Salary Question (Central CA: Bakersfield to Fresno area, maybe Modesto.)

GM2RN · Jun 18, 2010

Unless you work in a large city like LA, NYC, or Chicago, typical new nurse salaries tend to be in the low to mid $20s/hr, plus any shift differential for working any shift other than days.

Most RNs working in a hospital setting work 3 12-hour shifts, or 72 hours/pay period if paid bi-weekly. I do know of one new grad who worked 2 12s and 2 8s for a total of 40 hours each week, but that was in the ED and seems to be the execption rather than the rule.

If your normal schedule is to work 3 12s, then OT, or pay at time and a half, starts after 40 hours per week. So when you work that fourth day, the first 4 hours is paid at straight time and the next 4 or 8 hours, whatever you are working, is paid at time and a half. Any days or hours you work past that are also OT for that week.

Whether or not you get paid OT for hours over 12 in one shift depends on your facility and the circumstances. For instance, I would only be paid ST if I have to stay past 12 hours to chart, but if we are really busy in the ED at the time I'm supposed to quit and I need to stay, or if I am specifically asked to stay for 4 hours or so, then I get OT.

If you are normally scheduled for 5 8s, then you would typically be paid OT for anything over 8 hours per shift, and over 40 hours per week.

OT is calculated using your base salary, but typically not the shift diff. So if your base salary is $20/hr and your shift diff is $2/hr, for example, OT would be $30/hr plus your shift diff for a total of $32/hr.

nicoleRN831 · Jun 18, 2010

i just went for an interview at an innercity hospital in NJ and i was told that the starting pay is $34 and change and if you work nights during the week its $36 and change and if you work nights on the weekend is $38 and change. She also told me that the pay has 3 digits in the cents space. Like $34.578 , which i never heard of companies doing that but i guess you get a couple cents extra every week. (hey my mom used to tell me every penny adds up haha)

They do 3 12s for 3 weeks and then on your 4th week you do 4 12s. But on the forth week you get overtime for the extra hours that you worked past the 40.

GM2RN · Jun 18, 2010

i just went for an interview at an innercity hospital in NJ and i was told that the starting pay is $34 and change and if you work nights during the week its $36 and change and if you work nights on the weekend is $38 and change. She also told me that the pay has 3 digits in the cents space. Like $34.578 , which i never heard of companies doing that but i guess you get a couple cents extra every week. (hey my mom used to tell me every penny adds up haha)
They do 3 12s for 3 weeks and then on your 4th week you do 4 12s. But on the forth week you get overtime for the extra hours that you worked past the 40.

I thought you were asking about California...

Anyway, obviously there are other areas like NJ who do pay more. Make sure you check out the cost of living in such areas to make sure the trek across the country is going to be worth it.

April, RN, BSN, RN · Jun 18, 2010

Try posting your questions in the California Nurses Forum. You'll get answers more specific to the area you are asking about. New grad salaries vary greatly depending on the area of the country.

Nurses salaries really work just like any other hourly job. You get hired at a base rate. If you work evening shift, night shift, or weekend shifts, you get paid a differential which is a few dollars an hour more. Holidays worked are usually 1.5x your base rate. Over time usually is 1.5x your base rate for anything worked over 40 hours also. That would get added into your paycheck. How many shifts you work per week depends on the facility you work in, even the unit you work in. Some require you to work 3 twelves every week. Some places let you work 2 twelves this week, 4 twelves next. Then some places have 2 week pay periods rather than every week, so you have to fit your 6 twelves anywhere in those 2 weeks.

EDRN-2010 · Jun 19, 2010

I thought you were asking about California...
Anyway, obviously there are other areas like NJ who do pay more. Make sure you check out the cost of living in such areas to make sure the trek across the country is going to be worth it.

New grad pay in CT - $32 hr/base days plus night/weekend diff, western MA, NOT Boston area- new grad pay $30/hr. Average apt rent $600.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jun 19, 2010

Moved to the California Nurses forum.

**NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN** · Jun 19, 2010

I think in the Fresno area new grads start around 33-34/hr.

However, current economy is stopping many new nurses from finding jobs. There are various threads in the California forum attesting to this. But we cannot predict how the nursing market will be when you graduate in 2+ years.

12 hours is straight pay. That means you would make 33 hr x 12 hours = 396 for that shift.

It is usually 3 12 hour shifts a week to be considered full time. Some hospitals require you to work an extra 13th shift in a month (4 week period) to hit the "full time" hours. Others will have you work an 8 hour back up shift every two weeks. I only do my 3 12's a week, thankfully.

Some jobs will make everything after 40 hours over time. Others will make anything after 36 hours overtime. Overtime has been fluctuating at my work. One month there is the opportunity to do 2 extra shifts a week, other months there is nothing available. It is not a guarantee at any job. I believe the economy has had a lot to do with it.

I hope that answered your questions.