Nurse Salary in Seattle

U.S.A. Washington

Published

I got a job offer in Seattle/Issaquah area at one of local hospitals. I have three almost four years experience and BSN and they offered $31/hr. Does that seem low to anyone else? The area seems expensive to live. I'm surprised that the salary wouldn't match the cost of living. Or maybe it's just me. Any thoughts.

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That actually sounds about right. I live and work in the area and at my hospital system, starting pay is around 28. After 1 year, 29. 2 years, 30. 4 years, 31. Et cetera. 12 years would break the 40 dollar mark. There's a years/pay scale in the union contract and I imagine the hospital tends to follow that?

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The Seattle area pays nurses low esp for how much it cost to live here. I lived in IL and the pay there for RN's is the same as here. Its crazy since in IL it cost about 30 thousand a year less to live.

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The pay just seems low for the cost of living up there. How do nurses afford to live and survive up there? The pay doesn't seem to add up. Of course that might be just me.

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Could be the hospital? My friend is a new grad and got hired on night shift in ICU at St. Anthonys starting her at $31.

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Specializes in ED/trauma.

I thought the same and was quite surprised by it because I am from Las Vegas, which has some of the highest pay (especially compared to cost of living) in the country.

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Specializes in Ortho.

$4 more than I make and I have years experience

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Could be the hospital? My friend is a new grad and got hired on night shift in ICU at St. Anthonys starting her at $31.

That is most likely after shift differential. My friend works for the Franciscan system in the ICU and started at $27 just a year ago. So after night shift differential it would be $31/hr. I have almost two years of experience and base pay is $29/hr.

Seattle doesn't have income tax so take that in consideration. It's one of the best places to live and have a family with many job opportunities.

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Specializes in ED.

That the starting here in Bakersfield, ca

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

Op, check your union contract.

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