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

allnurses Guide · Mar 8, 2010

My opinion would be that California (SF-Bay but mostly SF) and New York (City) PAY best for an RN.

http://swz.salary.com/

says. . . . .between $70-80,000 But you can plug in a whole bunch of different scenarios. After you get past the annoying ad. Even if numbers off some, still a good basis for comparison of pay without cost of living factored in.

diane227, LPN, RN · Mar 8, 2010

If you are doing this just for the money then the main factor is years of experience. The second factor is right to work vs. union. Texas is a right to work state and I made a lot less money there than I do now working in Washington State. Most nurses (not all) are part of a union here and my salary doubled under this structure. But, there's a catch. It is twice as expensive to live up here and I have to pay a LOT in union dues. So it is give and take. I am not especially fond of the union structure. It has it's advantages in some ways but I would never go out on strike and if they did I would cross the picket line because I am here to take care of sick people not get involved in the political BS of some of the stuff they get involved with.