salary

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I'm coming back to NC,after some time overseas and some time as a travel nurse.

Although I started my career in NC, I was quite shocked at the salary quoted to me by the recruiter at one Level One trauma center. A friend of mine who works at a community hospital thought it was low as well, so...

I'm a little confused. For a person with 7 years experience they quoted me

21.75 an hour.

Now, there other considerations, I will have a very large relocation bonus (So I can get some of my stuff moved there easily, and such), and they will pay off the 3500 left on my student loans, and there are educational benefits, as well as excellent retirement benefits, and also excellent health benefits (at low cost...) I also really like the department, it is progressive and I feel comfortable there, for the most part. I also get a good night shift differential and a great weekend shift differential, raising the pay quite a lot when I do nights and weekends...(and I'll be doing nights and weekends for sure which I do not mind.)

but the pay seems really low. So, I am wondering, am I over-reacting, or is the pay really just that low in NC. I did a cost calculator and I can live on this salary and save money, but I guess I didn't expect it to be that low.

Any comments? Is it low, or am I just out of touch with the Carolinas. ??

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I don't know what area of NC you're talking about, but I live in the Charlotte area. I actually won't graduate until May, but have been interviewing. For new graduates in the area, base pay is between 18.20-19.35. The hospital that starts at 18.20 is planning on increasing to at least 19.00 to be competitive, and that hospital only has 260 beds. The level 1 trauma center in the area pays 19.35 after orientation. I don't know if that helps, but that's all I know. Good luck.

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yes that helps. I think I had assummed that the salaries had been upped a bit, but NO! SO I suppose 21.75 isn't so bad. plus all the differentials....

well, at least the cost of living is great. :nurse:

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I'm sorry but a $2 increase in pay for 7 years of experience doesn't seem right to me. Maybe I'm just used to the high salaries in California.

When I started in Cali my starting salary was 19.25 (that's with 1.5 yrs experience) and I'm already at 30.21. Is California just that much better salary wise??

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Again,

you have to look at the cost of living. The cost of Living in North Carolina is insanely lower than the cost of Living in California- anywhere in California. The two states are not really comparable, which is why I posted this in the NC section, rather than the general nursing section.

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I understand that, I was just wondering if a $2 increase is "average" for 7 years of experience in North Carolina

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you should have gotten a pay higher than that. approx increase for a year is 1 dollar according to my experience. in 3 yrs of working in a hosp i got more than 3 dollars increase.pm me for any question..

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Specializes in ER, NICU.

I wouldn't take that kind of pay after 7 years! They are trying to low ball you. Walk.

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I started at a new hospital between greensboro and charlotte with 6 years of experience, not a trauma center, at around 22.50/hour with raises at 6mos and 1 year. sign on bonus of $2500. hope this helps

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Yes Jules that is the most helpful post in this thread. SO a 0.75 cent difference...and most likely it is because the place you went to is not a Level one (They tend for some reason, to pay lower). The hospital is a traditionally lower paying hospital...but offer great side benefits-I will get about 7,000 in benefits (Relocation, and loan repayment) so I suppose it is a tradeoff, and for what I consider superlative working conditions....

It's NC...The salaries are just sort of beyond compare, at least with the rest of the world....:angryfire

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Specializes in NICU.

I have recently been interviewing in the Charlotte area and have been offered everywhere from a laughable $20.00/hr. to a fairly decent $29.50/hr. It seems the closer to the city the higher the salaries and of course there are differentials for weekends and nights that brought up to an extra $7.00/hr. I have 11 years experience in NICU, but some nurses in other in specialties with less experience have been quoted pretty similar #'s. Good luck to you!!!

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Specializes in Emergency, Outpatient.
:madface: I have 19 years experience, ACLS, PALS, and a MSN and make 26.00 my co-worker has 2 years experience a ADN and makes 24.50 how is that for you :angryfire
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