RN salary in Alabama

mjjlRN · Oct 18, 2009

I currently work in Mobile, AL. I think you will likely find RN salaries lower in AL than most other places, but take into account the cost of living is also usually lower.

With 9+ years of BSN/RN experience, as well as certifications as ACLS and NRP, I make just over $23/hr, plus shift and weekend diff. Your best bet would be to call various hospitals in the area you'll move to and just ask.

mjones921 · Oct 18, 2009

Dont move to Alabama Im originally from there and you would earn a lower salary.

matchsticktgt, LPN · Oct 19, 2009

Yes, but everything costs less here!

mlk1217 · Oct 19, 2009

Im a Texas LVN and make $22.50hr

tnlally · Oct 20, 2009

Even $23/hr would be an increase in salary. I'm only making $20.75/hr currently and the cost of living here is not that low.

onlyNamerica · Oct 20, 2009

Have you considered travel nursing? It usually pays more (depending on the area of the country you travel to) and your housing/ apartment along with furniture is paid for? It would allow you to check out an area and hospital before you commit to hiring on. I've been traveling for 4 yrs. now and make good money in Northern California doing the same thing I was doing in Texas for a lot less money ($40 hr vs $27 hr) The nurses who actually live and work here make more than I do which is atypical but still, everyone is happy. I have always wondered about the extreme variation in nursing pay rates across the country and don't agree with the "cost of living" thing. I still pay the same on my jeep no matter where I live and my time and energy is very valuable to me. I want to make the most I can in the years that I have to work. For some reason nurse"s efforts are more valued / compensated in some parts of the country than others But what ever you choose to do I wish you the best of luck.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 20, 2009

I have always wondered about the extreme variation in nursing pay rates across the country and don't agree with the "cost of living" thing. I still pay the same on my jeep no matter where I live and my time and energy is very valuable to me.

I'm a native Californian who moved to Texas 4 years ago. There's certainly a difference in the cost of living between the two states. Hence, the difference in the pay rates reflects this.

In the southern Californian city where I used to live, a 2-bedroom apartment in a mediocre area was costing $1,400+ monthly. The same apartment in Texas would rent for $550+ monthly. Gas is almost always $0.30 more per gallon in California. A decent house many parts of CA will cost $500,000+, even after the real estate crash. The same house in Texas would cost less than $150,000. Also, there's no state income tax in many states such as TX.

Whether you choose to believe it or not, the nursing pay rates do vary regionally due to extreme differences in the cost of living in certain places across America.

onlyNamerica · Oct 20, 2009

I understand about the cost of housing etc and I should clarify that I'm looking at this from a travel nurse perspective not as a permanent position RN. I've worked in Texas, New Mexico, and Southern CA and I am currently in Northern California for the second go-round because the pay rate here is better than anywhere else in the country for both travelers and permanent staff not to mention the patient to staff ratios. My permanent residence is in Texas so I do not have to pay CA state taxes. I travel to find work that pays me well for what I do and do not limit myself to buying into the "cost of living" paradigm. I know this job choice is not for everyone but it is another option / career strategy to just settling for whatever a state or regions deems it's nurse's times are worth. At the end of 2011 I will be debt free with my house in Texas paid for and I can choose to work locally or not, or until I'm ready to settle. In any event i appreciate the input. This sounds like a topic for another thread.

jessiern, BSN, RN · Oct 20, 2009

I make 20.25 base pay at a small 38 bed hospital in the southern part of the state. I could drive an hour to P'Cola and make a couple of bucks more, but just don't think the drive is worth the extra pay.

Unless things have changed, pay in the Montgomery area is pretty decent. basically, just to echo the above: Pay isn't great down here, but that usually comes with affordable housing, lower taxes, ect.

nicurn001 · Oct 20, 2009

COL Should not be the only factor you take into account re. a posible relocation . In my case I would be approx $3k better off over a year if I moved to Huntsville ( using salary.com's COL tool ), that is if I could find an employer who would pay me $45,73 an hour there ( the equivalent pay level in AL to the $50 / hr. I get in CA.).

You should also consider what benefits you would receive , work enviroment ( we have nurse / patient ratios mandated by law )etc..Then come to your decision re. were you would be most comfortable .

onlyNamerica · Oct 20, 2009

I love the Cost of Living tool you suggested. I calculated both for Alabama and Texas for myself out of curiosity and sure enough Cost of living is not the factor in nurses pay rate. I would have to make $37 hr in Texas to come out close to even to what I make in Northern California and that's at the traveler rate! Nothing near the actual $50 hr that the hire on RNs make. Thanks