What you make as a nurse Vs. Cost of living

NYTramaRN, RN · Jun 15, 2006

NY CITY area SEIU 1199 union hospitals: new grad RN starting is like $56,000-61,000

Housing goes upward from $390K for a house and $1000 minimum/month for an apt.

I have a house in Nassau County Long island that's like $475k: by virtue of inheritance, and it's not the Taj Mahal.

I pay approx $10K in local and school taxes. Unfortunately there's no COLA clause in my contract.

The reality of the matter : if we're paid what we're actually worth, there'd be no open hospitals.

Paul

azhiker96, BSN, RN · Jun 15, 2006

RN scale is $24-36/hr here but housing has jumped over the past 5 years. We bought a 3/2 1600sf 5 years ago for $150k. Home like it in our neighborhood are going for $300k now. There is new construction out from town that's just under $200k but as long as people keep migrating here the homes will keep appreciating.

Sheri257 · Jun 18, 2006

I just graduated from the University of MIami. The average starting salary is 21.50. The average home costs 400 K, and that's on the low end. To rent, about 1000 for a nice one bedroom. I am moving back to Los Angeles, where I will make 32.50 an hour. THe houses are around 500 K on the low end, but to rent a one bedrom, it may cost me about 1200 for a sweet place. How can I afford to live in Miami on 21.50? its a joke. Los Angeles really isn't that much more expensive, I mean maybe a tad, but at least you can afford to live there. Everyone bitches about California but you have to see that there is a balance. it costs more, so you make more. Here in Miami, it costs a lot and you make nothing. My friend is moving to San Francisco and will make around 45 an hour STARTING AS A NEW GRAD. yeah, he'll be working nights, but who cares?I am so sick of people whining "but its so expensive to live in California" Shut the hell up. FIne . stay in Miami, make 21 an hour, and work 2 full time jobs so that you can afford your piece of crap house. No one says you even HAVE TO own a place. ITs a headache and a money pit. I'll go to CAli, make 5200 from ONE job, and live comfortably. Those of who ***** about CAlifornia, stay in your hole. More money and jobs for me. I had 3 job offers. IN THE UNIT I WANTED My friends in other states are fighting for work. I am tired of the "but its so expensive" debate. no, its not. go there, see for yourself, do some ressearch before you open your whiny mouth.God I hate Miami........

Interesting perspective ... :chuckle. I tend to agree with alot of what you're saying. I've lived all over the country. There are plusses and minuses wherever you go but, I'm in California to stay. For one thing, I really don't want to live in a state that doesn't have a ratio law, and California is the only place that has it.

When housing prices got crazy, we took advantage of it by buying a house in the desert for $150,000 three years ago which is now worth double that. Yes, it can get hot in the summers but, thankfully, we insisted on buying a house with a pool ... which certainly helps you cool off.

I've found a job that pays $38 an hour with excellent benefits. I can also work registry for $50 an hour. Commuting with gas prices at $3.50 a gallon will be a major expense but, with the higher pay, I don't mind. At least my mortgage payment is low.

:typing

BoonersmomRN · Jun 19, 2006

When I graduate it looks like most hospitals start in the city around $23-$26/hr with shifft differential for weekend/night. Currently we own a townhouse that is valued at $277,000. There is NO WAY I could afford it on my own...but our 2 salaries combined it's going to be fine. Now, we want to move in to a regular single family home....that's easily going to be in the 400,000 and up range.

rnwaller · Jun 21, 2006

I am a travel nurse whose home state is CT. Cost of living in CT is very high due to taxes - nice house 275-350k but then you pay 3-5k a year in property taxes!!! Plus property tax on your cars. Gas currently 3.19 (second only to California I believe). As a staff RN I would be about $30/hr with 16 years of experinece. I think this is low since we work weekends and holidays and a refuse collector makes $18/hr.

As a travel nurse without benefits (my choice) I make between $35-45/hr depending on the location. So, for those of you thinking travelers make so much more than staff - think again. One of the biggest problems in nursing is you top off in your salary too quickly - after about 10 years your at staff RN top pay, and there is no where to go from there if you don't go in to management. Financially, the health care industry is already strained so I do not see this pattern changing any time soon.

One of my scrub shirts says how I feel most days "Nursing is a work of heart." We are not in it for the money. :mad:

Justhere, BSN, RN · Jun 28, 2006

Live in a 75,000 populated area in Arkansas. RN salary new grad starts at 16.50, and with years of experience may be $26. Average house in the city limits 25,000-100,000 out of city limits and different school district $75,000 to $300,000.

We just bought a 1950 sq ft, with 3 bedrooms (nice size) with living room and kitchen combined for $97000 last year. Would like to buy a house that cost 225,000 but can't see using one full paycheck for a house payment. Right now only spend $598 for house payment

bekah79il · Jun 29, 2006

Chicago New Grad...

Offered between 21.65-22.75 for new positions. a condo in my neighborhood goes for about 250,000 for a smallllll studio and up to the millions for a larger place. we rent a 1br with den for 1800, but we have a great view of chicago city views and the lake, and we are really close to both my job and his, I think its worth it but NO WAY could i afford it on my own.

lee1 · Jun 29, 2006

Where I live RN's make between $23-34/hr, depending on expereince title ect. Here you can not buy a modest home (and even fixer-uppers)for under $300,000.....every one talks about how well nursing pays, but with the cost of here is terrible. What do you make an hour and what does an "average" home go for in your area.

I make $42/hr plus benefits. I am a staff nurse. I am at the top of experience and longevity scales. However, my house is over 25 years old and now worth approx. $480,000. My property taxes are $8000/yr. New houses here cost more than $600,000 with the associated property taxes. Even the over 55 properties especially if new cost over $400,000 with the same property taxes. This is central NJ

lee1 · Jun 29, 2006

NY CITY area SEIU 1199 union hospitals: new grad RN starting is like $56,000-61,000
Housing goes upward from $390K for a house and $1000 minimum/month for an apt.
I have a house in Nassau County Long island that's like $475k: by virtue of inheritance, and it's not the Taj Mahal.
I pay approx $10K in local and school taxes. Unfortunately there's no COLA clause in my contract.
The reality of the matter : if we're paid what we're actually worth, there'd be no open hospitals.
Paul

have you looked at the 990 forms from your hospital. Have you seen the overflated salaries that the business suits make???

lee22 · Jun 30, 2006

22-36 per hour-house prices $160-250K. Tank of gas $50. Groceries $150 week-Take home $600 weekly-Barely scraping by

tinderbox · Jul 5, 2006

ICK. I grew up in TX. And no way no how would I want to move back. Who cares if you can buy a big house in a gated Edward Scissorhands-like community?? It's flat, ugly, and the weather SUCKS. Don't even get me started on "southern hospitality"- yeah right.

PMFB-RN, RN · Oct 6, 2006

I live in Wisconsin. Wages for new grad RNs are about $25/hour and go up to $40 or so for years of experience. A nice house (3-4 bedroom) on a 1/2 - 5 acre lot sells for around $80,000. Our house, an older fixer-upper, is 2300 SF, 4 bed rooms, two bath on 40 acres with an old horse/cow barn thats in good shape cost us $70,000. Plenty of clean decent 2/3 BR houses in the small towns for $40,000-$60,000.

This area (central Wisconsin) has the best pay vs cost of living I have found yet