Sacramento pay package questions

[LadyRN29]

Hello! I have been thread surfing for weeks & after seeing some recent great responses decided I should ask my own question.

I was interviewed & offered an assignment in Sacramento. It could be temp to permanent. I was told pay was almost 45. The break down is 24/hr + OT after 8hrs, 288 tax free meal stipend, free housing and benefits. Taxed at 25% I'd bring home just over 1000/wk. If I take housing stipend it's 13/hr so just under 1900$ a month. Does this add up to "almost 45" because to me it doesn't but I may be wrong & should I count the meal stipend when I could claim meals on my taxes anyway?

Also I want to relocate to the Bay Area ASAP and I'd prefer to be in east bay but I saw that the cost of living is lower in sac so I figured I could scope it out with assignment and maybe I'll want to stay. The hospital has salary ranges on their site and new grads start at 47/hr with good benes. I have a BSN &7yrs exp with 5 in NICU 3. It looks like pay in Bay Area is higher to compensate for cost of living so I'm thinking it's probably more beneficial to find a staff job since I want to stay & start a family but then I risk that taking months. BTW I'm shopping around but options are limited because I've been out of NICU for 1.5yrs only a few agencies take the time to listen to the reason & submit me. (I had triplets in my unit & lost them over 5months) so I was a school nurse for a yr. Your response is greatly appreciated!

[NedRN]

Sacramento pay is similar to San Francisco, but housing is less expensive. So financially, you should be ahead there.

If you are working 12 hour shifts with a base rate of $24, your "blended rate" is then $28 an hour (unless $24 is your blended rate). $288 stipend divided by 36 hour work week is $8 an hour. Add $13 for housing for a total pay of exactly $45. You should also add your travel pay and any health insurance and license reimbursement. When you do that, it is about right for Sacramento.

No matter how you crunch the numbers, you are going to do better taking a staff job. Your base pay with 7 years will be (guessing) about $53 an hour plus benefits. You will never get that from traveling.

[LadyRN29]

Sacramento pay is similar to San Francisco, but housing is less expensive. So financially, you should be ahead there.

If you are working 12 hour shifts with a base rate of $24, your "blended rate" is then $28 an hour (unless $24 is your blended rate). $288 stipend divided by 36 hour work week is $8 an hour. Add $13 for housing for a total pay of exactly $45. You should also add your travel pay and any health insurance and license reimbursement. When you do that, it is about right for Sacramento.

No matter how you crunch the numbers, you are going to do better taking a staff job. Your base pay with 7 years will be (guessing) about $53 an hour plus benefits. You will never get that from traveling.

Thanks for the info! I understand the break down now 24/hr is my base rate btw. It's helps to know I'm not being low balled. They haven't mentioned any travel or license reimbursement but I'm planning to ask.