RN I (new nurse) salary in Orange County, CA

Updated:   Published

I was curious if anyone had any information about the hourly rate of a RN I (meaning new nurse less than one year experience) in the Orange County area. If anyone has recent information from Hoag, Saddleback, Mission, CHOC, etc. that would be great! Also what about specialty areas? If you are hired into a specialty area should the rate go up? Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical Oncology, ER.

Try looking at the website glassdoor and search up rn I at some hospitals in that area, should give you an idea of what the hourly is.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

RN 1 will make aroind 30 to 32$/hr probably. 3 years of exp in 2012 i was making 32/hr down there. Specialties dont pay extra. The hard part is getting experience as a new grad. There are very few positions in orange county for new nurses and its highly competitive.

The cost of living sucks on regards to salary. I make double what i made down there moving to sacramento. I can deal with the heat for that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

OC RN pay

Can anyone tell me what the current RN pay is for coastal Orange County (Huntington to So OC)? Currently live in Vegas, but from So Cal, looking to move back. Have about 3 years experience in acute rehab and med/surg, looking for the same in OC. Thanks

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

34 to 36$ hr not including differentials. Night shift was about 6$ hr when I left there and I doubt they have bumped it up much. OC doesn't really pay well and raises are small. I remember the last raise I got before I relocated was a whopping 26 cents hourly. Be prepared for that cost of living as I imagine your wages are similar in Vegas, but your rent is about to go way up.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
RN 1 will make aroind 30 to 32$/hr probably. 3 years of exp in 2012 i was making 32/hr down there. Specialties dont pay extra. The hard part is getting experience as a new grad. There are very few positions in orange county for new nurses and its highly competitive.

The cost of living sucks on regards to salary. I make double what i made down there moving to sacramento. I can deal with the heat for that.

34 to 36$ hr not including differentials. Night shift was about 6$ hr when I left there and I doubt they have bumped it up much. OC doesn't really pay well and raises are small. I remember the last raise I got before I relocated was a whopping 26 cents hourly. Be prepared for that cost of living as I imagine your wages are similar in Vegas, but your rent is about to go way up.

Hi NickiLaughs,

If you don't mind me asking, where did you go to school? Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.
Hi NickiLaughs,

If you don't mind me asking, where did you go to school? Thanks!

I was an LVN and got it at Concorde career college and did a private LVN to RN program in Northern California. Then I went back and finished my BSN at one of the cal states. I've worked at some really great hospitals so where you get your education doesn't matter as much as what you do with it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I was an LVN and got it at Concorde career college and did a private LVN to RN program in Northern California. Then I went back and finished my BSN at one of the cal states. I've worked at some really great hospitals so where you get your education doesn't matter as much as what you do with it.

Thank you. I'm just trying to get an idea if I will be hireable with an ADN while in a bridge program through a Cal State. I think my best bet is to get in as a PCT after my first semester in the ADN program. Like all students, I really want to stay hopeful even though it seems pretty rough out there for new grads. Thanks again for your time.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.
34 to 36$ hr not including differentials. Night shift was about 6$ hr when I left there and I doubt they have bumped it up much.

Where are you getting this rate from? Orange county pays more than that....well at least a Irvine.

I think you are only considered a clinical nurse I for six months. I could be wrong.

Clinical Nurse II - Neonatal ICU - F/T - Nights | Careers | UC Irvine Health | Orange, CA

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.
Where are you getting this rate from? Orange county pays more than that....well at least a Irvine.

I think you are only considered a clinical nurse I for six months. I could be wrong.

Clinical Nurse II - Neonatal ICU - F/T - Nights | Careers | UC Irvine Health | Orange, CA

Based on what I made when I left the area four years ago with 3 years of ICU experience. I was making 32$ hr and my differential was 6$ on night shift. One of the hospitals was time in a half after 8 but the other wasn't. I approximated a dollar an hour raise per year although my last raise was 26 cents. It might be slightly higher than that now but not much. That system was know for paying as little as possible....

those wages you post are from UCI with a min 2 years experience and a bachelors.

UCI was one of the higher paying hospitals when I left, as they were trying to compete with kaiser, but I was not fortunate enough to work at either of those. I worked for some other hospital systems that aren't unionized and are known for poor wages. It's one of the reasons I relocated. Couldn't survive on those wages with that cost of living.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

UCI pays 39/hour for clinical nurse 1 as a new grad with zero experience. I heard from former colleagues that Kaiser starts their new grads an off at 55/hr!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.
UCI pays 39/hour for clinical nurse 1 as a new grad with zero experience. I heard from former colleagues that Kaiser starts their new grads an off at 55/hr!

Kaiser also starts their new grads in non benefitted on call positions. When they get hired to a regular position the rate is much lower as the 55$ hr is what kaiser nurses with a lot of experience make.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion