1st time Med-surg traveler looking into San Francisco - tips?

travelinjones · Jul 31, 2008

The pay rate you mentioned of $35 with $2000 sounds about right averaged out. The per diem of between $55 and $70 also sounds about right. The difference would lie in your bennies, and whether it was a blended rate. No bennies with the per diem, but...the $35 an hour traveler rate is most likely a blended rate for a 12 hour shift. If you were to blend a $55 (8 hour shift), it would be $64.17/hour for a 12 hour shift. and another thing to consider...different travel companies have a variety formulas that allow for lower base pay with higher stipends giving the traveler a lower taxable income (but I recommend speaking with a tax professional before tweaking the tax base).

Actually, some facilities here are paying a base rate of $45ish with 10% shift dif for evening and 15% for nights. The staff are working 4 or 5 (8 hour) shifts per week and are receiving full time bennies.

I am currently on assignment in SFO and have taken the company housing rather than the stipend. I am in a large one bedroom about a mile from my facility and since I have my car here, my company also threw in parking at my apartment and at work. That is just what worked for me at the time.

Finding your own housing here would depend on what you want for your money. If you want to rent a room in a house, check out craig's list, and you should find something reasonable. If you want your own private studio or one bedroom, it might be a little more difficult with $2000, but not impossible by any means! Most, but not all places, would like you to sign a year lease for a discount on rent. You can also check out housing in San Mateo, Marin, and across the bay on the Oakland side, commuting by BART.

Pack a jacket! It's chilly here in the summer!

Kingfish72 · Aug 23, 2008

Hey guys,

I am looking into the San Fran area also, and recently spoke to my recruiter as the travel company I've been with for a while. Up til now I've been happy with both the recruiter and the company.

But he presented me with two scenarios for the San Fran area:

1.) Take the $1500/week GSA stipend and get paid $10/hour, or

2.) Take company housing (plus airfare and rental car, which I don't need but can get that taken out) and get the housing and make $26-30 an hour.

Both of these scenarios sounded like lowballs to me for the San Fran area. Anybody currently traveling in the area who can shed some light on how bad I'm getting lowballed, or if these numbers are actually reasonable?

Any info is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Kingfish

stayseerrn · Aug 24, 2008

San Francisco is a great, but tough, market. First of all, trying to get a job in the actual city is a challenge. Nurses who work in a San Francisco hospital can now get PTO (including travellers). Therefore, once most travellers get there, they rarely leave.

The housing is outrageously expensive. I agree with a previous post which stated that you are better off taking the company provided housing, and not the stipend.

Pay here is kind of tricky. Many recruiters will quote you a pay rate that sounds like $37-$40 per hour. What you need to ask the recruiter is if that is the blended pay rate, or is that the base pay rate? In other words, I have worked an assignment where I get a base pay of $32/hr for the first 8 hours. Then for hours 9-12, you get paid time and a half, which is $48/hr. If you average out the two different rates, you get about $37/hr for a 12 hour shift. So, be very sure when your recruiter quotes you a rate if that is the base or the blended rate. Otherwise, you will be very shocked when you get your first check. I did work one hospital here in the Bay Area where the base was $26.50 (great hospital, but didn't know that was at the low end of the spectrum). So, when a recruiter gives you a quote of a pay rate, ask if that is the blended or the base rate. Most base rates are anywhere from $26 to $34, with the average base at right around $30. The $34 one is rapidly filling their positions with actual staff, so they are not renewing their travelers. Basically, look for something around the $30 mark for your base, and you should be on par with the rest of the area.

For per diem pay, it depends on what route you take. A couple of the nursing agencies pay you $40/hr, but the agency reported that you only have to pay taxes on about $25/hr of it. Not quite sure how that worked out. Needless to say, only worked a couple of shifts through them as I was kind of nervous about the tax issue. For hospitals, of course, the pay rate is more than going through a staffing agency. But, you will be locked into that one hospital, and they require a minimum amount of hours per week or per month. Whereas with some staffing agencies, they don't have a minimum amount of time you have to give them. Per diem hospital pay works out somewhere between $55-$65 per hour. My current hospital pays about $56/hr, but they are really nice and flexible with my schedule. They understand that I am a traveller and don't have a lot of days I can give up to them. For me, money is important, but for a per diem job, it is more important that the hospital be flexible with my schedule.

Also, I agree with the previous poster about looking at the cities around the Bay Area. San Mateo, Redwood City, South San Francisco, Berkely, Daly City, even Palo Alto are good options for the Bay Area. You won't be living in the City itself, but you will be no more than 30 minutes by car, or you can take the BART in.

Just because there is not an opening in the City itself, don't miss out on the Bay Area. Just pick one of the cities in the area, and then you'll get to experience all that the Bay Area has to offer.

And the earlier post was right - be sure to bring a jacket!!!! Don't forget your bike as well. Lots of great paths to ride up here, both road and mountain.

stayseerrn · Aug 24, 2008

Sorry the previous post was long, but I have one more to add. I am currently in the Bay Area, and have been here since 12/2007. Was here before from 8/2006 - 2/2007, and I really love the area!!! Therefore, I have kind of had an opportunity to get a feel for the area and what other nurses have been talking about as far as their scale. Have also had an opportunity to do a little investigating myself.

Hope these help.

karen0083 · Aug 25, 2008

American Mobile has strong connections in SF. Almost all the travelers I met there were from AMN or Cross Country. I worked at UCSF made $30/hr (blended) and received $2400/month (but waived AMN health insurance).

Knew a lot of travelers who worked their travel assignment at UCSF and worked per diem at other hospitals. Insane cash flow... if you can handle being in a hospital that much.

If you take subsidy, keep in mind that housing is not only expensive, but very difficult to find.

tifffear · Aug 25, 2008

I have been considering the same notion. However, the numbers they gave me were horrible. I'm doing those same numbers in Phoenix. I was offered $2500 stipend in Fremont and $30 per hour. I think Seattle is my best bet. I have 3 kids to feed. :wink2:

Rhody · Aug 29, 2008

you guys really sound like you know what you're talking about...i am going to be a first time travel RN, just accepted a position in san diego today, was hoping you might be a bit familiar with this area as well, as far as pay rates go.

i will be confirming everything with my recruiter tomorrow and am really lost/nervous as far as what i should negotiate for...

i was told it will be 27/hr which includes housing, benefits and reimbursement to fly out there. don't want to be taken advantage of, but also don't want to overask for anything, seeing as i am a newbie at all this and not sure what is reasonable to ask for. what do you think?