Planning to move to Austin Tx

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I've been thinking about moving to Texas and work there as a Nurse. I have my BSN, and just got my RN license last Dec . But i have been working as an LVN in CA for almost 2 years.

How much does Austin pay for New grad ? ..is it reasonable enough to afford an apartment?

Will they consider my experiences as LVN ?

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

New grad RN pay in the Austin metro area ranges from $21 to $24 hourly. Wages are low because the local market is flooded with nurses from around the U.S. who have relocated to the city and its outlying areas.

You will be able to afford an apartment, although Austin tends to have a pricier cost of living than the other large Texas cities.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

FYI, Austin nursing salaries are lower than other Tx metro areas - effect of supply and demand.

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I already get paid 30 /hr as an LVN here in CA, will they match it ?

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

No. They won't. The cost of living in California and the cost of living in Texas are night and day, as are nursing wages. LVNs do not make that kind of money here normally and new RNs definitely do not make that in Austin. You are a new grad. Your LVN time may get you a little bit of consideration, but not much to be honest. Austin has new grads cranking out there every three to four months, plus new grads from other Texas areas moving there because it is a cool place to live plus new grads from all kinds of OTHER areas across the nation for the same reason. Your competition will be fierce in Austin and it drives down nurse wages and makes new grad jobs very hard to come by.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

If you have a choice in the matter, I would not move to Austin until you have a written job offer with a firm start date and wage agreement in hand.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
I already get paid 30 /hr as an LVN here in CA, will they match it ?
Nope. Never in a million years will local employers match your current pay rate because they do not need to. The only RNs who are paid $30/hourly in Austin are those with nearly a decade of experience in the in-demand specialties such as critical care, OR, ER, PACU, CCU or cath lab.

Why would employers in Austin pay a new RN with some LVN experience $30 per hour when they can pick through hundreds of new grad RNs who will happily accept $22/hourly with no questions asked? Your two years of LVN experience will not warrant the additional $8 pay increase.

Again, the Austin metro area is the lowest-paying in Texas. You will need to relocate to Houston to earn the type of money to which you are accustomed.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

One thing you WOULD have going for you that you do not in California is no state income tax.

However, sales tax is 8.25% and property taxes are outrageous. We pay about $5K per year in property tax.

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This is very disappointing and discouraging ....i need to re-do my current plan. Thank you for your input this is vey helpful for me.

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totally!

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i need to re-do my current plan

First, comparing California to Texas (and Austin specifically) is not an even comparison when looking only at hourly rates. You will earn less in Austin, but your dollar will go further.

A few things to consider:

Texas does have property and sales taxes, but so does California, so that's a wash. Texas does not have an income tax, so there's a positive.

Texas' cost of living is less, including Austin, so your money goes further. Or, you can live in any of the outlying towns (Buda/Kyle, San Marcos, Manor, Pflugerville) and lower your cost of living further, while still being close enough to the neat things Austin has to offer.

Consequently, you can live in Austin and commute somewhere where your LVN experience may help you start off a little higher on the pay scale. Smaller, regional type hospitals may be more interested in your previous experience (Kyle, San Marcos, Lakeway, Bastrop, Luling).

Do a little bit more legwork before making this decision based on 6 comments. Spend a day calling the nurse recruiter at a few hospitals in and around Austin and get real numbers so you can make a properly informed decision.

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Specializes in RPN post RN.

Hi, I am a canadian RN wanting to move to texas. do you know if any canadian nurses been relocating to texas? Thanks.

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