Small paycheck making me second guess career!

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I know this is an unpopular opinion and everyone wants to be a nurse because they love to help people (well not everyone but a large amount)...

I CANT BELIEVE HOW SMALL MY PAY CHECK IS AFTER TAXES/BENEFITS!

Its in all caps cause I'm shocked! When I was in my orientation I didn't have any benefits and I was still upset on how much taxes cut my paycheck but at least I still had a good amount left. Now take away benefits/union fees, whatever the heck their taking out and making the same amount I made as a waitress! Doing MORE WORK!

My sister works at a call centre makes 21 dollars and only makes a few hundred less than me? What????? How????

I just had to let it out cause it's honestly making me take a second look at this career. We work so hard and were under payed!

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I don't know where most of my paycheck is going either. I look at the paystub and read it (Union, taxes, health insurance, etc), but I still don't know how so much is taken out.

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Specializes in Hospice.

So much for the "huge salaries" nurses get, eh??

And, I'm sorry, but I just had a flashback to the episode of "Friends" when Rachael got her first paycheck ever and her reaction was "Who's this FICA guy, and why is he taking all my money?"

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

You are right. Such hard and important work for not enough pay comparatively.

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Specializes in Hospice.

We tried to tell you guys not to fall for the "there's a nursing shortage, you can write your own ticket" sales pitches, but who listens to a bunch of COBs?? [emoji41][emoji56]

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I don't know where most of my paycheck is going either. I look at the paystub and read it (Union, taxes, health insurance, etc), but I still don't know how so much is taken out.

Exactly! I am dumb founded. And my friends and family keep saying you make 31$ like that is my take home at all. Its so frustrating!

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We tried to tell you guys not to fall for the "there's a nursing shortage, you can write your own ticket" sales pitches, but who listens to a bunch of COBs?? [emoji41][emoji56]

When did you guys try to tell me anything lol. I didnt join this site until I was a nursing student and even then I stayed in the sections regarding NCLECX and exams. If people told me its alot of hard work and little pay I wouldnt have done it, trust me!

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Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.

Wow. #firstworldproblems much? As a waitress, did you have benefits? Probably not. God forbid you invest in your retirement (401k, Medicare and SS), have health care coverage or disability. Geez, who needs those things. And taxes - well that's one of life's hard truths.

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Specializes in Hospice.
When did you guys try to tell me anything lol. I didnt join this site until I was a nursing student and even then I stayed in the sections regarding NCLECX and exams. If people told me its alot of hard work and little pay I wouldnt have done it, trust me!

You mean you never noticed all of us jumping up and down, waving our arms and screaming "Run away! Run away!" [emoji56]

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Specializes in Hospice.
Wow. #firstworldproblems much? As a waitress, did you have benefits? Probably not. God forbid you invest in your retirement (401k, Medicare and SS), have health care coverage or disability. Geez, who needs those things. And taxes - well that's one of life's hard truths.
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I felt the need to chime in, because, like the OP said, when I got my first few paychecks, I was so dissatisfied with how little I was making. I had friends who were younger than me making much more than me. However, I realized that I was really thinking about it all wrong.

In just two years since I started my nursing career, I already make $4+ more dollars (base pay) than I did when I first started. NEVER in my life have I ever had a pay increase like that in so little time.

Furthermore, because I work 12 hr shifts, I'm left with 4 others days to pick up at my PRN job if I choose making $32 /hr base plus $1 diff for bedside and another $4.25 shift diff. I don't live off of my PRN pay at all. It all goes into savings.

So even tho some of my friends are making more $$$ than me, I have to keep in mind that 1) I'm almost on par with them pay wise, 2) I didn't have work for my company 10+ years to make as much as them, and 3) every single one of those friends have already hit the ceiling in their fields of work and I've just gotten started!

Nursing just gives you so many options to make $$$ than any other career I've ever had. That's the bright side of nursing. So many opportunities, one license. [emoji4]

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I felt the need to chime in, because, like the OP said, when I got my first few paychecks, I was so dissatisfied with how little I was making. I had friends who were younger than me making much more than me. However, I realized that I was really thinking about it all wrong.

In just two years since I started my nursing career, I already make $4+ more dollars (base pay) than I did when I first started. NEVER in my life have I ever had a pay increase like that in so little time.

Furthermore, because I work 12 hr shifts, I'm left with 4 others days to pick up at my PRN job if I choose making $32 /hr base plus $1 diff for bedside and another $4.25 shift diff. I don't live off of my PRN pay at all. It all goes into savings.

So even tho some of my friends are making more $$$ than me, I have to keep in mind that 1) I'm almost on par with them pay wise, 2) I didn't have work for my company 10+ years to make as much as them, and 3) every single one of those friends have already hit the ceiling in their fields of work and I've just gotten started!

Nursing just gives you so many options to make $$$ than any other career I've ever had. That's the bright side of nursing. So many opportunities, one license. [emoji4]

Yeah I think I will have to get a second job. That will be the only way that I am satisfied lol.

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