Pay and Cost of living

[natbabyx123]

I recently moved to upstate NY. I only have 1 year of experience as an RN, in a office setting. I worked in a procedure room.

I was appalled that I moved from rural NC to NY and I was offered LESS. My rent is double here and childcare is triple.

I was offered $22.51/hr for a part-time position. I feel very defeated.

[PixieRN1]

It varies so much even within a state. And surprisingly, sometimes the more populated or urban areas do NOT pay more.

I'm in VA. My base rate in one location in a small city public university hospital in the middle of a very rural area was $40 base for 15 years experience. I moved on to a facility in a much bigger city, in a private hospital, where my offer was $33 base. I was horrified. That 15 years of experience, all hospital based experience, all RN BSN experience. Another hospital in the same big city offered me $30. The last time I made $30 was 2009.

But in perspective, my rate as a new grad in VA 15 years ago was $16. Bigger doesn't mean better pay.