Moving to San Antonio. Need lots of help!

gauge14iv, MSN, APRN, NP · Aug 24, 2005

Wages are much lower in SA - but the cost of living is very low also. Housing is VERY cheap - 100 k will get you a HUGE house in SA!

I would love to move to SA - my parents live there - but I couldn't take the pay cut!

RN34TX · Aug 25, 2005

I love San Antonio!!

Never lived there and don't know the market but have looked around at apartments and the rent did seem incredibly low for a city of any kind.

I've also been told that the wages are a lot lower than Dallas or Houston but you have to look at everything. Dallas and Houston I'm quite sure are significantly more expensive to live in.

In fact, I never hear from any TX nurses on this board from SA, it seems that we are all DFW/Austin/Houston people here.

Friendly people, great food, lively downtown/Riverwalk, perfect size for a city but this is all from a tourist perspective and you need to hear from SA nurses.

Love SA!!

studentnurserachel · Aug 25, 2005

I really enjoyed SA on the three occasions I visited there (especially the Riverwalk). I just don't understand why the pay is so low. I understand that cost of living is less there than in Dallas, Ft. Worth, etc., but it is still higher than it is here in NC and nurses make more here. Someone suggested to me that it might be because SA has so many little colleges and probably a glut of nurses. I don't know, I guess I need to stop complaining and get used to it. Still, if there's anyone out there with information on living there, the hospitals, and any orientation programs, I'd appreciate it. I can't find any good info on the hospital websites.

ladybug30 · Aug 26, 2005

I really enjoyed SA on the three occasions I visited there (especially the Riverwalk). I just don't understand why the pay is so low. I understand that cost of living is less there than in Dallas, Ft. Worth, etc., but it is still higher than it is here in NC and nurses make more here. Someone suggested to me that it might be because SA has so many little colleges and probably a glut of nurses. I don't know, I guess I need to stop complaining and get used to it. Still, if there's anyone out there with information on living there, the hospitals, and any orientation programs, I'd appreciate it. I can't find any good info on the hospital websites.

I just graduated this August and I thought I was going to end up in San Antonio so I interviewed with several hospitals and had accepted a position as a new graduate. I can't give many details about internships because not many hospitals there offered them starting in sept., more in january and june. The starting salary was $17.00/ hr for day shift with shift differentials ranging from $2.85 to $6. These wages are based on working on a medical/surgical floor. I don't know how house prices compare because it's too early for that. However, I don't think apartments are really that much cheaper in San Antonio compared to the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, which is where I am at now. I would recommend calling some of the San Antonio hospitals (Methodist Health System, University Hospital, Baylor Health System) and asking to speak to a nurse recruiter and usually they will send you information for new graduates. Also, just something I found out about applying for a job, search on-line for open positions and apply for them, then call and ask to speak to the nurse recruiter or someone who helps new graduate RNs. I found the human resource people were more willing to help if you had already applied for a position. Sorry for the long post and hope this helps some.

leisa22 · Aug 26, 2005

i recently moved to san antonio. Im a somewhat new nurse

Ekinnamon · Nov 22, 2005

edit: posting might have got me in trouble, taking them out...