Rural Texas job market?

carachel2 · Mar 9, 2015

I think you will find the job market to be very reasonable. The closer you get to the bigger metro areas the more plentiful the jobs I would think. There are lots of great small towns on the outskirts of the DFW area which gives you good access to city life but with a small town feel. I think a reasonable starting estimate would be 45-50 an hour which would be 85-95K or so. Just be aware, since most new NPs are not used to 9-5 office work......you will need to find after school pick-up for your kids if your spouse can't fill that role. Most offices close at 5 but you will be putting in some hours either from home or from the office AFTER the last patient leaves. So if the job says 9-5 it usually means until about 6-6:30. I find this is one of THE leading causes of new NP burnout within the first few years. The home/life balance is really hard. Negotiate a four day week or something similar when you are looking for jobs.

aprnKate · Mar 31, 2015

I am currently in the midwest and will grad next year (FNP). just kicking around ideas, nothing concrete. hubs and 2 kids to consider...but in the long term, want to eventually end up in texas, and hopefully in small town practice. can anybody give me an idea of what the market looks like, pay (ballpark) and future? any outstanding considerations to be considered? thanks!

I work in a rural health area and rural health majority of the time pays more than what metropolitan/urban areas offer. I have colleagues who graduated same time as I did that work in the city and they got paid around the mid to high seventies (they are new grads like me) if you go into rural areas you get about 10-15K more. Rural areas are like a healthcare desert, I basically work where no one wants to go because certain conveniences that are available in the city are not available where I work (but then again, I don't live in the rural area, I live in the city and then go to work in the rural area). It took more than a year for my employer to find a suitable fit for their clinic...that is how badly underserved where I work. There is probably less than 10 providers that work in the area where I work.

BirkieGirl · Mar 31, 2015

thanks for replies to both. good things to consider

MelodiousDreamer, BSN · Jun 4, 2015

I work in a rural health area and rural health majority of the time pays more than what metropolitan/urban areas offer. I have colleagues who graduated same time as I did that work in the city and they got paid around the mid to high seventies (they are new grads like me) if you go into rural areas you get about 10-15K more. Rural areas are like a healthcare desert, I basically work where no one wants to go because certain conveniences that are available in the city are not available where I work (but then again, I don't live in the rural area, I live in the city and then go to work in the rural area). It took more than a year for my employer to find a suitable fit for their clinic...that is how badly underserved where I work. There is probably less than 10 providers that work in the area where I work.

Hi, could you tell me what state you're referring to? I've got my RN license in NY and I'm thinking of getting into an NP school but I'm worried the job market isn't that good in NY.

aprnKate · Jun 5, 2015

Texas ....there are plenty of rural areas in Texas, Alaska, Oklahoma....i'm sure there are other areas in the US too. I like it so far....it forces you to be on your feet and think independently. However, there are downsides to it that you need to consider like are you willing to move to the rural area knowing that the nearest supermarket is anywhere from 30 mins to 1 hour away? Housing may not be as lavish or as great as one would be used to like living in the city. Or are you willing to stay in a metropolitan drive 2 hours one way going to the clinic where you are working and 2 hours on your way home? I'm not saying all rural areas are like this; it varies from situation to situation. But you need to weigh your pros and cons and determine what is suitable for your lifestyle.

jjpsychiatry · Jul 27, 2015

Texas ....there are plenty of rural areas in Texas, Alaska, Oklahoma....i'm sure there are other areas in the US too. I like it so far....it forces you to be on your feet and think independently. However, there are downsides to it that you need to consider like are you willing to move to the rural area knowing that the nearest supermarket is anywhere from 30 mins to 1 hour away? Housing may not be as lavish or as great as one would be used to like living in the city. Or are you willing to stay in a metropolitan drive 2 hours one way going to the clinic where you are working and 2 hours on your way home? I'm not saying all rural areas are like this; it varies from situation to situation. But you need to weigh your pros and cons and determine what is suitable for your lifestyle.

I agree with aprnKate that some of the conveniences in urban areas are not in the rural areas such as supermarkets, malls, outlets, movie theaters, and etc... Fortunately, I was able to rent a house closer to Walmart with Netfix kiosk, Brookshire, and pharmacy, which is about 5 minutes drive and under 10 minutes drive to my work place. However, there are a lot of FNP or Psychiatric NP jobs in the rural areas (all over Texas) starting pay six figures, relocation, sign on bonus with full benefits. At the end of the day, you have to decide which rural areas that will fit your family's lifestyle.

Riburn3, BSN, MSN, APRN, NP · Jul 28, 2015

I live in Texas and was offered 2 jobs in very rural settings, like 2k population and no cities within hundreds of miles rural. I seriously considered one offer because it was a 2.5 hour drive from where I currently live, in an urgent care/ER, and I could work 3-4 days there and then be off for 3-4 days back home. The pay was obnoxiously good and the benefits were solid. I ultimately decided I didn't wanna be away from my family like that, even if it would have only been for a short time.

The other offer was to work in a similar type UC/ER setting but they offered me around what I was already being offered in my hometown, so it wasn't worth it.

Most rural areas in the state realize their location is less than desirable for most working professionals so they compensate pretty well for it.