Why do some RNs hate this?

I graduated from nursing school two years ago and found that I was making awesome money (almost twice as much) but only compared to my friends who had just got entry-level jobs with different degrees. There is not a lot of room to make more money, and RN pay pretty much maxes out for the most part. Nursing pay isn't terrible, but I wouldn't consider it to be a high paying job by ANY means!!!! It also depends on where you live. I live in one of the lowest paying states when compared to living expense (South Florida!!!).

There are few bachelors majors let alone AAS degrees that pay more than nursing. Computer information systems, engineering and dental hygiene maybe? I've herd that Spending increases as salary increases.

Hey, teacher friends in my area make about $42.000 a year starting. I'll probably make about $45,000 a year starting. If everyone can complain about how underpaid teachers are, surely I can complain, too? :) And I won't even get summers off!

I haven't even gotten into nursing school yet but I do have a bachelors degree in the health field. My starting pay for my job after graduating was $16.83/hr or $35,000/yr, and had it not been for student loan payments, I could have saved up quite a bit of money in this year since graduating. Looking up starting salaries for nurses in my area, it seems to be around $24/hr or ~50,000/yr. I realize many of you feel with all the responsibility it's not enough, but from an outsiders perspective, nursing comes with "big bucks". No, not doctors or CEO "big bucks", but certainly more than a lot of others in the working world are making. Nurses may have the stress of someone's life on their hands but other professions can be stressful in other ways.

I grew up with two parents that have bachelors degrees and back when I lived at home they made around $60,000 COMBINED. I think it's absolutely silly that people on here are saying they aren't making good money, or that their money doesn't go far in this economy. Everyone else's jobs have suffered, too. Nurses do have a lot of responsibility, but considering you make more than others in the workforce, you are "getting paid" for it. Now, CNAs are a different story.

I don't get upset when people think I make lots of money (although I may correct them). It does irritate me, however, when they assume I became a nurse BECAUSE of the money. It devalues my passion for nursing and makes me seem shallow.

I totally agree. I live in NJ and I make about $50,000 a year. I make more than most of my friends (who work in other fields) and I only have my associates degree. No I don't make 6 figures, but I live comfortably and I have no problem with people thinking I do. What people don't understand is how hard I work for my money. I love nursing and I like my job a lot, but I work hard. Trust me, I could be doing something else, doing less work and possibly making more money but I'm a nurse cuz that's what I wanna do. So I do alright, but I work my ass off and so do a lot of nurses so why shouldn't we be happy to earn what we earn?

i will start out making gross $38,000 a year. i had to go to school for 6 years in total for my bsn. it's not "big bucks" by any means. of course, for someone like me who worked minimum wage and at most $10/hour throughout school, it's a gold mine of money. i'm looking forward to starting a point in my life where i don't worry constantly about how i will pay my bills or if i can go do something fun with friends. i'm excited to start planning and saving for a big vacation with my fiance. but it's not rich at all.

just curious, why will you start out at only $38,000 as an rn with a bsn??

where do you live?

Just curious, why will you start out at only $38,000 as an RN with a BSN??

Where do you live?

I live in Kentucky. Apparently I was wrong on my calculations and I will be making around $43,000 yearly. I also have a great benefits package, the best by far around here. But still, that's the short of it - I will not be making a ridiculous amount of money, even working in a specialty in a hospital.

Our new nurses (ADN/BSN makes no difference) make under 35,000 if they work 40 hours per week; around 30,000 if they work 3 12 hour shifts per week. This is in a hospital that just a few years ago was one of the most profitable hospitals in the NATION. Starting salary same now as it was then. Terribly understaffed, high acuity patients, well compensated shareholders. Does not make me feel like I am pulling in the big bucks.

This is so bizarre. Here (NYC) even new grad nurses with a BSN will start out with anywhere from 60,000 (on the low end) to 75 or 80k.

I've herd that Spending increases as salary increases.

That's my problem right now.