Nurses Make The Big Bucks

Published

I get this a lot and I'm sure you guys get this too! When I tell people that I'm a nursing student and that I want to be a nurse, they starting telling me, "You are going to make so much money!" One guy was rubbing his fingers together signaling that nurses make a lot of money. I was offended by it. I never got into it for the money and I keeping telling them it's hard work.

What do you guys think? Do you also get that too from friends, family, relatives and strangers? How do you respond to them?

Specializes in Med-Surg.
As a previous poster mentioned, I think it all depends on which crowd is discussing the nurse's pay.

I come from a lower working-class family with only 2 college graduates (one cousin is an RN and the other cousin has a BA in early childhood education). The remainder of my family members are either high school dropouts or high school graduates who are very alienated from the realm of higher education and the professional workforce. Many of my relatives are unemployed due to lack of skills or educational attainment. The ones that do have employment tend to be working in low-paying service occupations or temp agency work.

Anyhow, they think I earn a whole lot of money. If I was standing in their shoes, I would probably think so, too. My mother is presently unemployed and my father earns $12 hourly at a major retail store, so I can understand and appreciate their limited perspectives.

I agree that it's a matter of perspective. To many people nurses do indeed make "big bucks". When I was making $3.50/hour at Pizza Hut while in nursing school I couldn't wait to graduation and start making the "big bucks".

Now years later, I don't consider myself making "big bucks", but I get by with a nice middle income. To my friend though who is working at Starbucks and in school I am indeed making "big bucks". :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.
What r u getting at?

There was nothing subtle or insinuated in my post.

In the U.S. only 22% of the working population have any type of degree.

Irrelevant, but I'd like to see your source anyways.

U do realize that a RN requires some type of education?

Hopefully obtaining an RN involves finding the willpower to type the two extra keystrokes in order to form the word You. I will find when I graduate next May. See u then!
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in orthopaedics.

yeah i get it a lot. it sure doen't feel like i make a lot considering the cost of groceries gas car payment etc.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It is offensive when people think nurses make so much money, I'm not a nurse yet, but when I watch the nurses in the ICU where I work and see how hard they work I don't think they make enough. And the all the responsibility that they have...I agree with Methylene though, it is a high paying job for an associates degree level education. I believe that nursing is not a profession you can do for the money, you have to do it because you love it.:redbeathe Here in Jacksonville, FL GRNs make around 20.00/hr and a newly licensed RN makes about 24.00, so it sounds like far less than other areas you all have discussed. I made more when I was a customer service rep for the local phone company. Of course, I got laid off from that job which is why I am going to be a nurse. :wink2:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute care, Community Med, SANE, ASC.

Well, I suppose nurses can and do make a good living with an associate degree. However, I agree that it absolutely ruffles my feathers when folks talk about us making the big bucks. I would like to see those same folks say that to me when I'm elbow deep in some of the nastiest substances the human body can produce. I earn every dime I make and then some.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in O.R., ED, M/S.

I have been an RN for 30+ years and will make about $165,000 this year. YES, I do consider this big bucks. I also work my a*s off to do it and have no regrets. It all depends on what you do and where you do it at.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER/OR.

My aunt works in the OR. She does some OT, but not horrendously. She made 95K last year. Tell someone trying to feed their family of 4 working in a hot, backbreaking factory thats not good money. You'll come to your senses after awakening from them knocking you out.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER/Ortho.

My best friend just graduated with her teaching degree. She starts her job as a 5th grade math teacher this month, and she makes about the same starting salary that I am being told I will make when I graduate with my RN ($22-$24 an hour).

My cousins wife has been an RN for many years and she now makes close to $50 an hour. So I was bummed at first, but I don't see many teachers making that salary even when they are close to retirement.

When people make the comment about the "Big Bucks" I just smile and say "Yep". I have also had them make the options comment, and the smart comment, and again I just smile and say "YEP". As an above poster said I think its all about perspective. To the guy who sacks groceries I will be rich, and to Bill Gates I will be poor.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My answer to the "I bet you make big bucks" inquiry is "It doesn't suck"!

But I also usually have a follow up to that: how much of a paycheck would it take for you to step in human feces and have to handle smelly infectious ooze a routine basis? The guy you cross the street to avoid because he "looks gross" is the guy I probably have to assist with a full wash up at some point.

Perspective, my dear :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.
Just had my hair done yesterday, and my stylist brought up the topic of income. She said she makes $65k/year (Denver suburb). She works in a reasonably nice salon, but not some big bucks sort of place (or I wouldn't be able to afford getting my hair done there!).

She was shocked to hear she makes more than I do, and more than a number of my peers. Most of us have to put in regular overtime to make what she does per year. She does have to rent her space, and that is an expense nurses do not have. Also has to pay 100% on her own insurance. Still - the rent is a business tax deduction. So she probably makes what a nurse makes, with less education/stress/etc.

It did make me falter a moment when it came to calculating her tip...

:D

My mom has been a hair stylist for over 30 years and makes no where near that amount. She even gets 70% commission. Not some big money making salon either. I have never known a hair stylist to make that much money.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I sometimes respond by asking them to loan me money (just kidding). I have received such comments as well. First thing I say that (especially for an LPN), I don't make a great deal of money. My money happens to spread a bit better because I already own the home I live in, but believe me, I have to watch every penny.

From what I see, it may be easy to obtain a nursing position easily, because of the shortages and high turn over, but you have to consider what circumstances you will be subjecting yourself to when you take these positions, especially ones with extremely high turn overs. You may wind up running yourself within a few days of hire.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
As a previous poster mentioned, I think it all depends on which crowd is discussing the nurse's pay.

I come from a lower working-class family with only 2 college graduates (one cousin is an RN and the other cousin has a BA in early childhood education). The remainder of my family members are either high school dropouts or high school graduates who are very alienated from the realm of higher education and the professional workforce. Many of my relatives are unemployed due to lack of skills or educational attainment. The ones that do have employment tend to be working in low-paying service occupations or temp agency work.

Anyhow, they think I earn a whole lot of money. If I was standing in their shoes, I would probably think so, too. My mother is presently unemployed and my father earns $12 hourly at a major retail store, so I can understand and appreciate their limited perspectives.

I think it matters very much where your at. My brother works in a factory on the line, has been at his job the same amount of time I've been employed as an RN, and makes the same as I do. This factory is also not union. So sometimes even for "just" two years of college in some areas we're not making more than the average person. :twocents:

Off topic of money, but on topic of what people say to you when they hear you are an RN or a student.

I was at work the other day and it came up that I am starting NS in a couple of weeks and a stranger on line said..."ohhh you must be a smart one!!"

I was so suprised because really, nobody really appreciates the amount of work and dedication it takes to get into a program (and stay in one! LOL) and so it was nice to have that aspect appreciated by someone other than those that SEE first hand how hard we work. I dunno, it made me smile!

Kim

I definitely agree that this depends on the crowd you are speaking to. I have friends that have not received further education after high school, and they think that even LPNs 'make the big bucks'. Maybe compared to those making minimal wage, it may seem so, but it is not true.

I can also agree that many who hear that I graduated from any nursing program have labeled me as 'smart'. It felt good but I can also say to myself that they should see how many times I actually panic when I see something unfamilar to me...they'd be scared to death.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion