NC Nurse Salary

WantAccel.BSN, BSN, RN · Nov 27, 2008

Actually, it depends on the hours you are willing to work more than anything. If you can find a weekend option position, working two shifts a week, you can make 40 hours pay, and if you work at night, you can add another five dollars an hour. I generally make close to six figures.....I do make a bit more for being in ICU.

Would you share what hospital you are at, or at least what area of NC?

Thanks!:nuke:

*RN123ABC* · Dec 12, 2008

Rural Western NC they are starting new RNs at about $17. The top of the pay scale where I work is $26. NO ONE makes mare than that as base rate. The few that are at the top of the pay scale must have 25+ years of experience.

I have 15 years exp, most of it in tertiary University med centers. I am a CCRN and I work weekend option, nights. I make $23.45/h straight pay, $29 with the differentials. There is no incentive pay for CCRN or BSN, etc, no clinical ladder. My institution does offer some tuition reimbursement, up to 3K a year, BUT you must sign a contract promising 2 years FT service for every 1K they give you, or pay it back with interest. (To my knowledge, they have not gone after the few people I know that have taken the money and not meet the conditions of the contract). We get 4 paid holidays a year (Cmas, NewYears Day, 4th July, Tgiving, and the holiday rate is an extra $2/hour).

The benefit package terrible, and if I want it, I must take a $3 an hour pay cut to qualify. At $23.45, I get no benefits, not even a single paid day off a year. I have worked here for 6 years.

It gets worse. Yesterday we got a letter stating that every hourly employee of the hospital system will have a 4% pay cut, and salaried employees will take a 3.6% pay cut, effective 1 Jan 09.

This is a very poor, "resort" area (meaning the visitors are loaded, but the loacls are destitute). The family prac doc they recruited last year told me he had to have a lawyer fight tooth and nail over his contract with this hospital system, and he was lucky to get 90K a year, and he gets no loan assistance from the hospital, only from the gov for going to an underserved area. I am told that medical collections here average 11% of what is billed. there is simply no money to pay anyone with.

However, the managment of our system has the attitude, "Don't like it, leave. RNs are a dime a dozen, you need us more than we need you." And RNs really are a dime a dozen here, there are three ADN programs turning them out twice a year and not enough jobs for all of us. They had lay offs last year.

Its dismal. Were it not the most beautiful place on earth, with the best people I've met and the fact that my ailing parents whom I have to look after live here, I'd be back in Ann Arbor before you could say "Wolverine." I was making $36/hour in Ann Arbor as prn at UofM hospitals ICU float pool, seven years ago.

vivere · Dec 12, 2008

I have to agree with what has been said already. If a hospital is offering a huge bonus, as mine is, you can be guaranteed there are serious problems within. I work at a small community hospital which is part of a chain of hospitals. I was in the right place at the right time, and have acquired a fantastic salary. It is not without its drawbacks. It is a FOR PROFIT hospital. We often do without the proper supplies, but the patients have fantastic beds and monitors. We do our own housekeeping, ordering labs and tests, and total care of patients. We answer the phones, direct visitors and due to the short staffing, breaks are minimal if at all. We are scrutinized by our manager like bugs under a microscope. It is stressful, but has helped me support my family. However, I have always kept my foot in other hospital doors, not knowing how long the chain will decide to hold onto this particular hospital. I have had about 12-14 managers in 5 years, and have seen many nurses come and go. Anything I have learned, I have learned on my own, or through other resources. It is time for me to move on.

I used to try to recruit for the hospital. No more. I could not expect anyone to put up with the conditions that I find myself in now. It is an incredibly stressful atmosphere. I supply the insurance coverage for my family of six. As soon as I am able to be covered elsewhere, I will leave. :yeah: At one time it was a happy place to work. In Central NC, I think that Wake Med, and Rex hospital have the highest rate of employee satisfaction. The salaries are commensurate with experience, and will be about equal in most places. Per diem rate for day shift is usually about 32.00 without benefits. At night you can expect to make $35/36 or more. Anyone else have any info on this? We have been trained to be so tightmouthed about our salaries, but many people are underpaid in this manner. Love to all this holidayseason. Hold yourself tall and love yourself!

