Southern Nurses Please Help!

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I currently live in an area of Florida that has a very high cost of living. Everywhere I look all I see are subdivisions, gas stations, convenience stores and Walmarts being built on every corner. :( I've lived here all my life and like a slower pace of life. I've decided that once I finish school I want to move. I really only want to live in a Southern state because I can't handle tons of snow. I also can't handle extreme heat where there's basically no Winter. I'd like to see the seasons change. So, if you are a nurse (LPN or RN) working in a Southern state can you please tell me what the average salary is? I've seen some posts on here saying that the average starting salary for a new grad RN is $14 to $16/hour in some states. That sounds terribly low! If it starts out that low, how long does it take to get to a reasonable level like $24/hour? Also, could someone tell me what state tax is? I think that's what it's called. Here in Florida we have income tax that comes out of our checks. Isn't it the same everywhere? Thank you so much!

Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

Short and sweet-Hendersonville, NC.....Asheville is about 30 min away. Blue Ridge Parkway is right at your door.

Aiken, SC is nice but mostly older retirees are the ones with the money.....rather expensive to live, pretty though.

Orangeburg, SC right on the interstate.....nice hospital.....adn program next door, BSN program up the road.

Summmerville, SC....lovely, rather expensive...right up the I from Charleston.

For my money were I younger I'd move to the Hendersonville area in a New York minute.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I'm a newer LVN in Fort Worth, Texas with only 5 months of experience at this date. I earn $18.50 hourly. My friend is also a new LVN who earns $20.00 at a small facility in the Mid-Cities area located between Dallas and Fort Worth.

The cost-of-living is reasonable here. There's no state income taxes in Texas. My brand new 1,800 square foot house cost $105,000 at the end of last year. The property taxes are expensive in Texas, but it balances out since there is absolutely no state income tax.

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I live in southeast Alabama, and make $22.60 as an RN with two years experience. It's a beautiful area, small towns yet cities nearby, less than an hour to the beach.

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Angelic lady,

I had to reread your post as I thought I might have posted it LOL!!! We lived in Sarasota but I have children and the retires in our neighborhood were not receptive to my children. We relo'd to Atlanta about 6 years ago. Loved it. Lived in the north georgia mountains. I would love to go back there. However, all the big hospitals are downtown, and Atlanta traffic is some of the worst in the USA. Took my husband 2 hours to get to his office. I am in the midwest now for school. Been here 4 months. Looking to relo ANYWHERE in the USA to escape exactly what you mention. Yet I am not spending all this for school to work for peanuts. If you know of anyplace, I am looking for warmer climate, nice views, good cost of living, not so much suburbia, good schools and a nice work environment. Is that available anywhere anymore?????????

I hope so!

I live in Spokane, Washinton, in the Pacific NW. I wouldn't recommend Spokane, or North Idaho, because the pay is so low. However, the Tricities area of Washington, Pasco, Richland, & Kennewick (south west WA state) is building up nicely.

The cost of living is not as high as Seattle, and the hospitals are looking for nurses. There is a new Heart Institute, other nice hospitals, lower cost of medical benefits, compared to Spokane, and the hospitals are offering double contributions to the retirement plans for employees. It is a desert like community, with many golf courses, the Columbia River, etc. Water recreation, it is really building up. It has a warm winter, with little or no snow. I believe that the Univesity if Washington has branch campuses for individuals who want to go back to school. And Washington has no state income tax either. It is a spits throw to Oregon from there. I would highly recommend it. The nurses in at least one hospital are unionized with WSNA. There are other, better unions in Seattle, including SEIU.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washigton

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I think I would try Memphis.

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Specializes in ER!.

As much as I love the ER where I work, I just cannot with a clear conscience recommend moving to Memphis.

If my DH was not a fixture at FedEx, I would have gone straight back to Nashville. It has grown and changed a lot since I was there, and Williamson County (N'ville is in Davidson) will always be up there with Bevery Hills with living costs, but there are some great towns around Nashville with living costs still reasonable, and the commute does not seem too bad from what I've seen. Hendersonville, Mount Juliet, Goodlettsville, etc. The heat and humidity are not near as bad as Memphis, snow is not too common, autumn is what Heaven must look like, the worst part of winter is ice storms sometimes. The countryside is all rolling hills, and for a city its size Nashville has a distinctly Southern graciousness to it. Plus it is one fun city if you do decide to break out the red paint! Plus I always kind of wanted to work at Vanderbilt; talk about being among some elite medical talent!

If I remember right, starting pay in Nashville hospitals is around high teens, low 20s. And you are absolutely correct, Tennessee is quite the most beautiful state there is. (Hawaii is a very close second ;)

So come on up, we'd love to have you! :welcome:

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