West Texas Nursing Pay

[loveishope]

Why is the pay for registered nurses so low in West Texas? My base rate of pay is 18.72/HR for ICU. I have been a RN for 2 years and have ICU experience. After differentials are applied it is 26.40/HR. I'm

moving back home, but I was just wondering why pay was so low?

[littlewingrn]

Low compared to what other area? Lower cost of living in W. Texas?

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

Why is the pay for registered nurses so low in West Texas? My base rate of pay is 18.72/HR for ICU. I have been a RN for 2 years and have ICU experience. After differentials are applied it is 26.40/HR. I'm

moving back home, but I was just wondering why pay was so low?

When a friend of mine moved from central TX back to Big Spring, TX, her rent for a 3 bedroom house was less than $400/month... at the time, my 2 bedroom apt was almost $500/month (and that was way down from $650/month in Austin. The cost of living makes a huge difference. Percentage wise, you'd be making close to the same. Plus, no TX state income tax, no tax on groceries, etc. :)

[Smackdown]

The cost of living is low here in West Texas. I used to work in Lubbock and nurses earn less in bigger cities like Lubbock and Abilene than they do in outlying small towns because I earn much more now living in a small town.