personal question...

Wrong profession.

I'm in SW MO and starting pay in the ER for a

The "average baseline" swings by as much as $25/hour based on location ... so there really isn't a meaningful average.

A good resource: Overview of BLS Wage Data by Area and Occupation

I'm in GA. Started out at $19.50/hr. Hospital had an across-the-board $1/hr raise for all RNs in my first six months so I was at $20.50, $21.07 at my first yr review. However, I work prn at another hosp ER and make the per diem $30/hr. I have an interview next week, as a 2-yr, for $25.80/hr. In my experience, short lived as it is, it doesn't pay to be loyal - you have to hospital shop. Good luck!

Also in Georgia...ATL metro area. New grad rate is $23/hr or so. Agreed that it helps to jump around after 2 years. PRN rates start at around $30/hr here as well.

NYC starting base pay for city hospital is between $30-34. But, before you make the irrational move based on pay, consider I pay $2300 for a 1 bedroom walk up in Soho. Also, cost of living would average our pay at apprx $23 an hour in a state like Ga, MD, SC, Fl, and Tx.

Also in Georgia...ATL metro area. New grad rate is $23/hr or so. Agreed that it helps to jump around after 2 years. PRN rates start at around $30/hr here as well.

Viced, I am interviewing at dekalb medical next week. You nearby? Have any insight - good bad ugly? Grew up in jonesboro, lived in Kennesaw, for 12 years (it's been about 6 yrs since we moved). Just not familiar with that area in detail....

Viced, I am interviewing at dekalb medical next week. You nearby? Have any insight - good bad ugly? Grew up in jonesboro, lived in Kennesaw, for 12 years (it's been about 6 yrs since we moved). Just not familiar with that area in detail....

Was there for a year. They run you ragged. 6 or 7 patients a piece plus a "team" approach where they pair you with another slow poke nurse that you have to help. If the assignment is divided equally that is, if it's not...well, my record 11 er and 18 urgent care patients. Wanted er so so bad that I took the job and bounced after a year. Everyone else I new graded with also left within months of me. If you are dying to start er, well, take them up on it and bounce it. It's a crucible and you will learn a lot but it gets you that first year.

I made $4.20/hour for my first ED job in Atlanta.....but we won't talk about how long ago that was :) Not useful to the OP but thought I would pass it along

Started at $30.10 in a small, basic (no traumas) ER in Los Angeles.

I just got hired at a level 1 trauma center 28/hr

I make the same as other nurses with my experience level. In my area different units do not have different salaries.

In MI, $26.86 plus shift diff.