Salary?

In Pennsylvania, Certified School Nurses follow the teachers pay scale. Not as much as you would make in the hospital, but certainly not bad pay.

Which state are you from, it can vary from low 30s to 50s. Remember less hours per day, lunch every day, no holidays, nights, weekends, lower pressure and stress.

I'm in NJ where Certified nurses get paid on the teachers scale. Most schools in northern NJ where I have been looking start in the high 50's or low 60's depending on how much education you have.

I think starting at $58k for example is great for working 8-3, M-F for 10 months with no weekends, holidays, nights etc. A week off at Christmas and not having to work in a blizzard are added bonuses!

I sub in districts where the nurse has been there 20+ years and hit longevity pay and earn over $100k

I'm in a very rural area of NY. I'm fortunate to work in one of the two districts around here that put the nurses in the teachers' union and follow that pay scale. I don't remember the starting pay, but I'm starting my 4th year and will be just over 50k. Unfortunately, most of the districts around here don't do that, and pay the nurses much less. The closest school to my home - which would have been super convenient to work at - starts nurses at just $26k. Huge variance around here.

This varies so much by location. There is no way to give you an accurate idea.

All school employee salaries are public information though so if you go to the website of the school you are looking at and look for their union contracts then you should be able to find out how much they pay their nurses/certified school nurses. Sometimes these contracts are hard to find but they are required by law to have them available.

It does vary a lot. In PA, yes the Certified Nurses make a decent amount/teacher pay. But the other RNs who either aren't certified or are, but are not hired into that rare CSN position, they make less than the bus drivers.

45,000 but an 7:45-3:30 schedule M-F NOOOOO holidays! yay

If you get the opportunity, go for it. You'll make it work. You only get one chance with your kids. When they've left the nest you'll NEVER think back and say, "Damn I wish I would have worked more weekends and holidays when they were growing up!"

^^THIS^^

If you could afford a bigger paycut, then take it. As everyone else said, it varies a TON even within the same state.

I took about a 40% pay cut when I first took the position. But I haven't regretted a single moment. The time with my daughter is worth it's weight in gold.

OldDude......your words brought tears of joy when I read it ! Beautiful !! Simply Beautiful í ½í¸!

Just a quick snippet regarding being a school nurse and having your kids attend your school...my kids would come to my clinic after school to wait for me to finish up. They would often go to the gym and play around, or visit other kids whose moms were teachers, or go out and play. One day, during this after the dismissal bell rang time, my #3 son asked me if he could go outside and play on the playground; 4th grade. I said OK, be safe, and all that. It so happened I needed to take care of something along the same route to the playground and I watched as he exited the building and ran to the playground...he extended his arms as though he was flying...up and down...right and left...complete freedom and happiness. That image is forever etched in my mind and heart. We delivered him to his freshman year of college yesterday. Time flies...you only get one chance. Just sayin.

Love this! I love how those little memories and moments stand out in our minds! I'm sure you have many more pix in your mind of your boys that will stay with you forever!

On the same notion- my absolute favorite picture of one of my kids at camp is of my younger daughter. The camp photographer literally takes 200-300 pictures a day for parents to look through (more on special event days! It's crazy!) Anyway, my favorite picture is not of the kids smiling at camera or posing on the ropes course or riding a horse. My favorite is a pic of my daughter, looking away from the camera, waiting her turn with an ear to ear grin while she adjusts her hair. She is so full of joy in that photo that I can't stand it. Couldn't have that without my awesome school nursing schedule.

Related: OP, I didn't see if you had said how old your kiddos are but camp nursing might be something to consider if that's something they would enjoy. I love school nursing and the best thing is that the schedule has allowed me to work at a camp in the summer that lets my kids attend for a month. It's an amazing experience for them and 100% the thing I am happiest/proudest to give to them. PM me if you'd like more details.