch kid, BSN, RN · Apr 16, 2009

First I'd start with where you're at. Even within the same state, hourly pay can vary depending on what part of the state you're at. For example, I live in California, one of the highest paying states, but also one of the highest cost of living. I live in Southern CA, which pays more than Central CA, but less than the Bay Area. It all depends on cost of living. For what its worth, I made about 68k last year, that was including half of my sign on bonus. On the other hand, my rent is about $1800 a month, so I guess the best way to sum it up is that you can live comfortably on an RN's salary, especially if you have a significant other who works, lol. Also, I work with plenty of nurses who are single and just have one income and do fine, even with rent as high as it is here. :)

MichelleB34 · Apr 16, 2009

I would agree that the pay varies by the region you live in along with the cost of living. I work at a community hospital in central New York. New RN's start out making $20.15 per hour. There is also a shift differential of about $2.75 per hour for 3-11 and 11-7. You should also consider what benefits you will be receiving as well.

Cathylady · Apr 16, 2009

Do BSN's get paid more than ADN's? How much is the average sign-on bonus?

caliotter3 · Apr 16, 2009

It depends on the location and the individual employer. BSNs don't normally get paid more than ADNs, for the most part. Again, any difference would depend upon the individual employer.

Cathylady · Apr 17, 2009

How much are sign-on bonuses? My daughter is starting her BSN this fall at VCU and from what we understand they will pay off any school loans (tuition reimbursement) she has after graduation if she committs to working at MCV for four years. I was wondering how that compares with the standard sign-on bonus.

tumnus · Apr 17, 2009

thanks for the replies. i had looked it up on one of those salary sites and it estimates around 60 thousand or so.

evilolive, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2009

The type of facility you work in also varies salary. I work in Long Term Care in MA and make $22.10/hr as a new grad RN, $2/hr for doing 11-7 and $2 for being a supervisor at night (kind of fell into my lap). My facility isn't unionized either.

MichelleB34 · Apr 18, 2009

I have my BSN and my hospital only gives me an additional $500 per year. That $500 is split into two payments and comes in my regular pay check.

bamagt · Apr 18, 2009

I would have thought New York and Boston would make more than Alabama. I'm a new grad in Alabama and I'm starting off at 20.10 basepay with 3 dollars extra from 3-11 and 4 dollars from 11-7.

NurseyPoo7 · Apr 19, 2009

As a new RN, I worked at 2 places.. a private-pay ALF and a medsurg/tele/stroke floor.

the ALF, I got paid like $24.50 or $24.75, I cant remember which one. The "differentials" were like, 50cents for evening shift and a dollar for nights. No benefits for me while I was there.

The medsurg/CVA floor, I made $22.52 starting, sign on was $3000 spread over an 18 mo period, differentials were like 7% evenings, 9% nights and 14% weekends.