RN Relocating to Virginia

[mjbeasley]

Hey All!!

I currently work at a busy Emergency Department in Long Island, NY. My wife and I are considering the prospect of moving from this tax-ridden rat race to a simpler way of life near family in Southeastern VA (Suffolk, Norfolk, VA Beach area). According to Salary.com, nurses in that area make an average of $64,000/yr (roughly $32.80/hr). But everything I'm reading says that nurses in that area are lucky to make $48,800/yr or $25/hr. Anything in the $32/hr range seems to be closer to Arlington/DC area. Where are these better paying jobs? Salary.com was dead accurate on the income in Long Island, so I'm somewhat shocked that it's nearly $15,000 off in it's estimation of RN income in VA.

[tcvnurse, BSN, RN]

Depending on where you work your salary may be lower or higher, commensurate with your years of experience. You may be higher paid if you have a BSN, or a certification. You may be able to negotiate your salary. The taxes in Virginia are lower than in NY, and the cost of living is MUCH MUCH lower. So what seems like a gigantic pay cut, may not actually be too terrible. On the plus side: the people of Virginia are ridiculously nice. Think about Charlottesville. UVa is there and is a great place to work.

[llg, PhD, RN]

For the south side of Hampton Roads (VA Beach, Suffolk, Norfolk, etc.) $25 per hour is about average for someone with 1 or 2 years of experience -- or for new grads making extra by working nights, weekends, etc. At my hospital (in that area), a new grad starts somewhere around $21 per hour, but the hourly differentials for evenings, nights, and weekends bring that up above $25 ... So it averages out to around $25 assuming that the nurse works a mixture of shifts.

On the north side of Hampton Roads (Newport News, Hampton, Williamsburg ...) salaries tend to be a little higher because of competition from the Richmond area, which has a higher cost of living. Washington DC is a whole other story. The cost of living there is outrageous and salaries reflect that.

The salary range at my hospital is pretty wide. I don't know what the top of the range is for staff nurses -- but I know it was $31 per hour several years ago. It's probably higher than that now. It sounds like you have enough experience to make more than the minimum and that you would be not be at the new grad level. Talk to the hospitals that interest you and find out what their ranges are for experienced nurses before deciding. It doesn't hurt to ask. I'm sure that $25 figure you've heard is NOT typical of experienced ED nurses willing to work an average number of off-shifts.

[BeatsPerMinute, BSN, RN]

I work in the Northern VA area. Cost of living is higher, new grad pay is $25/26 an hour which is what I make. Experience will earn you a higher salary, probably around $30-something an hour.

[MLSTTS2015]

I work in Richmond. I Graduated in may and they started me at a little over 24 an hour. I work nights so I also get shift diff. The pay in Virginia varies quite a bit depending on where you are and what kind of Nurse you are.