Starting Salary.

Published

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

Specializes in ED/trauma.

My base pay is $52,000.

I'm in the west (but not Cali), and our cost of living is about average compared with the rest of the country.

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Specializes in telemetry, cardiopulmonary stepdown, LTC. Hospice.

I live in southeastern Indiana, drive to Cincinnati, OH (55 miles away) to work at a unionized hospital. I'm a new grad and just passed boards, and I started at 21.25 for days. It's more money than I have ever made, but I agree...whew, nurses are underpaid by far. Also, being a late starter in this profession, 39 years old, gives me a little difference perspective than some of my younger co-workers at times. I can safely say that my main motivators are making a good living for the work I do, and trying to make a difference for patients, and in that order, too. I am not ashamed of that at all. I never heard of anyone in any other profession who felt guilty because they wanted to be well-paid for working their hiney off.

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Is there the same disparities in salaries for doctors as there is for nurses? (I really don't know the answer to this one) The type of work that nurses do should be valued and therefore compensated financially. Not only do we commit to many years of education but on the floor we hold a huge responsibility for the safety of our patients. Throughout nursing school it was constantly reinforced that we are the last line of defense for our patients, that we are ultimately responsible if a drug error is made (even if the doctor perscribed the wrong medication or the wrong dose). Often times it is the nurse that reconizes the need for intervention of other departments such as social services. All I am saying is that many people equate the cost of living to pay of nurses. I would understand if there were slight differences in pay, but from reading this forum I see that pay can fluctuate over $30 in some cases depending on where the nurse is working geographically. I would feel much better, if the fluctuation was due to experience. :spbox: I guess I'll get off my soap box now. I just think that nurses are awsome and I am proud to be one. And although I live where nurses are compensated well (around $45 an hour base pay), I really think that nurses in other areas should have that same benefit, they are doing the same work and many times with higher patient ratios.:prdnrs:

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Specializes in NeuroSurgical Intensive Care.

Yeah I think it depends where you live, what shifts you work, and how much overtime you are willing to do! :) But I think once you factor out cost of living, I think everyone's really making about the same, you know?

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Specializes in L & D.

Man-I'm being jiped-I started out @ $18.50 w/ $4.00 shift diff for nights. Go Alabama! I guess it's a good thing I love my job!

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I was a student in western Texas ans one hospital system there started graduate nurses at 20.50 per hour but had the absolute best loan repayment plan I have found, and I have called hospitals all over the US. There plan was $400 per month tax free for ten years or until the loan is payed. They also did not require a contract for the plan. If you leave they stop paying the loan payment for you. Another system there was paying graduate nurses $24 per hour, but no loan repayment plan. I guess it all depends what you are looking for in the way of benefits. For me it would be the loan repayment since I have so much to pay back.

Unfortunately, I ended up transferring to rural Maine with my husband and his job and I now make 20.61 per hour and there is no loan repayment plan. It is worth it though to keep the family together.

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I am in western wisconsin...

As a new grad... I started out around $25.00 an hour. I plan to gross over $50,000 a year. Keep in mind... a decent sized 1 bedroom apartment is $500.00 a month. Not too bad. Wisconsin and Minnesota are a couple of the best states for salary/cost of living differential.... (and it's beautiful here by the way!)

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I currently manage a hospital based group. Saleries depend on YOE and call. Generally our hourly saleries range from $43.00 to $52.00. It translates to a based salery of approximately 81,000/yr. My proposed budget for this fiscal year was over $650,000... There are 5 full-time persons and 1 part-time.

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Specializes in Med/surg, Quality & Risk.
I currently manage a hospital based group. Saleries depend on YOE and call. Generally our hourly saleries range from $43.00 to $52.00. It translates to a based salery of approximately 81,000/yr. My proposed budget for this fiscal year was over $650,000... There are 5 full-time persons and 1 part-time.

Wow! What geographical area are you in?

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Specializes in Transplant/Surgical ICU.

That poster must be in Northern California, I'm in Southern Cali, and don't make close to that! Lol, people here seem to think nurses are rolling in money, if they only knew...

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Southern California, operating room, First assisting group.

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subscribed!

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