Pay Differences Across California

U.S.A. California

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So I just have a question based on some of the hourly wages I've seen on job postings around the state.

RN's in the Bay Area make upwards of $45-50+ an hour. That's understandable, extremely high cost of living.

RN's in the Central Valley make $38-50+ an hour. Great salary, with a cheaper cost of living (compared to the Bay Area)

RN's in Southern CA have a starting wage of $28-35 an hour. The cost of living (in some places) is still extremely high, comparable to the Bay Area but the hourly wage is so much lower.

Perhaps it's just that way for RN 1's (which are the jobs I'm looking at).

The only justification I can come up with is that because So Cal jobs are in high demand, hospitals can get away with paying their nurses less...?

Does anyone have any insight to this? :)

Specializes in Pediatric Emergency.

How accurate is salary.com? According to them, the average RN in SF makes $77,712, which is about $37/hr. Not quite the $50/hr I've been reading on this forum.

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

salary.com takes into account every RN, so think part time RN's, RNs at SNFs, clinics, etc. It really often doesn't reflect accurately what particular area you are in. I've learned it's better to try to find government jobs, whether county or state hospitals as they usually list their salaries.

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I currently work for Kaiser in Northern CA. I started as a new grad last year with a base pay of around $46/hr. Right now I'm at about $51. My NOC shift differential is about $9/hr. I am originally from Southern CA and just moved up here for the job. I want to move back, but the difference in pay is so high. Going to take over a $20/hr pay cut!

Living in both Southern and Northern CA, the biggest difference I can see in cost of living is if you were to buy property (house, condo, etc..) Other than that, everything is pretty much the same.. gas, food, etc. Even renting in Northern CA is only slightly higher than Southern. The only exception is if you were living right in the middle of San Francisco, where things can get pricey.

Northern CA includes Sacramento area, where cost of living can be cheaper than Southern CA. Doesn't make sense!

The difference in salaries has to be from the unions. I'd like to transfer to Kaiser down south, but most opinions rate Kaiser Northern CA far superior. Same hospital, but different regions, so different unions. I know Kaiser in LA was threatening to go on strike to try to get equal or similar pay to what the Bay Area gets.

My dilemma is to move back to SoCal to be around family and close friends (and in my own house), or make big bucks being alone here in the Bay Area.

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical/Oncology.

@Mrex: Hello, do you work at Kaiser Santa Teresa? What floor/shift do you work?

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I work at Kaiser Santa Clara.

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Specializes in med surg, icu.
How accurate is salary.com? According to them, the average RN in SF makes $77,712, which is about $37/hr. Not quite the $50/hr I've been reading on this forum.

Many staff RN's don't work 40hr work weeks... I work 3 12hr shifts/week, so at $37/hr, that's more like $63k/yr... wish I were making that much more.. i'd put it all into my massive student loan bill.

We call the lower pay in San Diego the "Sunshine Tax." Warm weather, great beaches, etc... People down here are willing to be paid much less despite the high cost of living-- you see it across practically every other hospital job you can think of (other than, I could probably assume, CEO's, hospital administration, and physicians). Many nurses also attribute it to less/weaker unionization... and I'll just keep it simple and stop there. ;)

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.
I currently work for Kaiser in Northern CA. I started as a new grad last year with a base pay of around $46/hr. Right now I'm at about $51. My NOC shift differential is about $9/hr. I am originally from Southern CA and just moved up here for the job. I want to move back, but the difference in pay is so high. Going to take over a $20/hr pay cut!

Living in both Southern and Northern CA, the biggest difference I can see in cost of living is if you were to buy property (house, condo, etc..) Other than that, everything is pretty much the same.. gas, food, etc. Even renting in Northern CA is only slightly higher than Southern. The only exception is if you were living right in the middle of San Francisco, where things can get pricey.

Northern CA includes Sacramento area, where cost of living can be cheaper than Southern CA. Doesn't make sense!

The difference in salaries has to be from the unions. I'd like to transfer to Kaiser down south, but most opinions rate Kaiser Northern CA far superior. Same hospital, but different regions, so different unions. I know Kaiser in LA was threatening to go on strike to try to get equal or similar pay to what the Bay Area gets.

My dilemma is to move back to SoCal to be around family and close friends (and in my own house), or make big bucks being alone here in the Bay Area.

Tell you what, we'll trade jobs! I'll come work at your facility so I can be near my family, and you come work at mine!

:yeah:

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Specializes in Med-Surg/DOU/Ortho/Onc/Rehab/ER/.

Aw I would love to move to the bay area! Guess I am screwed over in LA county

Anyone see a difference in pay as far as new grad ADN or BSN? I am not going to start a debate. I am just thinking that I am applying to BSN programs end of this year but I can actually can apply to ADN programs as of now. But if BSN are preferred and obviously get paid better. Then should I just still stick to getting my BSN and skip ADN?

Gosh Im just hoping that by the time I get my RN that places will actually he hiring!

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Specializes in OB/GYN,PHN, Family Planning.

I don't know about pay difference between ADN and BSN but a friend of mine was laid off recently and stated most jobs here in No Cal -incl Kaiser require a BSN to even apply. BSN may not be a requirement for BON but most employeers are requiring it.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/DOU/Ortho/Onc/Rehab/ER/.

What about the hundreds of ADNs that graduate and pass the NCLEX every year?

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They (ADN) seem to be having an even HARDER time finding jobs.

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hey mrex, was it hard for you to get into Kaiser as a new grad? I used to work there as an admin assistant but took a few years off for nursing school... hoping to find my way back in there again. Thanks, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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