What do you think is a fair salary for nurses?

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  1. What do you thhink is a fair average salary for nurses

    • 1
      $40,000 to $45,000
    • 25
      $55,000 to $65,000
    • 10
      $70,000 to $80,000
    • 0
      other, explain

36 members have participated

After going over this forum I've come to the conclusion that most RN's feel that they don't make enough money...when I think you guys make a great salary when compared to other careers...especially starting out in the field. I understand how a nurse that has been in the same careers for 10 or 15 years should indeed make more than a new grad ( it's my understanding that they rarely do though)...MY QUESTION IS HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK IS A FAIR SALARY FOR A NEW NURSE?

1). 40000-45000

2). 55000-65000

3). 70000-80000

Keep in mind that NURSING is one of the very few careers where you can indeed start out making 40000 fresh out of college....

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1.

which is what i would make if i worked full time as a new grad. i only work part time though. yikes. the money i could be making. LOL. much prefer part time though. :)

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I work part-time and make in the vicinity of #1.

I think I make great money for attending a two year nursing program. Keeping in mind I had already gone to college after high school in the 1980's with a Social Work Bachelor's Degree so I already had most of my pre-reqs.

steph

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Specializes in Research,Peds,Neuro,Psych,.

I make in between the 1 and 2 range (closer to 1) full time. I guess its pretty fair considering I have a two year degree..

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I have been a RN for 25 years and make only in the 1st range and that is FULL TIME!!

I took a huge cut in pay when I moved to Hampton Roads

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I have been an RN for 3.5 years, not very long, and work full-time weekend nights.

I also pick up an occasional agency shift.

I'm in the 2nd range.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Right now I'm in between 1 and 2 with 15 years experience. I feel I should be at number three because of the nonstop work and stress I've been under lately. :)

Now in the ideal world #2 would be a great starting point.

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I received my licence for RN in 1992. Did not work as a nurse until 2002. I started working in a nursing home with starting salary of $49,920.00. That was not bad for someone just starting. After one year left nursing home to work in an acute nursing facility, with starting salary of $58,240.00. After 6 months I am now earning $65,520.00, adding to that the time differential when I work on the second shift and every other weekend. I have a BSMT and ADN with extensive knowledge in Microbiology and Immunology. I would rather be in the 3rd category (salary scale) because of the stress and nonstop workflow, not able sometimes to stop for coffee breaks and lunch breaks.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

You MAY earn a lot right out of college, but across the nation, nursing wages grow at an increasingly smaller rate, and some out and out stagnate with experience. THAT Is WRONG, period. NO WAY should a new nurse out of school make nearly what a nurse of 20 years' experience does. Yet this is exactly what happens so many places.

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I think it should be salary based with performance bonuses. That would change a lot of attitudes. Ive seen it work well in for profit outpatient surgical facilities with quarterly bonuses based on profits. Excellent patient care and better supply management is the result. Also the nurses and techs are graded 1-5 and recieve the bonuses based on their grades. Makes you feel appreciated for working hard.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I've always felt I do pretty well financially for someone with a two-year degree, although I certainly wouldn't mind making more! :chuckle Of course, I would make more if I lived near a large city like Portland, or if I were to move back to southern California, where it's much more expensive to live. But I like it right here in my little corner of the world, where the average wage is somewhere around $12 an hour and I make well over twice that amount. I love my little community hospital and the people I've known for years, I live in a nice house in a good neighborhood, and we are certainly not starving. When you've been as poor as we were for so long---when any year in which we made more than $12,000 was a good year---that middle range looks pretty darn good. :)

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More than $80,000/yr. Have more than 35 years critical care experience. Live in a high cost/tax area. Work hi stress, hi acuity,

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