Question on surviving as a CNA in North Jersey before I move there

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I am considering a move to North Jersey and am wondering if the average CNA pay matches the cost of living there. NJ is expensive. I understand that to rent an efficency apartment in Jersey City would cost about $900 or

$1500 for a one bedroom apartment. That would be impossible on the average salary of a CNA here in Florida where I live unless you were to spend most of your paycheck on rent. So if CNA's in Jersey City are paid like CNA's in FL they all must either live in housing projects (not a slur), work 2nd jobs, or in situations where they have help with the bills. I doubt I will be moving to Jersey City after seeing how high the rents are there but I am assuming the rest of Northern NJ is nearly as bad so my question is are CNA's paid enough to make ends meet or should I plan on working 2 jobs?

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I am hearing a starting pay of $13 - $15. Not sure how many hours one can get, but 2000 hrs is the average for the year...so this equates to an annual salary of $26k - $30k. In Teaneck, Hackensack, Englewood....you should be able to find a 1bdrm for $1000 - $1300. There are other areas like Wallington and Bloomfield where you can find a 1bdrm for $900 - $1100.

A $30k salary is approx $2500 per month before tax. But with a salary like this.....there are many complexes that will allow rent based on an income contingent basis. The criteria is usually a max salary of $36 - $38k in many places.....One that i have a few friends living in is JasonTown Apts in Wallington, and Bergenfield. They have units for income contingencies and regular rentals.

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Most of the CNA's that i know fall into two categories. this is a generalization.

1. young adults who live at home with parent(s) or significant other.

or

2. mothers or who live with another income earner in the household.

howver i should note that i have only done 2 years of clinical rotations in a hospitals and have associations with my fellow students. i do not currently work in a hosp.

i love nj, but with the shortage around here teh weather and traiffic and insane cost of living, fogive me if my question is a little intrusive, why would you want to move to freezing cold nj>>>????

best of luck in your search!

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Well my mother wants to be closer to her sister so I figure when she moves up there I can move close to them and start a new life as well. Most of my friends and family living in Florida have dispersed and between the annoying hurricane season and the superficial people I am ready for a change.

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Specializes in Cardio.

the demand is high for CNA up here..Hospital pays 12-15 /hr.

Nursing home pay around 14 and assisted living 10-11.

I don't see any difference here with Florida.

In Fl you earn less, you spend less.

In NJ you earn more, you spend more.

You are welcome to come for the change ( I hate the weather there too) but if you are coming for the big bucks , be ready to work 2 jobs..

Good luck with whatever you decide.

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Not in NJ but in a city with a higher cost of living, DC Metro area.

As a CNA you CAN'T get a studio (1000-1400) much less a one or two bedroom apartment without roommates.

Many of the CNA's I know here, myself included hit up certain online ad places ;) and rent rooms. Not sure if I can list the site here so I'm gonna err on the side of caution.

If your interested in it email me. They list rooms for most cities in every state.

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I would never expect to make big bucks as a CNA anywhere. I just want to be able to eat and pay the rent.

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