Starting Salary.

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Just wondering....have you started out making at least $60,000/year?

Specializes in Chiropractic assistant, CNA in LTC, RN.
Here in Charleston WV, new graduate RN's start at $18 an hour at CAMC. No, that is not a typo. Eighteen an hour.

Ouch!! That's $3 an hour less than in Winston and I seriously doubt the cost of living in Charleston is THAT much lower than NC. It's really a shame because WVA is one of the most beautiful states I've ever been too. I've camped and hiked there a lot and it is so green and clean appearing. (note I used the word "appearing" lol) but the economy was awful the last time I checked. Not a lot of jobs anywhere. Is it still pretty bad?

The triad area of NC (winston-salem, greensboro, and highpoint) has gotten awful lately too because all the manufacturing jobs have gone overseas. Textile and furniture manufacturing have been extremely hard hit. Healthcare and biotech jobs are becoming more and more plentiful but not everyone can or wants to do that type of work. I'm truly grateful I enjoy healthcare because I think I'll always have a job. My heart breaks for all those who have lost factory jobs though. It isn't easy to find something comparable anymore.

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The hopistal in my area start RNs off on base pay anywhere between $18.00/hour-$20.00/hour...

so if you work a 36 hour week, with no shift diffs, and do not work any over time its just under 34K a year...

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Specializes in Adult Acute Care Medicine.
Winston-Salem NC hospitals day shift starts at just over $42K a year for RNs. COL isn't bad here compared to many areas of the country. It's a ton of money for me who's last job was a CNA at the tune of $8.19 an hour. lol

Eek the CNA's her in MI make 30K per year.

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Specializes in Trauma ICU, Surgical ICU, Medical ICU.
Here in Charleston WV, new graduate RN's start at $18 an hour at CAMC. No, that is not a typo. Eighteen an hour.

I am coming back to Chas soon to CAMC, they offered me 38/hr for full time per diem. I started out at Duke in NC at a whopping 19.58 an hour. And believe me, cost of living IS a HUGE difference there!!! I can't get an apt that's not run down or in a dangerous part of town for less than $800 a month, and the rent just jumped to $1,200!!! We said forget it and were coming back to the hills!!

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I am coming back to Chas soon to CAMC, they offered me 38/hr for full time per diem. I started out at Duke in NC at a whopping 19.58 an hour. And believe me, cost of living IS a HUGE difference there!!! I can't get an apt that's not run down or in a dangerous part of town for less than $800 a month, and the rent just jumped to $1,200!!! We said forget it and were coming back to the hills!!

I know per diem is way better pay, but for a new grad with "benefits", it's a whole lot less.

That wouldn't be so bad for a young person just starting out, or someone who had a signifigant other who had a better job.

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Specializes in Trauma ICU, Surgical ICU, Medical ICU.
I know per diem is way better pay, but for a new grad with "benefits", it's a whole lot less.

That wouldn't be so bad for a young person just starting out, or someone who had a signifigant other who had a better job.

definately agree with you on this one. If it werent for that I'd be going over to huntington. At least in WV though you can get a nice home for less than 100k. I think nurses are grossly underpaid in charleston.

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Any first year California nurses here? Odds are I am going to have to pay for nursing school through financial aid and school loans. So, I'd like to have a rough idea of how long it's going to take to pay the loans off. ;)

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Any first year California nurses here? Odds are I am going to have to pay for nursing school through financial aid and school loans. So, I'd like to have a rough idea of how long it's going to take to pay the loans off. ;)

I'm starting in whittier, california and we start at $31.26hr

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Specializes in NICU.

I'm moving to D.C. and I'm making $25/hr as a new grad, plus $2 ICU differential (I'll be in the NICU-neonatal) for days, more nights/weekends.

Nice jump from $14.77 I made as a nurse technician, and HUGE jump from the $8.25 I made as a lifeguard, here in Washington state.

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I'm starting in whittier, california and we start at $31.26hr

Thank you for sharing. :) That's in southern California right? Around LA?

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Thank you for sharing. :) That's in southern California right? Around LA?

Yup, thats days too. Theres a big night differential and specialty differentials too.

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Well in the bay area in California you can expect to make quite a bit more. My friend (a new grad) is making 74K yearly and thats 36 hours a week. Unfortunately I have not found a job yet. Im glad I read these other posts because I was considering moving to another state, but now it doesn't seem worth it.... I can't believe they pay nurses so little in other states.... I made almost $25 as a student nurse for a summer intership... its hard to believe thats all the hospital pays for a new grad.

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