Northern California Nursing Salaries

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I am a nursing student, ready to begin my first year of clinical. Ne ways, I know a few people who have graduated from my program (San Joaquin Delta College Nursing Program), and are making $100,000 a year with their ADN. I wonder if anyone can confirm that aveage in California. I am going for my bachlors degree, but I am wondering if their is much of a pay difference between your ADN and BSN?

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I am a nursing student, ready to begin my first year of clinical. Ne ways, I know a few people who have graduated from my program (San Joaquin Delta College Nursing Program), and are making $100,000 a year with their ADN. I wonder if anyone can confirm that aveage in California. I am going for my bachlors degree, but I am wondering if their is much of a pay difference between your ADN and BSN?

I seriously doubt those people are making $100K/yr as a new graduate RN. Did they have prior experience? Were they a med tech before? Did they join a hospital or some other organization? What dept are they in? Med/surg, oncology, ED, peds, ICU, etc.? Are they working evenings, nights or weekends for the differential? The typical RN salaries in the SF Bay Area are $32 to $38/hr for days (which translates into $64K to $76K/yr). Differentials are 10% to 20% for evenings vs. nights. If you are in a union shop, they may or may not give a little extra for a BSN vs. a ADN. See if you can pin down exactly where and when they are working.

Smile123

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If you are working five 12 hour shifts per week, you can easily make that amount.

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If you are working five 12 hour shifts per week, you can easily make that amount.

That's interesting. Are you allowed to work that many hours? Isn't there a rule about the maximum number of hours one can work with regards to patient safety? What if you only worked three 12 hour shifts - would the $100K be reasonable or would it be a lot lower? Thanks.

Smile123

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Specializes in GI, OR, Oncology.

I'm a new ADN grad in Northern California and have started at slightly over $30/hr, which will be well below 100K/yr... I was an LVN at the hospital where I'm working, so they started me above the entry level RN pay. I suppose you might be able to make a lot more money working for a travel agency in the bay area?? I haven't looked into it for myself, but have heard through the grapevine that you could make around $50/hr in SF area.

Christine

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On a slightly different note, I wonder what a higher pay in SF would translate to in spendable $$$. A friend in another field recently turned down a cushy job in SF because even though it offered more than his current job in annual salary PLUS generous stock options, he would in reality be much poorer because of living expenses in SF.

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I'm a new ADN grad in Northern California and have started at slightly over $30/hr, which will be well below 100K/yr... I was an LVN at the hospital where I'm working, so they started me above the entry level RN pay. I suppose you might be able to make a lot more money working for a travel agency in the bay area?? I haven't looked into it for myself, but have heard through the grapevine that you could make around $50/hr in SF area.

Christine

Hi Christine,

Thanks for chiming in. For new grads, they can make more money if they work evenings or nights. A lot of their orientation takes place during the day (usually for a 6 to 12 week period) before they go to their regular assignment from what I heard talking to some nurse recruiters.

If you are a traveling RN, you need at least 1 year of experience; they don't take new grads. As a travelling RN, you don't earn the seniority of the hospital and you don't have the hospital's medical benefits, so that's part of the reason why they would get more per hour. I think I heard it was $45/hr to $50/hr for travelling RNs, but it depended on the unit, expertise needed, and location (for the SF Bay area). If you don't have a lot of obligations (family, house, etc.) it could be a very lucrative way to go. However, you may be sent to some parts of the country that are not as exciting as others. There are pros and cons for the travelling RN that are not for everyone.

Smile123

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I seriously doubt those people are making $100K/yr as a new graduate RN. Did they have prior experience? Were they a med tech before? Did they join a hospital or some other organization? What dept are they in? Med/surg, oncology, ED, peds, ICU, etc.? Are they working evenings, nights or weekends for the differential? The typical RN salaries in the SF Bay Area are $32 to $38/hr for days (which translates into $64K to $76K/yr). Differentials are 10% to 20% for evenings vs. nights. If you are in a union shop, they may or may not give a little extra for a BSN vs. a ADN. See if you can pin down exactly where and when they are working.

Smile123

One of the nurses I know says she makes $41 an hour and she works at Doctors Hospital of Manteca. She has her ADN, and has been working for 15 years. I also know two nurses that work for Kaiser and after three years they make 100,000+ and work 40 hours a week. Another nurse is a friend of the family and she makes 100,000+ working at a stockton hospital, after 5 years.

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One of the nurses I know says she makes $41 an hour and she works at Doctors Hospital of Manteca. She has her ADN, and has been working for 15 years. I also know two nurses that work for Kaiser and after three years they make 100,000+ and work 40 hours a week. Another nurse is a friend of the family and she makes 100,000+ working at a stockton hospital, after 5 years.

Hi Sospaingirl,

Thanks. Are they working the day shift or the evening/night shifts at Kaiser? And are they doing specialized work (ICU, ED, etc.)? I know if you've been there for 15 years, you obviously go up the pay scale. I was primarily interested in NEW grad pay because that's what we will be paid. Thanks for sharing.

Smile123

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I started a few weeks ago as a new grad on the PM shift, 32 hr/wk and I am getting $37/hr. This includes full benefits. The per-diem rate is $53/hr, but there is, of course, no benefits. Some nurses have health benefits through a spouse so they like per-diem.

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I heard the housing is as expensive as south bay. But how about the "quality" of life? i.e. crime, traffic, school, people, shopping/night life etc

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The one who has 15 years experience works days. the other nurses I know work days and nights.

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