What is ur average 2 week take home pay?

vamedic4, EMT-P · Jul 5, 2006

No diff for weekends?? Hoo ahh..I'd be finding another employer or working strictly during the week. How ridiculous is that??

Empress · Jul 5, 2006

he fact is you're going to decide what type of nursing you want and where you want to do it, and the market in that area is going to determine your pay. As I've said to many, you'd better want to be a nurse, because you'll find it's not all about the money.

A different perspective is that if you undergo at least two years of difficult training and testing, and have enormous responsibility as a licensed professional, you damn well should be paid a significant amount for your efforts. Doesn't mean that researching how much nurses are paid is because that's the only reason to pursue it as a career, but many people like myself want to be given the financial respect that comes along with it. Scraping by just doesn't cut it anymore for me or my family.

catlady, BSN, RN · Jul 5, 2006

A different perspective is that if you undergo at least two years of difficult training and testing, and have enormous responsibility as a licensed professional, you damn well should be paid a significant amount for your efforts. Doesn't mean that researching how much nurses are paid is because that's the only reason to pursue it as a career, but many people like myself want to be given the financial respect that comes along with it. Scraping by just doesn't cut it anymore for me or my family.

I agree that nurses (including me!) have been horrendously underpaid; however, consider that while being underpaid will probably make you dislike your job, being well paid won't make you like your job. It's important to like what you do, regardless of compensation. I just don't think that the periodic "oh, how much do you make" questions qualify as any kind of meaningful salary survey. There are too many variables and too small a sample involved to be of real use.

Now when I found out that a brand new RN was offered the identical starting salary as me (her supervisor with 21 years' experience, a master's, and dual certification), and that she considered that pay inadequate (!), *that* was a meaningful salary survey. :angryfire

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Jul 5, 2006

Ok I am a LVN working in FT Worth and I bring home right around 1350 every 2 weeks and I work weekends only as a supervisor so its only 55 hours per pay check. Been a LVN for 8 or so years.

steelydanfan · Jul 5, 2006

The point made about nurses being actively discouraged or prohibited from discussing salary highlights the point that serious discrepancies abound in our field. After all, if pay scale was based upon merit, who would want to hide it?

Yes, I too deplore the nursing shortage, but if I found out that a new grad on PM shift was making more than myself, I would be outraged. This is/was the rational for nursing unions, to make sure that this kind of thing doesn't happen. Our hospitals salary structure is based upon experience, shift, and

tenure. In addition, we are rewarded for certification, and acting as an expert in our fields by preceptorship, commitee involvement, etc. by a higher base pay.

Per diem nurses make a higher hourly wage, but forego vacation pay, insurance, etc. However, they set thier own schedules, can refuse most holidays, etc.

OK, I work 24 hours per week, day shift, and have 26 years experience.

My average take home per 2 week period (claim 0), no requested deductions, is $1900.00

NaomieRN · Jul 5, 2006

If you go to Salary.com, you can get that information

NurseKittyAtlanta · Jul 5, 2006

I don't understand the reluctance of so many members of this forum to post the amount of money they make. I think it is something that is very important to the members who are not yet nurses.

I don't think that everyone posting their personal salary information is really useful to nursing students, as there are too many variables at play (type of hospital, type of job, location, etc.). Also, speaking of my nursing class, there were quite a few students who stated that they were going into nursing "for the money." (What a rude awakening they are about to have. ;-) Anyone who inquires about salaries off the bat (especially very detailed/specific questions) makes me question their motives for entering the profession. There are salary calculators out there on the web that can give estimated averages for nurses around the country. That should be sufficient for anyone truly curious about salary ranges for nursing in general.

And I agree with the others .... shorthand or not, poor grammar never looks good. :-)

tinderbox · Jul 5, 2006

That is true-- it's part of our puritanical upbringing. We're very hypocritical-- can talk about anything under the sun but when it comes to the most important things that really affect your life, like, religion/sex/money-- well, people tend to run for the nearest exit.

I work in the Pacific NW

Take home pay- 1600 for 36 hrs/week worked

Night shift

Cardiac unit

1st year RN

You have to realize that for many of us, we were raised to believe that asking someone how much money they make is considered rude and poor manners. Someone asked me at work how much I make, and I told them I wasn't comfortable sharing that information. There are plenty of websites, books etc. that will give you the salary for new and experienced RN's. Some here will tell you also and that's fine. Just realize that for some of us, such a question is considered inappropriate.We're not trying to be difficult. You'll find as you go through your career that certain topics are off limits for some, ie. religion, sex, politics and money.

Jo Dirt · Jul 5, 2006

You have to realize that for many of us, we were raised to believe that asking someone how much money they make is considered rude and poor manners. Someone asked me at work how much I make, and I told them I wasn't comfortable sharing that information. There are plenty of websites, books etc. that will give you the salary for new and experienced RN's. Some here will tell you also and that's fine. Just realize that for some of us, such a question is considered inappropriate.We're not trying to be difficult. You'll find as you go through your career that certain topics are off limits for some, ie. religion, sex, politics and money.

I just wouldn't reply if I was offended by a question. It's not a taboo subject and I don't think the questions are rude.

Certainly, everyone has their own ideas of what is inappropriate or not. The average person thinks they are better than the average person. We tend to put everyone else on a tight moral budget but make plenty of allowances for ourselves. I hate to think someone would feel shamed for asking an honest question.

tinderbox · Jul 5, 2006

I agree- I don't think that they are rude, either. They are extremely valid questions. When I was a student nurse, I was always curious about what I would be making because I knew that I was not changing fields, going broke, accumulating school debt, and studying my tush off for nothing. It's not about greed. It's about being informed. What's wrong with that?? And yes, I went into nursing with my eyes wide open--- and after a year, I can say that I still LOVE it.

I just wouldn't reply if I was offended by a question. It's not a taboo subject and I don't think the questions are rude.

luvnlvn · Jul 5, 2006

I'm an LVN in Sacramento, CA. I have been an LVN for two years and I work day shift. I average 40-45 hours a week and I gross between $2100-$2400 every two weeks. Not too bad I think.

shodobe · Jul 5, 2006

1.Type of nurse? OR

2. How many hours u work per week? Depends on call time and I work another

facility part-time

3. How many years of nursing? 30 years

4. What Shift: Day, Evening, nights, or weekend only? Evenings

5. City and State So Cal, Inland Empire

6. Average 2 week gross pay $3500 from regular job and about $300 from pt job this after my max 401 contribution and all of the reg deductions

for health, eyes, etc