Whats with the beyond horrible pay? :(

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I just got hired for a job at assisted living PRN for 7.61 an hour. Seriously? That's below minimum wage, and he said it's because I have no experience in the health field yet.

I have a 2nd interview with HomeInstead home health next week and they said they'll start me at 8.25. Again, seriously? My friends make more money playing with a cash register.

Should I just keep looking? Is this low pay common?

Do not seatle for that wadge, & keep looking. Only time you can be payed less the Federal Minium wage is if they have less than 10 Employees. Some Home Health Care agency will try to low ball at $8.25/hr. However, less than $9/hr keep looking. LTC you can probable pull in atleast $9.00/hr. Alot of places also have Shift differental for 3rds, & weekends. You may want to see if there are any accute care facility in your area. Also look into temp agency to. One in my area offers $13.50/hr, I worked for them didn`t like it. Got to many shifts cancelled due to low census.

I was never a CNA, but a Tech. Hoping to be Emt-b cert by March. Then going to try for working in the ED.

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Specializes in Surgical, LTC.

It all depends on the area.. and the cost of living, but hospitals usually pay more, small home care agencies get away with minumum wage.. and LTC can vary.

Then again.. I have to argue.. I know some overpaid CNAS.. that are lazy as heck.. and dont do anything.. but get better pay than I... Facilies need to reward their employees better, IF they are better employees.. might get better CNAS that way.

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I would keep looking,or at least take the job While actively still looking.

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Like NiquiCNA said it's all on where you live and the cost of living in that area.

I was determined to get into a local hospital after I pass my boards because they teach you phlebotomy and EKGs along with other things as well. However after doing a lot of research and talking to people who work in them I found that they pay poorly (highest I found was $11.00) BUT they offer excellent benefits. One woman I talked to said she's been there for 6 years and she's only making $14/hr.

The LTCs in my area all pretty much pay around $15 with the lowest I found to be $10.25 and that was for a HHA. So looks like I'm going the LTC route until I become an RN.

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Before I finished my CNA program, we had a representative from my dream job come in and tell us that if we were hired we were to start off at $8.25 and if we earned 12 units Child Development we would get bumped up $2. It was very discouraging to hear that. With that pay, I wouldn't be able to go back to school for those 12 units.

My CNA instructor was wonderful. She would lay it out to us and the one thing she kept reminding us was that we are CNAs and we are very valuable to to the healthcare team. She told us who would pay more than others and she told us to not be afraid to ask about wages. She said we do most of the grunt and dirty work so why not. She also said is you go in asking for $12 they're going to laugh.

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That's terrible pay. I live in NC and get paid a base pay of $9.50 but I work 3rd shift every other weekend, so I get another $1.50 on top of that per hour, so a total of $11 per hour. I hope you can find something else that pays better.

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I live in GA. I make $9.00 an hour working night shift. Day shift CNAs make min wage.

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I'm in northeast TN. Here the CNAs in nursing homes usually start at $9 - $10 an hour. In a hospital, it's $12 - $14 an hour to start.

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Specializes in Geriatric.

You know, oddly enough, most of the hospitals in my area start CNA's at 50 cents to a dollar LESS per hour than the LTC facilities. I think the reason they justify it is that they offer tuition assistance. And every hospital I looked into working at demands 1 - 2 years "clinical experience" - meaning they won't hire CNA's fresh out of school.

But hearing about 7 to 8 dollars per hour as a CNA? Are you serious? If that's what I would be paid as a CNA, I'd go work at Starbucks while I'm doing college.....

On a side note, I spoke with some of the LVNs I work with, and they mentioned also that the hospital starting pay for LVNs in our area is a joke. Some are around 14/15 dollars an hour. LTC is more like 18 - 20 an hour. Makes no sense to me.

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Specializes in CNA.

"Hello there. Would you support a tax increase on top wage earners to raise wages for CNAs in Assisted Living and LTC Facilities?"

Typical 21st Century American: "NO! NO! NO! NO!"

We get the country we deserve.

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Specializes in LTC.
"Hello there. Would you support a tax increase on top wage earners to raise wages for CNAs in Assisted Living and LTC Facilities?"

Typical 21st Century American: "NO! NO! NO! NO!"

We get the country we deserve.

"Tax increase? Oh NOOOO! That's MY money and I want to buy a flat screen TV!"

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Specializes in LDRP.

im in PA... i just got hired on as a PCA at an assisted living facility for 10.00/hr PRN, full or part time get 9.00 to start... CNAs start at 12/hr in the skilled nursing side of the same facility, I believe they get about 14/15.00/hr for PRN..

im a little disgusted that people are getting payed less than $9/hr for either position. thats pretty rediculous.

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