Pay in Phoenix, AZ.?

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Specializes in Cardiac.

I am an experienced (27yrs) nurse in Chicago.  I am wondering what the pay would be in Phoenix, AZ.  

At a VA hospital vs. other hospital.
Med/Surg/Tele vs. Clinic.

Thanks.

James

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VA pays much better than private in AZ. Also, consider IHS (Phoenix Indian Medical Center) which also pays much more than private. As a 34 year nurse, I make about 104,000 for IHS and a friend that’s worked in the private sector (same number of years), makes 67,000. Also, much better working conditions. If you are 62 and have 5 years of service, you can retire from federal service and keep your benefits for life. And you get a pension which covers most of your benefits cost. 

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Wow that is a huge difference in pay from the same geographical area.

I work for the University of Illinois Medical Center (State of IL. hospital), located in Chicago.  27 yrs 125k before weekend, off-shift, charge differential, or before OT (which I do a lot of).  But my plan is to retire with a pension in 3 yrs (after 30yrs you can retire with pension based on highest 4 yrs income).  Then I'd like to move to Arizona as I still want to work part-time, but after being on a super busy Telemetry/stepdown unit, I'd rather work in a clinic after I retire from the State of IL.

In Chicago, the private hospitals pay approximately the same as the public (state, county, and VA) hospitals , BUT the benefits are way better at the public hospitals.

Thanks for the information on Phoenix Indian Medical Center (IHS).  I didn't know it even existed.

Is there a County hospital in Phoenix?  We have Cook County Hospital.  It is over 1000 beds. It is the biggest hospital in the Chicago area.

James-RN  

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IHS has clinics and they’re nice to work at. And of course, the VA would have clinics. There is a county hospital. I believe it’s called Valleywise. I’m leaving Phoenix so haven’t paid much attention to the other hospitals in the last couple years. 

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Thanks so much for the information.  

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You’re welcome 

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Specializes in Acute care, Management, Director, Professor.

I work at the Phoenix VA.  Depends on degree level and years of experience.  ADN new grad in Phoenix starts at $67,113, caps at $103,347; BSN min. $82,786 caps at $110,099; MSN $90,236, caps at $120,013.  Director level pay: MSN required, min $117,665 max $156,484.  With 27 years experience you would probably start at the higher end if not capped.  Of course the amounts above are base pay.  All federal holidays you get double time, weekday nights 10% differential, 35% on weekends.  Even if capped you do get an annual cost of living increase.  Until you reach the cap you get a pay increase every 2 years of about $2,500.  Since this is a federal job, all pay scales are public record, changes based on city and local cost of living.  https://www.Google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.VA.gov/ohrm/pay/&ved=2ahUKEwi2puSF_M_xAhUXv54KHcXCAE4QFjAAegQIBRAC&usg=AOvVaw1RhJ54I1lKMako7e5WSXzW

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