What is the job market like in the Austin area?

[NYtoFLRN]

Hey All!

I'm in my last year of my program and am considering a move to Texas (currently in NY). I want to try something new for awhile :). Out of curiosity, what is the job market like for new grad nurses in the Austin area? And what is a typical starting salary for a BSN prepared nurse down there? I'm talking just med-surg, not necessarily a specialty.

Thanks!

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

I don't know the starting salary but I do know Austin, much like every major city, is overwhelmed with new nurses. If you are going to move to Austin, I would suggest looking at smaller cities outside of Austin. My best friend has been applying to any new grad friendly job in San Antonio & has yet to land anything (she is an RN-BSN as well).

[txredheadnurse, BSN, RN]

I echo the previous poster. Native Austinite here. We have both a community college and a BSN program here so there are 3 graduating classes every year hitting the hot streets looking for a job. It really behooves anyone with less than 4-5 years of experience contemplating moving to Texas to consider the out lying smaller communities surrounding the major cities. Many of those communities are less than an hours drive away from Austin, San Antonio, Houston, DFW area etc. so you can enjoy the attractions of the bigger cities on your days off. Or consider the Rio Grande Valley, Lubbock/San Angelo or Tyler (which has a very large hospital system btw).

If you are determined to come to Austin anyway be prepared to have a lot of competition and be prepared to have to consider working only part time or for much lower wages than you would like since the experienced nurses will get the cherry jobs and better pay. Despite what the media might say Texas as a whole is not just full of unfilled nursing jobs for new grads or those with less than 4-5 years experience.

[NYtoFLRN]

Thanks for the tips! I mean the general Austin metro area, not necessarily in the city itself. I would be willing to do a reverse commute (i.e. live in Austin and travel out for work). I'm talking like within an hour driving distance of the city sort of thing.

And the problem is, you guys aren't in the media here at all! I know that if you google anywhere in the US they will say there are nursing jobs but that it's usually not true- that's why I came on here to ask instead :).

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

On average, starting pay rates in the Austin metro area tend to be from $19 to $23 hourly for new grad RNs with BSN degrees.

And what is a typical starting salary for a BSN prepared nurse down there? I'm talking just med-surg, not necessarily a specialty.