VA APRN Salaries

[PG2018]

I've trained quite a bit with the VA academically, and I really like the local VA hospital where an APRN position is soon to become available that I would have inside assistance with obtaining.

That being said, the salary seems to vary widely by location. The RNs seem to make a lot of money compared to other area RNs, but the APRNs (particularly in my field) seem like they only make about 70% of what they would in the private sector. Is this true? Is one able to negotiate? People talk about the excellent benefits with the VA, but I could make $40k+ a year at a nearby private hospital. Forty grand can buy a lot of "benefits," lol.

I've been told the VA might reimburse one for school, but how does that happen? There are a lot of factors at play here that I would like to learn about aside from hearing it from the horse's mouth.

Other things equal, I'd take the VA position over any other, but at this point I think I owe it to myself and family to take the highest paying position available. I want to payoff my graduate school loans within one year of obtaining an APRN position and pick back up living my life which we've put on hold for three years.