salary--dfw

txnursingqt · Jul 31, 2007

I am not too disappointed in around $20 an hour but I did think it would be a little more than that. I work for an agency doing the staffing and I see what we pay our RN's and it is normally the very high 30's. I definitely plan on working agency after I get a little experience. The agency I work for pays shift diff, pays your health insurance, matches 100% 401K and you can get vacation time. Not to mention the sign on bonus amounts and gifts!!! In Oct last year every nurse that signed a contract got a free laptop and right now we are giving away ipods. And we send out giftbaskets for birthdays, when someone has a baby etc. or just to say thank you for working for us.

Sorry to ramble on about agency but I am very impressed!!!!

I also have one thing to say about pay right after graduation. I was looking into medical school because I was not sure if I wanted to pursue that avenue or become a NP. Decided that I would rather be a NP than deal with the medical school and all that. Anyway, when I was doing research I found out that after medical school when the doctor has to do the residency they only make around 30K - 35K a year!! And they have to do that for an average of 3 years and then if they are going to specialize they have to do a fellowship at around the same pay for another average of 3 years. Don't get me wrong...they do have the potential to make more money once they are done but it really depends on what area they go into. A Family Practice M.D. makes on average 140K and a NP in Texas averages 120K with alot less school expense and the ability to make a decent amt of money sooner. So, I think overall a RN gets pretty decent pay for just graduating.

Just my two cents.

alliestar · Jul 31, 2007

Someone posted starting at $19-$21. Anymore feedback about raises, how often? How much?

I too have a job making about twice as much as a beginning RN. However, I have been working in my field for about 13 years. My career field tends to cut you off at 40 and send you out to pasture. At this point, you're pretty much starting over anyway.

We all (us over 35) have to realize that even though we are starting a nursing career late in life, we still have to start at the bottom. But the job stability, schedule flexibility, and options for over time are worth it as you get older. Plus, the opportunities to make much more money are available if you are willing to go for that masters.

I would be open to hearing any stories about career changers late in life and how they dealt with the pay decrease.

Thanks for the stories.

sjt9721, BSN, RN · Jul 31, 2007

Someone posted starting at $19-$21. Anymore feedback about raises, how often? How much?

I think that was me. :idea: Found out today that our place starts new grads a wee bit higher than that.

Differentials for evenings/nights/weekends vary from $2-$6 an hour, depending on facility.

I've been fortunate to work at places that were able to give annual rate increases. They're not much, but 3-4% is better than nothing.

I also think I mentioned that you need to look at the entire benefit package when making a decision. The "hourly rate" is not the end all, be all!

CRIMSON · Aug 13, 2007

The hospital I am working at pays 22.85/hr (for new grads) with an evening shift diff of 2.50 (3-7pm) and a 4.50 shift diff between 11pm-7am. Weekend shift diff is $5/hr. If you sign up for a fourth shift in a week you are given a double bonus of an extra $10/hr on top of any overtime. An on-call shift is paid at time and a half regardless if you have 40 hours or not. Needless to say, I'm pretty happy with my hospital and my paychecks!!

Hi might I ask what hospital you are at? I lived in Plano/Allen the last 8+ years and saw many starting salaries in the ads around me but that sounds pretty good.

Just curious.

Would really like to know.

thanks.

TX_TeleRN · Aug 22, 2007

I too have a job making about twice as much as a beginning RN. However, I have been working in my field for about 13 years. My career field tends to cut you off at 40 and send you out to pasture. At this point, you're pretty much starting over anyway.
We all (us over 35) have to realize that even though we are starting a nursing career late in life, we still have to start at the bottom. But the job stability, schedule flexibility, and options for over time are worth it as you get older. Plus, the opportunities to make much more money are available if you are willing to go for that masters.
I would be open to hearing any stories about career changers late in life and how they dealt with the pay decrease.

I for one is in a similar boat as you... I was in engineering for 10 years, and got tired of the layoff cycles. So I went into nursing in hopes of more flexibility as my family grows. For me, the best part is that now I only work 3-4 days/wk, and one of my hardest adjustments is the pay decrease. :down: I now make less than when I started engineering 12 yrs ago, and the cost of living is definitely higher now! I opted for loans so that I don't deplete all of my savings, and the key is to watch my spending.

Any career changes will be hard, but as long as I'm realistic and focus on the positives, the transition will be smoother.

