Ok.. so.... what state PAYS the best for an RN in your opinion?

RN1982 · Mar 5, 2010

Depends on where you live and what the cost of living is in that state. There is no, "this state pays more for an RN". If they do, its probably because the cost of living is high.

efy2178 · Mar 5, 2010

I would bet Alaska.

Airbrushguy · Mar 5, 2010

Im presupposing a good "Wage-to-cost-of-living" scenario. Thanks a BUNDLES!

sunnycalifRN · Mar 5, 2010

interesting question . . . I know that Calif and NY pay very well but the real estate costs in both places are unbelievable. So . . . . I don't know

dskrninpa · Mar 5, 2010

You can't really generalize. In the area where I work there is a large discrepancy in pay depending on where you work. The only gauge there seems to be is acuity, but that doesn't really explain.

CathyLew · Mar 5, 2010

First let me say, there are not many of us that would be doing this job for no money.....so money is one driving force. But don't let that be your only driving force.

Which state pays better? well, what states would you like to live in? there are states I would not want to live in....so it doesn't matter what they pay.

and what are you willing to pay for housing? Are you going to work like a dog, and squirle all your money away, and stay in dumps..... well, than a big city may be best for you. Or are you looking for a job you can settle down and be at a long time?

I always look at those glossy travel nurse ads.... white sand beaches, all this time off, living the high life. Then I see travel nurses at our Norther NY po-dunk hospital in the middle of January....working as many 12 hr shifts as they can sqeeze in...... yea, thats the high life!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Mar 6, 2010

Many experienced RNs in the San Francisco Bay area are earning in excess of $50 hourly, but the cost of living there is outrageous. They must choose between paying nearly $2,000 monthly for a small apartment, splitting expenses with a roommate, or driving to a cheaper inland podunk city such as Stockton or Modesto in order to live affordably. Forget about buying a house in the city of SF, because that will still cost more than $700,000 for a decent property, even after the real estate crash.

A number of experienced RNs in Arkansas are earning less than $20 hourly, but the rents, house prices, food, utilities, taxes, and overall cost of living are all dirt cheap.

Therefore, pay is relative.

Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN · Mar 6, 2010

NOT IOWA. However, we have a lot of other positives in this state going for us.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Mar 6, 2010

You can't go by that. Downstate NY I'd be making a good $50 an hour. Here, it's closer to $20. And you couldn't pay me enough to move back to an urban area.

DoGoodThenGo · Mar 6, 2010

Yes, the above post has it correct

Even within the same state, pay for RNs can vary.

Yes, NYS is a very high cost of living and tax state, but in general the highest wages for nurses are in the NYC and Long Island area. The further one travels upstate, things change, which is natural given the cost of living changes.

johnnyDoGood · Mar 6, 2010

it all depends i think. even if you go to a state that supposedly has high pay scales, doesn't mean you are going to get it. remember companies and hospitals pay folk what they want to pay them. i wouldn't be surprised if u and someone applied and was hired at the same time, being the same age with the same education level, and he/she makes more starting than you. call it human resource error or discrimination. i believe pay differences exist regardless of gender, race, age etc. they pay what they want. but to answer your question, you might want to look at the higher cost of living states and they might pay more like alask, cali, ny, ct , etc.