north pay better than south

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Why is it that the northern states pay a lot more than the southern states in nursing?

Specializes in Transitional Nursing.
I wouldn't survive the snow, I will keep the sunshine :)

Ugh!! Its awful! Adds so much time to your commute between digging out your car and driving so slow. I've had to go to work in whiteout conditions in blizzards etc. Rarely was a state of emergency called, it was just what you had to do. I call my family when they get blizzards now and tell them "I have 30 inches.....of sand" :-p

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I live in city in Texas with a population of 750,000 people. I am originally from a midsized city in coastal southern California.

Although I earn less than many nurses on the coasts, my lifestyle is comfortable. I live in a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom, 1800 square foot brick veneer house that was built in 2004. I paid 100k for it back in 2005 and my mortgage is less than $400 per month. I have two low-mileage vehicles that are paid for. My gas, utilities and insurance policies are cheap due to living in a low-crime zip code.

On the other hand, it is common for people in places such as Manhattan and San Francisco to pay $1,500 monthly or more for a shoebox-sized studio apartment. Insurance rates are through the roof. People in some of these places pay federal, state, and city taxes, whereas I only pay federal taxes, so I get to take most of my paycheck to the bank.

In general, higher cost-of-living locations tend to offer higher pay rates, whereas the locales with lower cost-of-living tend to offer lower wages.

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Honestly? I live north but also in the midwest. We do not get paid that much more. We only start out a few dollars more per hour. The starting hourly rate is around 24 dollars and 20 dollars if you go through a new grad orientation program.

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It's not north vs south as much as rural vs urban. I know that in many parts of the RURAL north, they make less, and yet cost of living is higher. You guys are using Boston, NYC, etc as comparison.

Example: I know someone living in Charlotte, NC who makes 30% more than another friend living in Albany, NY - both are new grads. In Charlotte, my friend has a beautiful new construction with 5 bedrooms, hardwood floors, 3000+ sq ft. etc in a subdivision and paid about 185,000 for it. In Albany, my other friend (making less) has a much older home with 2 bedrooms, 1400 sq ft, an near a main road and she paid close to 240,000 for it. Considering Charlotte is a much bigger city and has better weather, seems like a no brainer..

I consistently find southern nurses having a higher quality of life compared to northern nurses..at least in the bigger southern cities (Raleigh, Atlanta, Charlotte, etc)

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Specializes in surgical, geriatrics.

Hey, no judgments here! Just because I'm stuck in a big city right now (husband's job is here and someone's gotta work while I'm in school) doesn't mean I like getting gouged in rent and paying too much for pretty much everything. The only reason I know so much about this is I'm trying to convince my other half that there's life outside the city ;)

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

North vs South. Well, when I worked in SOUTH Georgia, I made $29.11/hr. Now I work in NORTH Georgia making $40/hr plus differentials. Before i moved to SOUTH Georgia from just a little north of Middle Georgia, i was making $38/hr + diffs. Sometimes the north/south pay boundaries are within the states, not just from state to state.

But I still live in South Georgia because my rent is well under a grand for a BEAUTIFUL 3bd/2ba/2car on an acre lot with the greenest grass you've ever seen, within an extremely quiet subdivision! There is absolutely NOTHING here! Even the local hospital 3 miles away is only one floor. If I went in there for a job, for me, I'm sure it would be equal to volunteering in comparison to what I make. So, I commute to get my fill of the hustle and bustle. Then I return to a much toned-down lifestyle more suitable to my speed. I race with the turtles. Every now and again, I actually win one.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
But I still live in South Georgia because my rent is well under a grand for a BEAUTIFUL 3bd/2ba/2car on an acre lot with the greenest grass you've ever seen, within an extremely quiet subdivision!
I heard that the snakes are really active in South Georgia during this time of year. :nailbiting:
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Specializes in ED.

There is so much more to New York State than NYC. Most of New York is pretty rural. The majority of the cities are medium sized and the cost of living is pretty reasonable. Albany is the state capital and the cost of living there is pretty high compared to the rest of the state. Here in Central New York, new grads start between 50k-60k. You can purchase a 4bdrm colonial in the burbs for 150k-200k. Many of these homes are brand new, although you probably will pay more for a new subdivision, around 250k. I've been thinking of moving to Florida and the hardest part to swallow is the cut in pay. I've checked out housing, and the cost of living is pretty comparable to what I have now. The difference is the major pay cut I would have to take. Right now my base salary is 71k (that is with my experience, I am not a new grad). The pay down south is shameful. Sunshine does not pay the bills.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
Sunshine does not pay the bills.

^Yeah, in some places it doesn't...I visit the sunshine, anytime with my (sometime) snow pay. :yes:

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I live in Maryland and hate it. Nurses make good money but the cost of living is high. I live in the suburbs & a decent house stars at $350,000. The state just raised the tolls, gas tax and even adopted a flush tax that is determined by rain water.

My fiancée is in the Air Force & cannot get stationed in Maryland due to his career field, so once I graduate I am excited to explore other states, most likely in the south.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.
I heard that the snakes are really active in South Georgia during this time of year. :nailbiting:

Better believe it!!!!! See 'em everyday; nightmares every night!!!! I didn't know that before I moved here.:unsure:

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

Got an uninvited lizard that we can't catch or get rid of; so we named him Gecko.:roflmao:

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