Starting from the bottom is expected, and that includes the lower wage. I'm at the low end of D-FW's new nurse pay scale, but I opted for environment (appropriate RN: pts, staff, cleanliness, etc.) and growth potential, instead of choosing a position based on the highest offer. I'm new--I need to learn! so I placed higher values on these 2 criterias over pay. Seasoned nurses told me that I can supplement with OT and work differentials, and after 1-2 yrs under my belt, I can go elsewhere for higher pay, etc., if that's the route I want to take. Ask me again in a couple of years to see if I made the right move! :lol2:

sjt9721, BSN, RN · Aug 22, 2007

Starting from the bottom is expected, and that includes the lower wage. I'm at the low end of D-FW's new nurse pay scale, but I opted for environment (appropriate RN: pts, staff, cleanliness, etc.) and growth potential, instead of choosing a position based on the highest offer. I'm new--I need to learn! so I placed higher values on these 2 criterias over pay. Seasoned nurses told me that I can supplement with OT and work differentials, and after 1-2 yrs under my belt, I can go elsewhere for higher pay, etc., if that's the route I want to take. Ask me again in a couple of years to see if I made the right move!

Well said! As an experienced nurse, I think you made the right choice!

mymomisanurse · Sep 25, 2007

these are horrible hourly wages for rns' in this area.. i thought it was much more than that...looks like ill be takin a pay cut when i become a rn.....

you are right. these are horrible wages. i am moving to the fort worth area soon and was quoted $23.50 and this is with 2yrs of nursing experience. i will also be taking a pay cut when i move. i started out at a higher rate as a new grad. texas does not pay their nurses well at all. and they have a higher nurse to patient ratio than cali. so it looks like i will get paid less and have more work to do. needless to say iam not happy about this move.

sunnyjohn · Sep 25, 2007

You are right. These are horrible wages. I am moving to the fort worth area soon and was quoted $23.50 and this is with 2yrs of nursing experience. I will also be taking a pay cut when I move. I started out at a higher rate as a new grad. Texas does not pay their nurses well at all. And they have a higher nurse to patient ratio than cali. so it looks like I will get paid less and have more work to do. needless to say Iam not happy about this move.

The cost of living difference between California and Texas may more than make up the difference though.

You can still buy a VERY nice house in Texas for $150K.

foxyhill21 · Sep 25, 2007

That was the exact same salary I was quoted as a new grad for methodist hospital in houston

You are right. These are horrible wages. I am moving to the fort worth area soon and was quoted $23.50 and this is with 2yrs of nursing experience. .

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Sep 25, 2007

Texas does not pay their nurses well at all. And they have a higher nurse to patient ratio than cali. so it looks like I will get paid less and have more work to do. needless to say Iam not happy about this move.

Actually, studies have proven that Texas ranks #1 in the nation for RN wages after cost-of-living adjustments have been made.

I am a native Californian who lived in that state for 24 years before moving here in late 2005. Most of the nurses that I knew in Cali were either renting apartments, leasing houses, living with family members, or took in roommates to be able to afford to live in certain areas. The nurses who could afford homes typically had spouses who earned a lot more money than them.

Nurses, in my opinion, are solidly middle-class. However, some nurses have decided to live the upper-class lifestyle, thereby taking on more financial obligations than their earnings can handle. I'm living nicely in this state because I ACT MY WAGE. I live in an 1,800 square foot newer home, not a 5,000 square foot mini mansion. I drive a 2006 Toyota Corolla and 2005 Chevrolet Silverado truck, not a Cadillac Escalade or BMW sportscar.

Nurses will get into dire trouble if they attempt to live like royalty on their middle incomes.

smk1, LPN · Sep 25, 2007

Thanks for all of the info, keep it coming! We have kicked around the idea of moving to the dallas fortworth general area (plano, mesquite, arlington etc...) after I graduate and have worked for a year or 2. No idea if we will really do it (all of our family is out west or in north cali, but I am gathering info.

Conqueror+, BSN, RN · Sep 25, 2007

I am an LPN and I make $32 an hour now through agency in Philadelphia. Will be moving to DFW in '08 after completing RN school. I have found after 14 years and EVERY specialty there is that nuses can make almost as much/as little as they like within reason. I made 65k last year and some friends made 35k. I have an RN friend, a travel nurse who worked a LOCAL contract meaning the housing stipend paid her mortgage for her. With some OT and bonuses she broke 100k in 2006. This was her salary MINUS a monthly mortgage payment. It just depends.