What do you think should be the starting salary for nurses?

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I've been looking at this site for a few years, and one thing that I've seen is that many of you feel that nurses are not paid enough, and others have stated that $25 to $30 per hour for a starting salary is still too low for what nurses do. I was just wondering what you all think the starting salary should be for nurses, either LPN/LVN or RN, and what the actual starting salaries are in your area. I'm still a CNA, but here in the south Jersey area, I've been told by nurses that LPNs usually start at $17 to $20 per hour, and RNs start at $23 to $25 per hour.

Specializes in ICU, med/surg.
The one thing I did not like it there was I had to do both days, evening and nights...rotating shifts. But here in So Cal....either days, eveing or nights....is it still the same in Alberta??

Here in Calgary, Alberta, the norm is to work either a day/night or day/evening rotation. I actually like my day/night...I don't think I would want to work all one or the other. I like changing--makes life interesting.

Sean

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Starting in my area is $28.40/hour (no experience and new grad)...With at least 2 years experience, I would say that fair start should be at least $35.00/hour.

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I northern iowa, we're looking at starting at $19.14/hr. The same healthcare system owns everything from small towns clinics to some of the larger ones and they have flooded the market so much that they can control the pay. Now if I would take an hour drive north to Mayo Clinic, I could get hired right out of school for $25/hr. Something I'm really taking a serious look at.

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An amount more than doctors. They are more likely to get sued (insurance) but we are more likely to get slapped (physically & verbally) for which their is NO insurance!

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Specializes in Trauma ICU,ER,ACLS/BLS instructor.

It very much depends on where u work and the cost of living in that area. The bigger cities with large hospitals pay more. Here RN's start at about $22 and go as high as $ 45-50 with longevity. LPN's start at 18-20 aand can get to $30 with longevity. OT is paid great here ,so many RN's rake in well over a 100,000 per yr with minimal OT per week. Its all apples and oranges!

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Specializes in Emergency.

As a patient recently said to me while he was watching a football game (his wife is a nurse): "You should be getting what they make, and they should be making what you make!"

Amen to that!

Amy

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I think that being an RN should afford you the ability to drive a decent car (not necessarily a Lexus or BMW), live in a nice neighborhood, own a house and provide adequately for their families. So...I guess I can't give a number since it will vary by area.

I think that a lot of nurses see nursing this way and that's part of the altruistic, self-sacrificing attitude that keeps nursing salaries down.

I think outside of the nursing community there are a lot of Americans who want more for themselves and their families than "decent" and "adequate". Outside of the nursing community career achievement is rewarded monetarily and people do not generally look down on it. Some of the highest paying professions in this country are sales professionals and I've never heard any one of them state they only wanted "decent" or "adequate".

And you know what else? I've never heard a doctor talk about how overpaid they are. Never heard one of them talk about how they didn't deserve their BMW or Lexus.

I think if a person puts the time, money, and effort into their education and career they deserve to reap the benefits. Many other professionals are compensated for their valuable contributions, Nurses should be too.

IMHO

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In the Chicago area starting new grad RN pay is around $23-$25/hr. The shift diff vary from place to place- my friends and I have compared. For PM shift (1500-2300) there's a $3.25 diffferential and for NTS (2300-0700) theres a $5 diff.

I was wondering how long a new grad RN waits until he/she can ask for or recieves a raise? And approx how much should that raise be?

~grazie~

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Starting pay in the Chicago area for new grad RNs

Base: $23-$25

Differential $3-$5 depends on the shift and the hospital

Just wondering how long a new grad RN should wait until he/she asks for or receives a raise?

How much should that raise be?

Thanks All

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
I think that a lot of nurses see nursing this way and that's part of the altruistic, self-sacrificing attitude that keeps nursing salaries down.

I think outside of the nursing community there are a lot of Americans who want more for themselves and their families than "decent" and "adequate". Outside of the nursing community career achievement is rewarded monetarily and people do not generally look down on it. Some of the highest paying professions in this country are sales professionals and I've never heard any one of them state they only wanted "decent" or "adequate".

And you know what else? I've never heard a doctor talk about how overpaid they are. Never heard one of them talk about how they didn't deserve their BMW or Lexus.

I think if a person puts the time, money, and effort into their education and career they deserve to reap the benefits. Many other professionals are compensated for their valuable contributions, Nurses should be too.

IMHO

While I agree that we need to think of ourselves as being worthy of high compensation and present ourselves as such, I also agree with the particular post you were responding to. To be talking about specific numbers is ridiculous. When we fail to consider the cost of living, the compensation numbers become meaningless. I appreciate the other poster's efforts to state her desired level of compensation in terms of the standard of living that her desired wages will give her.

As for physicians and fancy cars, etc. ... We will never be compensated at those levels until we require a similar level of education (which isn't going to happen in our lifetimes -- and probably shouldn't happen).

Considering the differences in educational levels ... What would you say the standard of living should be?

...for an entry-level position requiring only the minimal education

... for nurses with additional education working in advanced positions that involve taking more responsibility

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Specializes in psych nursing.

I'm an LPN and I make 18.67. Yes, I would like to make more but I'm okay with it.

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Specializes in Occ health, Med/surg, ER.

1 Million dollars......CASH! LOL!!!!!!!

Im sorry, that was from a favorite movie of mine, I couldnt help myself.

I think we should start at 65-70thou a year. I make way less than that. RN in Tx making 20 dollars/hr.

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