Vivere

Sandwitch883RN · Dec 29, 2008

I also have heard that Rex and Wakemed are great places to work. Unfortunately I live several hours away and the drive is prohibitive. I would love to work at either facility though just because of all of the positive feedback i've heard about them!

AudreyHurston · Mar 8, 2009

Everyone always says to look on salary.com. what about indeed.com? Are the salaries quoted on indeed.com unrealistic?

paulie23 · Mar 10, 2009

i work at Mission in Asheville, new nurses start at 20.50, w/ 4.00 for third shift, and 4.oo for the weekend. I don't know of any bonuses, though there is a tuition/books loan w/ a 5K limit that you can work off over two years.

AudreyHurston · Mar 10, 2009

Paulie are these new BSN pay rates or ADN rates and why are NC nurses quoting hourly rates instead of salaries? Also, is this enough to afford a life in a neighborhood with high achieving public schools or to pay for private school? I know the cost of living is much less expensive in NC than in NY so I don't want to judge this pay rate as really low without taking that into account.

dreamon · Mar 10, 2009

There is no difference in adn/bsn pay in North Carolina.

I have read elsewhere that while the cola is lower here that it isn't SO low that it becomes an incredible bargain, it's just cheaper to live here. I've lived in both places, rent, food and gas are cheaper. I can't speak about mortgages and things like that because I do not have house.

It is easy to just say sure- you can afford it on your salary, but we all live differently. It may be a breeze for a nurse to live in home in Wake Forest and send her children to private school....but does she have supplement income? A spouse? Trust fund? Is there only 1 child or 3? These factors (or lack of) makes a big difference.

Are the homes affordable here? Yes.

Are there good schools? Yes

Are the good schools in the affordable areas? You should be able to find some, according to your definition of a good school and the type of home you want.

Will yu have money left over after paying your bills? Perhaps, but that depends on your lifestyle.

ncglazergirl · Mar 14, 2009

Rural Western NC they are starting new RNs at about $17. The top of the pay scale where I work is $26. NO ONE makes mare than that as base rate. The few that are at the top of the pay scale must have 25+ years of experience.
I have 15 years exp, most of it in tertiary University med centers. I am a CCRN and I work weekend option, nights. I make $23.45/h straight pay, $29 with the differentials. There is no incentive pay for CCRN or BSN, etc, no clinical ladder. My institution does offer some tuition reimbursement, up to 3K a year, BUT you must sign a contract promising 2 years FT service for every 1K they give you, or pay it back with interest. (To my knowledge, they have not gone after the few people I know that have taken the money and not meet the conditions of the contract). We get 4 paid holidays a year (Cmas, NewYears Day, 4th July, Tgiving, and the holiday rate is an extra $2/hour).
The benefit package terrible, and if I want it, I must take a $3 an hour pay cut to qualify. At $23.45, I get no benefits, not even a single paid day off a year. I have worked here for 6 years.
It gets worse. Yesterday we got a letter stating that every hourly employee of the hospital system will have a 4% pay cut, and salaried employees will take a 3.6% pay cut, effective 1 Jan 09.
This is a very poor, "resort" area (meaning the visitors are loaded, but the loacls are destitute). The family prac doc they recruited last year told me he had to have a lawyer fight tooth and nail over his contract with this hospital system, and he was lucky to get 90K a year, and he gets no loan assistance from the hospital, only from the gov for going to an underserved area. I am told that medical collections here average 11% of what is billed. there is simply no money to pay anyone with.
However, the managment of our system has the attitude, "Don't like it, leave. RNs are a dime a dozen, you need us more than we need you." And RNs really are a dime a dozen here, there are three ADN programs turning them out twice a year and not enough jobs for all of us. They had lay offs last year.
Its dismal. Were it not the most beautiful place on earth, with the best people I've met and the fact that my ailing parents whom I have to look after live here, I'd be back in Ann Arbor before you could say "Wolverine." I was making $36/hour in Ann Arbor as prn at UofM hospitals ICU float pool, seven years ago.

I was curious as to what town you work in... i also live here in WNC, have many years experience and i am going thru the nurse refresher course to start work after a 6 year break.....I have been getting a sinking feeling that there would not be any job openings in this area and i would have to travel to another city or town to work in...

sbrn01 · Mar 19, 2009

Would any one happen to know the current rate at which new grads start at per hour in NC? If you know anything about fayetteville that would be perfect