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

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Thanks a bunches......

Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.

I've worked in three states and I'm familiar with the cost of living in those states, so I'm going to say...NOT Maryland or Pennsylvania. But Delaware's darn good when cost of living vs. wages are compared, especially when insurance is a factor.

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Like everyone says it depends how you want to live.

I live 70 miles from New York City and the pay difference for a new grad RN is about $35,000. Having lived in NYC previously for 15 years, I can tell you that you could never afford to buy a house with an RN salary, even if you have been an RN for 10 years. A 1 BR rental apartment in the outer boroughs can start at $1200 for a so-so neighborhood. If you want to live in Manhattan, well good luck in that. Then there's the cost for your commute, food, etc... If you have a car parking garages are expensive.

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I think pay is one portion but also consider pay as it compares to the cost of living.

If I made $30/hour in San Fran that may not hack it with the cost of living but if I lived in let's say-Iowa-that would do nicely.

otessa

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I'm an LPN and make a LOT more than some RN's in other States. But as several previous posters have pointed out..its all dependant on cost of living to pay scale ratio. I'd live like a Queen on my salary in all the lower cost of living States, but live middle class here in CT. I've read some people posting that their pay per hour is close to or a bit higher than CT's minimum wage and therefore they would be at pretty much poverty level here in CT.

I'd love to find a State thats got a decent cost of living with decent salaries for nurses.

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Specializes in pulm/cardiology pcu, surgical onc.
Thanks a bunches......

For being such an intelligent non-nursing guy, I'm surprised you'd ask a bunch of lemmings their opinions.

P.S. There are websites dedicated to your question ;)

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For being such an intelligent non-nursing guy, I'm surprised you'd ask a bunch of lemmings their opinions.

P.S. There are websites dedicated to your question ;)

Low blow:nono:

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Specializes in pulm/cardiology pcu, surgical onc.
Low blow:nono:

Thank you for your opinion but I'm free to voice my own.

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

California is very diverse. I make squat and the cost of living is high. If I could get a job is the Sacramento area (one of the hardest areas to get a job right now) I could make twice as much and the cost of living is comparable or less and they have a lot more resources.

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for being such an intelligent non-nursing guy, i'm surprised you'd ask a bunch of lemmings their opinions.

p.s. there are websites dedicated to your question ;)

what does asking a pay question have to do with intelligence? pay is a very volatile question and demands an "up to date" raw/untainted observation and response. and all nurses are not lemmings...just 70% in my opinion. 30% are drivers...70% are passengers. but again, its a forum, and forums are all about opinions.. eh? :)

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The hospital I volunteered at for years pay their entry level nurses 43 an hour. :X several of my classmates who found jobs also told me the same thing.

bueno for experienced nurses.. they can easily get 50+ , but no bueno for new grads because we're too expensive to train and too expensive to afford. :(

the last job i applied to had 1000 other applicants for several spots.

fierce competition and yes- rent is 1300 for one bedroom.

California, Bay Area

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Specializes in Med/Surg.
for being such an intelligent non-nursing guy, i'm surprised you'd ask a bunch of lemmings their opinions.

p.s. there are websites dedicated to your question ;)

what does asking a pay question have to do with intelligence? pay is a very volatile question and demands an "up to date" raw/untainted observation and response. and all nurses are not lemmings...just 70% in my opinion. 30% are drivers...70% are passengers. but again, its a forum, and forums are all about opinions.. eh? :)

you would know then, though, that this question is pretty impossible to answer. pay varies greatly based on not only cost of living, but working conditions and demand...pay will be higher in a place that no one wants to work. is salary, then, your only consideration? hardly.

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.
I'm an LPN and make a LOT more than some RN's in other States. But as several previous posters have pointed out..its all dependant on cost of living to pay scale ratio. I'd live like a Queen on my salary in all the lower cost of living States, but live middle class here in CT. I've read some people posting that their pay per hour is close to or a bit higher than CT's minimum wage and therefore they would be at pretty much poverty level here in CT.

I'd love to find a State thats got a decent cost of living with decent salaries for nurses.

You are right. I went to school in CT and the start pay for RN was the same as the start pay in the city in Arizona I moved to. In CT I would never be able to own a home and comfortably bought a home at the time in AZ. The cost of living and taxes were significantly lower than AZ. I now moved to TX, and taking a $6 paycut with experience. The COL is no different in this city as the one in AZ I came from (only state taxes is diff) but the rest is the same. My bills are the same so not so good of a move I tell you. :p

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