Nursing wages

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Specializes in Telemetry.

Is it just me or is there anyone else out there that is annoyed by someone that doesn't have an education beyond high school, that works in a factory, and makes more money than you a professional nurse? Just a question...

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Specializes in LTC, Med-Surge, Ortho.

No its not just you thankfulnurse, but i have wondered the same thing. How can a nurse with sooooo much accountability, responsibility and highly trained be paid a lower wage compared to others. However; it depends on the company you work for because some pay more than others. For instance, most long term care jobs pay more than hospital jobs and pay rate is often based on experience. I thank God that i am paid at a decent salary and i just happen to work in long term care and believe me, i earn every penny.

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Specializes in Neuro-Surgery, Med-Surg, Home Health.

Your scenario could happen, but here in San Francisco, Ca., registered nurses' starting salaries are around $85,000 per year. For those who have been in the same job, in the same hospital for over 20 years could earn over $120,000 per year. I'm talking about staff nurse's salary, not nursing supervisor's salary.

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Specializes in LTC, Med-Surge, Ortho.

Wow!!!! DalycityRN, thats' the kind of salary i'm talking about !!!!!!

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

I worked at a nonunion factory owned by a Fortune 500 company for three years (2001 to 2004) when I was in my early twenties. I was started at an entry-level wage that was on par with what LPNs earn in many states to help operate and maintain high-speed manufacturing equipment. My coworkers who had been there for many years were earning $30+ hourly, had free health and dental insurance, enjoyed retirement accounts that were partially funded by the company's profit sharing program, and other goodies. None of us had any education beyond high school.

However, on-the-job training can, in certain instances, substitute for educational requirements. No one could be hired one day and proficiently operate the machinery the next day. It took many years for my coworkers to master and perfect their trade. None of us could walk into the factory and soak up their fund of knowledge overnight. And, the be perfectly honest, I never was able to become proficient at operating or maintaining the machinery, even after 3+ years of employment at the factory. It takes a mechanically-inclined person to do what they do.

I certainly agree that nurses are underpaid and definitely need to earn more money. However, I also feel that manual labor is disrespected too often in society. Not everyone is cut out to be a nurse. Moreover, not everyone is cut out to be a plumber, welder, machinist, solderer, or mechanic.

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Specializes in critical care.

Money is not the most important thing in the world. I couldn't spend my life working in a factory even if it paid $1 million a year.

My 21 year-old brother is a highly-skilled, self-taught mechanic and makes close to a nursing salary. I envied him until I found out how much money he had to spend to buy all the tools he needs; his tool chest is equal to the cost of a 4-year education.

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Specializes in Telemetry.

I know a lot of people that work "regular" jobs and have very nice homes, nice cars, and is always on vacation somewhere. While, I'm working hard (just earned my BSN, btw) to pay back loans and I remain driving the same car that I had prior to recieving my ADN. I have to budget very carefully. But, deep inside I want to treat myself to something nice. Going to school was suppose to afford me some type of comfort. Don't get me wrong I am very thankful for my job. It's just that this morning I saw a friend that works in a factory had gotten a new car, which happens to be a car that I want but can't afford.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Going to school was suppose to afford me some type of comfort.

A college bubble is festering in the U.S. Since so many people have college degrees, the value of having one has decreased in the job market. Graduation from college does not guarantee one good money, success, or the easy life.

Many of the folks who have earned BA degrees in art history, the classics, humanities, liberal studies, psychology, sociology, women's studies, human ecology, fashion design, or any number of majors and concentrations are not faring too well in today's ultra competitive job market. Folks with MAs and doctorate degrees in these majors are also not enjoying any special advantages.

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Specializes in Hospice.

I feel i make a good wage. I live in a town where degrees are a dime a dozen....there are a lot of people with master level degrees making less than me.

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Specializes in Telemetry.
I feel i make a good wage. I live in a town where degrees are a dime a dozen....there are a lot of people with master level degrees making less than me.

That's what concerns me. I want to get my Master's degree. What's the point if I don't make anymore money!? I sure don't need the added debt of grad school. However, I'm going anyway I love learning :)

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Cardiac.
Your scenario could happen, but here in San Francisco, Ca., registered nurses' starting salaries are around $85,000 per year. For those who have been in the same job, in the same hospital for over 20 years could earn over $120,000 per year. I'm talking about staff nurse's salary, not nursing supervisor's salary.

I can't imagine how the health care system can support those types of wages, if they are truly typical of regular staff nurse pay. They're pretty much double ours here. Cost of living must be terrible there or else they must work under truly terrible conditions to need that type of compensation. I'm making in the $40,000/yr range and feel I'm appropriately compensated.

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Specializes in ED, Telemetry,Hospice, ICU, Supervisor.

Pay depends on many factors like where you live. In California new grad RNs, if your luck to land a gig, working in the Bay Area can break the 6 figure mark with overtime. Keep in mind the Bay Area is a huge collection of cities on top of cities, its not just one place. San Jose, Sunnyvale, Milpitas, San Francisco, Oakland, Fremont, Redwood City, Menlo Park etc etc are all loped in together in one term. Southern California has L.A, San Diego, Fullerton, Anaheim, Riverside, etc etc but SoCal gets paid less than NorCal. To my understanding you have to factor in that there are more unionized hospitals in NorCal than SoCal and that is why there is better pay in the north.

As for the factory gigs that pay more than nursing, maybe its because they are/were unionized at the time. Doesn't really bug me at all that they get paid more. When it comes down to it your pay is based largely on how much people think your worth paying. I think im worth a million bucks, but I would be hard pressed to get someone to pay me that lol. There are plenty of New Grads that spent $40,000 ion student loans to get their BSN only to find out they cant find Jobs in California. They then move to a state that only pay them $25.00 and paying off the loan becomes more difficult because they were counting on the $38.00 job in california.

There are also people who didnt get any education past high school who entered the military, got out after 4 years and worked over seas for KBR, General Dynamics, Northrop Grummen, and they break the 6 figure mark. The DoD pays $75,000 for a Russian translator no post high school education needed. All you need is not be a criminal and be a citizen, plenty of second generation Russian kids can do this gig. Education isn't everything in life, some jobs dont require anything more than H.S diploma. Just a fact of life is all.

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