I live in Dallas. I used to work at UTSW full time and prn. With 6 years of experience you can expect to make low $30s. Float pool with night and weekend diff pays well. I learned that working prn at UTSW gave me the best bang for my buck because they offer what they call critical ($150) and double critical ($300) incentive bonuses when they are short staffed. They seem to be short staffed a lot so I would just wait until they call offering double critical. You get your pay rate, plus differentials, plus the $300 bonus that shift. The health insurance was good. I don't remember about the retirement. The hospital is new and everything is top of the line. The ratios on med/surg were 5:1 and the cardiac unit was probably 4:1. Although they were always initially short staffed, they always found nurses to cover the shifts. It's a great place to work, I ended up leaving because full time with benefits was not financially working for me.
Also, I've been in Dallas for 3 years. Purchased a home when I first moved here. Housing prices are steadily increasing. The property taxes are crazy. My mortgage has gone up $100 every year due to taxes. I'm single so if this continues I guess I'll have to sell or get a room mate. The cost of living is not that cheap here either.
HCA hospitals seem to pay the best here. They are all over. All locations don't have the best reputation but they aren't that bad. I've worked at one. You could probably make around $45 base not including differentials, and around $50 if you don't need benefits. They also give sign on bonuses and tuition assistance.
Baylor does have seasonal positions for $40-50 but I'm not sure what happens when your contract is over if you can renew it at the same pay rate or what. I've never worked there.
