RN wages: California vs Washington State

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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.

it's all relative, isn't it? thanks!

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I think you get more money if you only rent in california, especially in Bay Area. If you buy a house, Cali is much more expensive than Washington. I have a thought about going to Cali for a year for quick money.

AJ

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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.

Everybody complains about the California cost of living ... but there are also ways to take advantage of it.

When housing started to get really expensive we spent two years researching cheap areas that we thought might be next California boom area, so the speak. We bought our house for $150K a couple of years ago, KB Homes came in shortly thereafter, the market exploded and now our house is worth double what we paid for it.

Even if the market goes down, I'll still have a lot of equity in my house. And, with a reasonable commute, I'll be making close to Bay Area wages. I'm sure there are opportunities like this in other states also, you just have to be smart about it.

Nevertheless ... I won't even think about moving out of California until I retire. I've talked to too many travelers who tell me about the heavy patient loads they get in other states. I do love California's ratio law.

:typing

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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.

I am moving to Washington (seattle area) for my husband's job and I had a job interview at UW today. I was totally shocked to hear that with my 1 year experience in the OR, I'll be making almost $3 less per hour than in Chicago (I was making $27). They offered me just over $24/hr and it will take until I get 5 years experience before I get my previous hourly salary! I'm pissed! The cost of living here is more expensive for me. It seems like from reading other posts that there isn't much leeway with this starting salary, especially for relatively new nurses. Any other comments??

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I am moving to Washington (seattle area) for my husband's job and I had a job interview at UW today. I was totally shocked to hear that with my 1 year experience in the OR, I'll be making almost $3 less per hour than in Chicago (I was making $27). They offered me just over $24/hr and it will take until I get 5 years experience before I get my previous hourly salary! I'm pissed! The cost of living here is more expensive for me. It seems like from reading other posts that there isn't much leeway with this starting salary, especially for relatively new nurses. Any other comments??

You don't have alot of experience, so you choices may be limited. That being said, there are nurses here in Spokane, who worked as Independant Contractors in Seatle Hospitals, I think U of W. But since you don't have alot of experience, that my not pan out.

Have you looked at Travel Nursing? There are tons of travel jobs, I just can't travel. The pay was in the $30s+ with housing. I would give them a call.

PS: there is no nursing shortage in Washington State.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

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Thanks for all your input, I had no idea what the situation was. I've looked into travel nursing but I don't think I'm really ready for that. I didn't realize there was so much variation for salaries. :)

You don't have alot of experience, so you choices may be limited. That being said, there are nurses here in Spokane, who worked as Independant Contractors in Seatle Hospitals, I think U of W. But since you don't have alot of experience, that my not pan out.

Have you looked at Travel Nursing? There are tons of travel jobs, I just can't travel. The pay was in the $30s+ with housing. I would give them a call.

PS: there is no nursing shortage in Washington State.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

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I actually started working with an agency for a correctional facility north of Seattle about 1 1/2 years ago and Maxim started me off at $38, but they also are paying for as much overtime as i want, and give me a montly bonus. Plus working there is easy, I thought that working in the prision was going to be scary, but it is not at all. I never worked for any one who wanted me to work overtime and everyone i work with is extremely nice both at the agency and at the facility. I would encourage anyone to give them a call. I acutally made a little bit over 82k last year also.

:balloons:

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I actually started working with an agency for a correctional facility north of Seattle about 1 1/2 years ago and Maxim started me off at $38, but they also are paying for as much overtime as i want, and give me a montly bonus. Plus working there is easy, I thought that working in the prision was going to be scary, but it is not at all. I never worked for any one who wanted me to work overtime and everyone i work with is extremely nice both at the agency and at the facility. I would encourage anyone to give them a call. I acutally made a little bit over 82k last year also.

:balloons:

How on earth did you get Maxim to pay you $38 an hour? Here in Spokane, for facility staffing, they pay the princely sum of $21 an hour. I told them to take a hike. I did not go to college to earn HS dropout wages.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

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How on earth did you get Maxim to pay you $38 an hour? Here in Spokane, for facility staffing, they pay the princely sum of $21 an hour. I told them to take a hike. I did not go to college to earn HS dropout wages.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

I didn't have to do anything, they actually start all of there nurses off with $38 and I have a chance to get a raise later too. Seriously give them a call. Its the Seattle Correctional Office of Maxim Healthcare. Those guys are great, they are young but they have been extremely helpful with everything. I would refer everyone to them if i could.

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I am a new graduate. It took me 6 months to find RN job. Now I'm working in a nursing home here in bay area. I get paid $32/hr. Hospitals' hiring freeze is still on going. I tried applying to prison, but I didn't get the position. I just have to thankful I got this job.

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Specializes in L & D; Maternal/Child.

Think about taxes! In California, you pay state income tax, not so in Washington state. Also I work in the Seattle area and most hospitals are union, again not so in California.

As for cost of living, it depends on where you live (both California and Washington have expensive and cheaper regions). You just have to do your homework.

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So do you think seattle is better than California

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