VA Nurse Salary

Specialties Government

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Hi! Can anyone provide me with good info on the starting pay for VA nurses? I am applying in both Kansas (Leavenworth VA) and Missouri (Kansas City, MO VA). The salary range for both locations is about $46,000-$88,000. I know salary is based on experience, but I'm wondering if most nurses start somewhere in the middle. I have about 1.5 years med-surg experience. I can easily make more than the $46k at my current hospital position, but I'd like to work for the VA and the benefits can't be beat! Just wondering if I'll have to take a big pay cut. Thanks!

Benefits listed here:

Employee Benefits - VA Careers

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

Pay will depend on education and experience. The VA is one of the few you make it worth will to have a BSN vs. a ADN. When I started working at the VA I had a ADN an when I earned my BSN I got a 5K annual pay increase.

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Are you all discussing VA hospitals only and federal facilities? I work for the VA but we are a state facility, long term care. Sounds very different at my facility, so I'm curious. My hiring process wasn't complicated at all, 2 page paper application, one interview = hired. I am a ADN RN with a non nursing BS, I have been at the VA for one year and just moved up to a RN 2.

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Pay will depend on education and experience. The VA is one of the few you make it worth will to have a BSN vs. a ADN. When I started working at the VA I had a ADN an when I earned my BSN I got a 5K annual pay increase.

I also got a 5k increase. I am almost finished with my msn. I start on Dec 3 as a manager. I'm leaving a level I trauma center/a pediatric emergency department that's recognized as #2 in country. It's going to be a huge change but from what I hear it's worth it for the benefits alone. Fingers crossed that I made the right choice.

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Specializes in OP Hem/Onc Chemo infusion.

I am being considered for a position series/grade 0610/01. What does this mean vs the grade 00? Of course I've spent hours trying to find it myself and can't find anything about it. Would love to have a ballpark idea of what to expect in the pay scale for this. Thanks for your help.

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

The VA has 5 pay grades with 10-14 steps per grade. Grades 4 & 5 are executive grades and 1-3 are patient care grades. Overall grade 1 is for ADN' s, grade 2 BSN' s, and grade 3 MSN' s. Steps are based on experience.

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Specializes in OP Hem/Onc Chemo infusion.

I see most of the VA nurse jobs being posted as 0610-00. What is grade 00 - ADN with no experience? 01 = ADN, 02 = BSN, 03 = MSN, thanks for that info; now it makes more sense. That is the first pay critieria, then the step they put you in next part of the equation, like you said, 10-14 steps, correct? I saw a handbook about grading but not about steps. I'm trying to find what the criteria is that is used to figure out what step they place you in. I worked for state government mostof my life and they have a step system for pay also. It was based on years of RN experience and years with the department. You seem to be quite knowledgable on this stuff and I appreciate your help!

I am an ADN, Board Certified OCN and Chemotherapy certified, 4+ years outpatient experience, where 90% of oncology treatment is actually done (the position I applied for is also outpatient clinic).

Do you have any idea where I could find the "step" placement criteria for the VA or where to start looking for it? Have read about the possibility of having to negotiate your salary as they tend to place you in the lowest step they can unless you can articulate your experience well and produce pay stubs, etc. to substantiate your case....I want to be ready when it's time.

Then I see the locality issue - looks like it has a percentage assigned to it. How in the heck is that figured out? Is there a base pay for 0610, then the grade, then the step you qualify for, then the locality percentage is calculated in? Where does one find the data to figure it out? As someone said, they put this wide range of salary on the job bulletin, but how do you know or determine if the offer you are getting is appropriate? I understand the concept, but this federal thing with the locality pay is different. Sifting through all this Fed and OPM stuff is like finding a needle in the haystack. Can you steer me in the right direction to find it?

Thank you so much for you assistance! I am already more informed thanks to you!

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Specializes in OP Hem/Onc Chemo infusion.

Now I'm really confused ! I just saw something about someone being Grade 1, level 3, step 7, or something to that effect. WHAT IS LEVEL? Never heard of that....OMG, so so complicated....

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

I have never heard of a level before either. Even thou I am on military leave from the VA my pay stub has me listed as a grade 2 step 7.

Since you have your ADN more then likely you will be a nurse(grade) 1. With 4 years experience you should be between a step 2-5 depending how they figure out your experience.

Locality pay is figured on each nurse's salary. So it will vary depending on your step and grade but the percentage will be the same. When I was working at the VA the locality pay was paid only to the nurse's who worked inpatient or the ED. If you had a Monday thru Friday,position you did not receive it.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
From what I understand from working there you need your BSN to get nurse II and your MSN to get your nurse III. There are some diploma & ADN nurse's who are nurse II because they were grandfathered in when the VA switched its nurse's to title 38.

Not quite the case. You need a BSN to be HIRED as a nurse II. ADNs can and will be promoted to nurse II without a BSN. Nurses can have an education waiver foir one promotion. So for example an ADN will be promoted to nurse II without a BSN, then can never be promoted to nurse III until they get a BSN AND earn the promotion to nurse III and get an education waiver for the MSN. You can be promoted to nurse II with a MSN or BSN and education waiver but it is by no mean automatic. You must be in a position, or do something to earn the nurse III. Just having a BSN will not get you hired as a nurse II either. A BSN and a very impressive resume MAY get you hired as a nurse II.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
I have never heard of a level before either. Even thou I am on military leave from the VA my pay stub has me listed as a grade 2 step 7

Only Nurse I has grade levels. There are:

Nurse I, level I, step whatever

Nurse I, Level II

Nurse I Level III

You must be a nurse I, Level (grade) III to be elligable for promotion to nurse II. Usually any nurse with a BSN is hired as Nurse I, grade III and step level depending on experience. An ADN will be hired as a Nurse I, Grade I or II or III depending on their experience.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
I see most of the VA nurse jobs being posted as 0610-00. What is grade 00 - ADN with no experience? 01 = ADN, 02 = BSN, 03 = MSN,!

All ADNs, and BSNs and MSN,s without experience are hired as Nurse I's. An impressive resume with experience and a BSN or MSN can be hired as a nurse II. You don't need a BSN to be promoted to nurse II and you don't need an MSN to be promoted to Nurse III. You can have an education waiver for one education level.

Having a BSN does NOT automatical result in being hired as a Nurse II, having an MSN does NOT automaticaly result in being hired as a Nurse III.

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