Nursing Pay

TexasPediRN · Sep 10, 2006

Hi- I am new to the forum and have a question for everyone. I will be starting an accelerated nursing program soon and have a question about nursing pay. Where I live, nurses start at about $28/hour. At 36 hours a week, this comes to $48,384. Do most nurses work a lot of overtime? I always hear how nurses make "such great money", but $48,384 is hardly great money. How much could I realistically make my first year as an RN? Thanks.

There are numerous threads regardng salaries on this board if you have time to take a look - it might help you with your research.

Honestly, 28 an hour is very good for a new grad. Salaries can range from 15 an hour in some places, to 28-30 an hour. You have to also look at the cost of living in that area. You may make a lot more in say, California, but the cost of living is going to be sky high.

I dont know where you live or your situation, but 48+ is a very decent salary for a new grad, and you shouldnt have any problems living off of that. I dont think that any nurse in their first year makes what they consider to be "great money". Its like any other job - you gain respect and raises as you work longer. You have to be in the field longer to make the money you are most likely looking for.

Good luck with starting school!

RazorbackRN, BSN, RN · Sep 10, 2006

Hi- I am new to the forum and have a question for everyone. I will be starting an accelerated nursing program soon and have a question about nursing pay. Where I live, nurses start at about $28/hour. At 36 hours a week, this comes to $48,384. Do most nurses work a lot of overtime? I always hear how nurses make "such great money", but $48,384 is hardly great money. How much could I realistically make my first year as an RN? Thanks.

$28/hr * 36hr/wk * 52 wks/yr = $52,416

Not great money, but not shabby for a new graduate.

MajorAl · Sep 10, 2006

Depends on which part of the country you're in. Nurses in Wisconsin start about $25/hour, but most of the nurses I know work a 40 hour week, not a 36 hour week. This means they start at about 52K per annum. Of course then there are the add ons, weekend differentials, evening/night differentials, extra pay on holidays, extra pay for being charge nurse, etc. Realistically, you probably could expect to be making 50K plus. (BTW, check your math $27 x 36 hours/week x 52 weeks = 50,544) Also, don't forget things such as health insurance, 401k, 403b or 457 retirement plans. Plus paid time off, where I work, RNs start at 120 hours vacation, 72 hours legal holiday time (used as vacation) and 36 hours personal holiday time and 130 hours sick time per year. Great money, no. Will you have to worry about starving to death? No. Will you work your butt off, yes. Be rewarded by other than money, most definitely. Take Care

Tweety, BSN, RN · Sep 10, 2006

To starving students it's a great income. For associate degreed people it's a great income. To someone with a bachelor's in another area that's used to making similar wages, perhaps not.

It's a livable middle income. Not "great money". But compared to what I was making prior to nursing, it's great money.

mtngrl, ASN, RN · Sep 10, 2006

Hi- I am new to the forum and have a question for everyone. I will be starting an accelerated nursing program soon and have a question about nursing pay. Where I live, nurses start at about $28/hour. At 36 hours a week, this comes to $48,384. Do most nurses work a lot of overtime? I always hear how nurses make "such great money", but $48,384 is hardly great money. How much could I realistically make my first year as an RN? Thanks.

Where the heck do you live that you think that's not great money? Beverly Hills? Because I'd LOVE to make 48k a year.....it's MORE than enough to live comfortably.

Halinja, BSN, RN · Sep 10, 2006

Honestly, 28 an hour is very good for a new grad. Salaries can range from 15 an hour in some places, to 28-30 an hour. You have to also look at the cost of living in that area. You may make a lot more in say, California, but the cost of living is going to be sky high.

My two cents worth...from California. Here in my town new grads start between 22.50 and 23.00 an hour. Yet the cost of a decent small three bedroom home in a safe neighborhood is around 300,000.00.

piper_for_hire · Sep 10, 2006

I think it's all relative. From where I sit, $48K is pretty crappy pay.

As far as overtime - it depends what you do. In my part of the country, you can always work overtime in the ICU. Seven days a week. So if you work four days a week, you're looking at an extra $26K a year putting you near $78K a year. Still crappy pay, but closer to a living wage around here. I'd imagine you'd need a boatload more than that if you lived in California.

-S

piper_for_hire · Sep 10, 2006

Oh - and check out this thread:

https://allnurses.com/forums/f195/high-salary-176802.html

-S

Sheri257 · Sep 10, 2006

My two cents worth...from California. Here in my town new grads start between 22.50 and 23.00 an hour. Yet the cost of a decent small three bedroom home in a safe neighborhood is around 300,000.00.

That is low. I too live in a Cali town where decent houses run at least $300K. But new grad pay has recently increased to $26, mostly because of a new union contract and, also, because there are better paying jobs within commuting distance and they have to compete.

:typing

widi96 · Sep 10, 2006

It's all in where you live. Our new grads make around $21 an hour, but you can buy a fairly nice house for $125,000 (depending on if you live in or out of the city) - if you want to drive 45 minutes you can buy a decent three bedroom/2 bath house for under $100,000.

NCVegRN · Sep 10, 2006

Widi - gotta ask - what are do you live in?