Salary question??

Trauma Columnist · Feb 15, 2006

Hi Joe and welcome to All Nurses. I'll try to explain. There are various things you must factor in when you talk about nursing pay:

1. First all, please consider the cost of living in your area. Is 50-60k going to allow you to live comfortably?

2. What is the crunch factor? This is what I refer to as the amount of pay that a facility pays a new grad and then factor in what they pay an experienced nurse. They are usually really big in recruiting new grads and then not so big in retaining nurses.

3. What type of incentives exist for shift work?

So...you have to look at the whole picture. Good luck.

joe134 · Feb 15, 2006

well in my opinion 50-60k is good money, not amazing. it would allow me to live a good life. As far as advancement ive always thought that there was a lot of room for advancement. Move up to a NP or whatnot.Im only 20 so ive got plenty of time, go back to school if need be. thanks for the reply.

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Feb 16, 2006

well in my opinion 50-60k is good money, not amazing. it would allow me to live a good life. As far as advancement ive always thought that there was a lot of room for advancement. Move up to a NP or whatnot.Im only 20 so ive got plenty of time, go back to school if need be. thanks for the reply.

I make 56K. I think it is very generous while others complain miserably. Salaries generally do increase in places like NY, CA, etc in relation to the increased cost of living in those areas. While I would not like to raise my family on 56K many families make it on alot less. At your age I think 50-60K would be fabulous. I feel very fortunate to make in one shift what alot of people, my daughter included, make in an entire week. My daughter has a bachelor's degee although not in nursing. Just could not talk her into it. She always replied, ewww!

Larry77, RN · Feb 16, 2006

I can think of a lot of other things to complain about nursing (stress, staffing ratios, pt acuity, management, old equipment etc etc etc) but salary is not one of my issues. I think compared to other 2 yr degrees nursing is a very well paid profession.

arelius · Feb 16, 2006

It's not exactly two years based on my understanding. For a ASN program that lasts two years there is another 1-1/2 years of pre-reqs before getting into the program. So it isn't really a two year program even though they are given a two year degree. And that's if you can get into the program.

And 50k-60k a year is fairly good money but not all nurses make that kind of money. Check out the salaries for nurses based on different states and you'll see what I'm talking about.

Then you need to factor in how much work nurses do and the kind of environment that they work in and you begin to see that 50k-60k a year really isn't that great.

Fonenurse · Feb 16, 2006

Is 56000 - 60000 a starting salary for new grads? If so, then I think I feel a move to the USA.

Starting salary in the UK is around $32500 - no wonder nurses want to come to the USA - book me a plane ticket!

Trauma Columnist · Feb 16, 2006

Starting salaries in the US vary greatly but so does our cost of living. For example, I live in the cornfields of the Midwest and starting salary for a new grad is about $32,000. Our cost of living however, is fairly low.

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Feb 16, 2006

Is 56000 - 60000 a starting salary for new grads? If so, then I think I feel a move to the USA.
Starting salary in the UK is around $32500 - no wonder nurses want to come to the USA - book me a plane ticket!

If you realize that a decent home in my area costs upwards of $200,000, you'll see that $50,000/year is not a lot. Electric here averages close to $200/month, phone about the same, and that's not counting water/sewer, auto costs, taxes, and insurance. Or food.

A 2-bedroom apartment costs about $1000/month, no utilities--and that's not even a really nice area of town.

I probably would have a very hard time making ends meet if not for my hardworking dh's salary.

Fonenurse · Feb 16, 2006

If you realize that a decent home in my area costs upwards of $200,000, you'll see that $50,000/year is not a lot. Electric here averages close to $200/month, phone about the same, and that's not counting water/sewer, auto costs, taxes, and insurance. Or food.
A 2-bedroom apartment costs about $1000/month, no utilities--and that's not even a really nice area of town.
I probably would have a very hard time making ends meet if not for my hardworking dh's salary.

I think some of the prices you quote are similar - an average apartment here with 2 beds is likely to cost anything between $700 and $2775 a month depending on where you live.

A neighbours house sold recently for $600,000. As for utility bills, I am not sure but I still think things are better in the USA than they are here in the UK.

I too manage only because there are two of us earning in this household. Here in the UK we have one added benefit - these is only one NHS salary scale for nurses - starting at around $32500 pa and increasing depending on the role etc. Things are different in the private sector, but if you work for the NHS salaries are negotiated nationally - no hidden extras. I do like that.

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Feb 16, 2006

It's not exactly two years based on my understanding. For a ASN program that lasts two years there is another 1-1/2 years of pre-reqs before getting into the program. So it isn't really a two year program even though they are given a two year degree. And that's if you can get into the program.

Two years full-time includes every class you need to graduate as an ASN, Four years full-time for a BSN and this is not including going during the summer. Many students work as techs during the summer months. New grads make less.

If you get one year Med/Surg experience under your belt then you can pretty much write your own ticket. If you were able to travel or do agency nursing you could make far more than 50-60K.

One caution......do not get into nursing strictly for the money. Nursing is a profession you have to have your heart into. It is hard work and is very stressful but on the plus side you can work 3 days per week and be off more than you work. I personally think nursing is a great profession but it's definately not for everyone!

puppycat · Feb 16, 2006

I graduated last May with a BSN and my salary is $39,000/ $19.00 per hour before taxes (there is a no overtime policy in my hospital). I don't consider that a very good salary. The hospital just hired 4 experienced nurses (all with over 6 years experience in critical care) for $24.00/hour-still not a decent salary. Whether the salary is good or not really does depend on the area of the country you are working at.

And, my housing payment runs around $1500.00 per month, utilities are around $350.00/mo.....so, not much of a cost of living argument can be made for the low salaries in Texas