Sacramento area, opps, wage etc???

U.S.A. California

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Specializes in ER, GI, Ortho.

I am considering moving to Sacramento around Feb of next year. As an RN I have exp in GI and ER. As a PCT med/surg ortho.

Can anybody tell me what actual wages(hourly) are in Sac?

What is your overall impression of nursing in the area? good places, bad places...

How do the unions affect nursing?

Thanks for any input you have!

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

Job market sucks in california right now. Sacramento is one of the harder to get into areas, but it might be better by february. Who knows? I work for a hospital owned by a company (CHW) in southern california that owns some of the hospitals in that area as well. I like CHW benefits, they're pretty reasonable. Our union (CNA) has been pretty good at keeping our benefits/wages fair. In my area, the wages are some of the higher of all of the hospitals. That's all the info I can give your really as I'm not up there.

Good luck!

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Specializes in ER, GI, Ortho.

The job market is pretty sad in Arizona too, but there are jobs out there. So I'm not worried about that.

I'm hoping somebody will be willing to give actual wage figures. Saying "not bad" or what have you doesn't really help me out.

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

No reason to be rude, I don't live in Sacramento and wouldn't wish to quote inaccurate numbers. One of my co workers with 5 yrs ICU experience told me he was going to be hired at 44/hr.

Hopefully someone will answer your question who has more knowledge of the area soon.

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Specializes in ER, GI, Ortho.

Sorry if that came off rude. Not my intention.

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

It's all good. I believe in regards to wages new grads start high 30's (appromximately 40/hr or so UC Davis is my source for that) and experienced nurses can expect to make high 40's if not more. I believe the nicer houses are on the pricier side 400's.+ But renting and deals can be found for much cheaper.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Emergency, Critical Care Transport.

From what I know, UC Davis starts around $38/hr for new grads. Sutter as well. By and large, living in Sac is one of the best deals in California. The cost of living is low enough to actually save money, Tahoe and San Francisco are only an hour and a half away, and the bike path is fantastic. Davis is the trauma I center. Sutter Roseville and South Sac Kaiser are Trauma 2. East Sacramento area near McKinley park has some *awesome* houses (there's a reason a neighborhood is called "the fabulous 40s"), and if you want to be in the Sierra Foothills instead, check out Roseville. I still have yet to experience better sushi than I had in Sac (I know! Crazy! And I lived in SF for a year) - and although my honey says he can't stand it and couldn't live there, I miss it terribly. There are a lot of up-and-coming bands, professions, and just some awesome stuff going on. Second Saturday downtown rocks. If you like rafting, you are central to a ton of Sierra rivers. You need air conditioning, no matter where you live. And $400K is not that much for a house in California, and it'll buy you a great house in Sac. One of my nurse friends just bought one for $60K (short sale) and is renting it out (I kid you not). If you kayak, bicycle, like skiing, like SF, like hot weather, enjoy a city with a small-town feel, you'll totally dig Sac. It can feel like a sprawl, but ultimately, it's pretty homey if you live right in downtown/near McKinley. Roseville is pretty cool, too.

As far as unions go? CNA is pretty strong up north.

Hope that helps.

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