School nursing in the Bay Area

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Hey all -

I'm looking for a specialty change and I'm considering finally going after what I've always been interested in: school nursing.

The problem is the compensation for them in the San Francisco/San Jose Bay Area, where I currently live.

I make 6 figures as an OR nurse now which is pretty typical when your rent is $5000+/month, but school nurse job listings I'm seeing are offering about $47,000/year.

That is....poverty level in the Bay Area. In my hometown of St. Louis, when adjusted to cost of living, it's about $23,000/year. That's just obscene. Especially when they ask you pay your own money and take the time to go back and get a year-long post-bac credential before you can even take the job!

Is this normal?! Are there any school nurses in this area of California that can shed some light on this?

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Specializes in School Nursing, Public Health Nurse.

I'm kind of different in that I'm a school nurse but I don't need to be Credentialed because I work in a School-based health center and I'm paid as a PHN for a city who runs the clinic so I make good money (not as much as a floor nurse). Also, I don't live in SF so my rent is under $2200. The school nurses basically make what the teachers do but it varies per District.

And 47k is only "poverty level" in SF, Berkeley, and San Jose. Yeah the rent and prices are ridiculous, but I have a friend who's a nurse for Oakland Unified and I believe she brought a house in the East Bay. Of course it's easier with two incomes, but you have to keep in mind where you live and your costs.

School jobs also come with better benefits and retirement so that's a trade off. I make much less than my friends on the floor, but my retirement is looking better and less time on my feet.

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I live in Saratoga, so the cost of living is very high. Although I do believe the jobs that were offering $47k were in the peninsula (Burlingame maybe). It just feels like the whole area is expensive and that's too low of a wage. There are some jobs in the San Jose area listed (Los Altos, Mountain View), but no salary...what do you think is reasonable? To make equivalent what a school nurse in my hometown makes, it would have to be around $70,000/year.

What exactly is a school-based health center?

Thanks for your response.

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Specializes in School Nursing, Home Health.

All I can say is "ouch!" I'm originally from the bay, relocated to New Mexico. Living comfortably as a school nurse. Come on over! We need nurses in New Mexico ;)

Have you considered working for a clinic or health vans if you are looking to work in a community based place? That was my dream, but school nursing was the best for the rural area I live in. Good luck!

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I just started my nursing career and am making 60k a year in the East Bay. It sucks but it's a trade off. I love the kids, I know when all my vacations are ahead of time, and I don't work much. I'm contracted for 6.75 hour days. No one calls me for overtime or weekends. I have 5 school sites so nobody's on my head at any time of the day. I have a small business that I'm able to run on the side. I wouldn't be in the right state physically or mentally to do so after working the floor.

It's worth it for me to trade a fatter check for happiness, time, and freedom.

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