RN wages: California vs Washington State

Published

Has anyone moved from California to Washington State and felt any difference in salary? It seems as though California RN's make $38-45/hr. and Washington State RN's $23-? Is this true? Yes, there's that cost of living differential... Thanks for the advice.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ....

http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcst.htm

California RN's make $70K on average, Washington state RN's make 62K on average.

:typing

Up Vote Up Vote ×

thanks Lizz.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ....

http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcst.htm

California RN's make $70K on average, Washington state RN's make 62K on average.

:typing

Yes, but California is a big state with a lot of big cities that have a large population and get paid well. But there are a lot of rural areas too that do not get paid as well (so the figures are not statistically accurate)Except all the retirees in those big cites are retiring and moving here--driving up the house prices. Cost of living has gone up about 70-80% in the last few years but I only make fifty cents more than last year and I still make under $10. I can't get excited when I become a nurse either. The local hospital is doing major cuts because (they say) they spent too much (get the big paid CEO's are paid the same). My friend worked as a CNA while going through the LVN program. Because he had a little more experience than a regular CNA (he is also a EMT and has been a CPR instructor for 12 years) he got paid mroe. When they did the cuts they told he could quit or work for minimum wage...:angryfire

Up Vote Up Vote ×
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ....

http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcst.htm

California RN's make $70K on average, Washington state RN's make 62K on average.

:typing

Nurses in Seattle may make $62,000 a year, but not in Spokane, or anywhere in Eastern Washington. I was just offered a job doing outpatient dialysis for $23 an hour. There excuse was that I did not have dialysis experience. I pointed out that I had 25 years of critical care experience, which included caring for many dialysis patients, and CVVHD, and I thought that was the reason that they wanted to hire me. They said that it didn't matter. I turned down the job. There was another dialysis company here, and I guess that this other company took them over. No competition. The average hourly wage here is about $35 an hour.

When I moved here 17 years ago, the hospital that I was working in paid me $14 an hour. They were paying a new grad $2 and hour less than me. Welcome to Spokane. It doesn't get better.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Of course the data varies by town. :rolleyes:

If you want to look up the BLS data per town, this is the link. Click on the town, go to Healthcare Practioners and Technicians and look up Registered Nurses on the list. That will tell you what the average wages are per town.

http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcma.htm

And you're right, average RN pay in Spokane is about $24 an hour or $51K a year while pay in Seattle is more like $32 an hour or $67K a year.

And yes, the average RN in San Jose makes $88K while in other areas of California the pay can drop to $65K and below.

:typing

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Yes, but California is a big state with a lot of big cities that have a large population and get paid well. But there are a lot of rural areas too that do not get paid as well (so the figures are not statistically accurate)Except all the retirees in those big cites are retiring and moving here--driving up the house prices. Cost of living has gone up about 70-80% in the last few years but I only make fifty cents more than last year and I still make under $10. I can't get excited when I become a nurse either. The local hospital is doing major cuts because (they say) they spent too much (get the big paid CEO's are paid the same). My friend worked as a CNA while going through the LVN program. Because he had a little more experience than a regular CNA (he is also a EMT and has been a CPR instructor for 12 years) he got paid mroe. When they did the cuts they told he could quit or work for minimum wage...:angryfire

Wow ... where do you live? It sounds like you live in a one hospital town or something.

I have my share of lousy hospitals in my area of California but, at least I have lots of other job options, especially when I commute. Have you considered moving?

:typing

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.
Wow ... where do you live? It sounds like you live in a one hospital town or something.

I have my share of lousy hospitals in my area of California but, at least I have lots of other job options, especially when I commute. Have you considered moving?

:typing

Yeah we have one hospital in our town, which has a sister hospital 30 mins away in another town. The next hospital is in S.F. I would love to move after I graduate, but my husband has deep roots.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
The average hourly wage here is about $35 an hour.

Well that doesn't sound as bad... it's about that in Yakima as well. But they start new grads at 23 an hour day shift. Now let me tell you there doesn't seem to be any shortage here. At least not for the full time or days. Per diem/float, nights/eves, maybe although I don't know they seem to fill them quickly.

I have heard Seattle is more and I've seen jobs posted for more... for new grads but again I don't know that it's very easy to get those new grad jobs unless you are wiling to work nights.

As for Spokane - I heard they start at about only 19hr to begin. When you are looking at 23 versus 19, ...which looks better? You betcha. And yet, there doesn't seem to be a nursing shortage in spokane either - now why is that ???? Go figure.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

By the way again it depends on where you work - private offices are notoriously PITIFULLY lower. Even surg centers. I turned down a job for 19 an hour at a surg center, knowing that the hospitals pay 23. To me it's the same education and same person applying so I deserve the same rate. Go figure. No wonder I'm still looking HAAAAA

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for the information. Sounds as though all in all California pays quite a bit more than Washington. Yes, one must take into the cost of living factor. Thanks.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

to be honest w/you I think in the end, although Calif pays more ... the cost of living is more than in WA by a far shot. At least.....for now.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion