Wife getting ready to Graduate. Worried about her pay!!! CALIF.

Published

:cry:Hello all- first off let me inform you. I am currently in my last year of the navy and my wife will be done with her RN in about the same time. What I was hoping was that she would begin her job and I would go to school (Kinda opposite of what we're doing now)- but what she's been hearing lately was that nurses don't make too much at all, less than what I make now as a matter a fact which was a huge disappointment to both of us seeing as how we have two little girls (Child care) and bills that she would have to take over. Could someone please shed as much light as possible to put our hearts at ease. We currently live in San Marcos CA. We understand that taxes take a huge chunk of change out but for an RN I figured we'd still be ok for me to go to school financially.

Sorry if this seems as an ignorant thread I really don't know anything out the pay. I've tried to search but I'm unfamiliar w/ these forums. Please help as best as you can. Thank you in advance.

Thank you for your service to our country!

Thank you very much! I'm very blessed to have served our country.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych.

I understand. I think you're a nice guy. I'll translate to help you navigate the sea of folks with totally alien communication styles.

With my wife ready to graduate, we're both concerned as to whether or not we'll be able to swing the next step of our life plan. While she was a full-time student, I was the primary breadwinner. We're now getting ready to swap roles, but we're concerned that the family income is about to take a nosedive. Right now I make about xxx, and we really need for her to make about yyy in order to keep the family afloat. Does this sound feasible?

Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I understand. I think you're a nice guy. I'll translate to help you navigate the sea of folks with totally alien communication styles.

With my wife ready to graduate, we're both concerned as to whether or not we'll be able to swing the next step of our life plan. While she was a full-time student, I was the primary breadwinner. We're now getting ready to swap roles, but we're concerned that the family income is about to take a nosedive. Right now I make about xxx, and we really need for her to make about yyy in order to keep the family afloat. Does this sound feasible?

Good luck!

YES! Thats the situation we're in now and I'm just trying to get a grasp of the situation we'll be headed in so we won't be side swiped TOO hard later on.

You've all already answered my question with a couple of posts so thanks again for all your knowledge and help. If you have any tips or think we should look at it a certain way please feel free to post- I'm more than happy looking at different perspectives.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
If you are able to live on what you are making now, you should be able to live on her salary. If you had hopes of being able to buy more things and have more disposable income, then no, you probably won't be able to do that. You will still need to live cost efficiently until you graduate and have two full incomes.

There is no reason why you can't work when you get out. Your GI bill should help with some tuition and you may be able to get more once you fill out your FAFSA which is required whether you are planning on getting financial aid or not.

If you go fulltime, there is still time for a part time job. Or you can get a full time job and go to college full time. It is do-able.

The GI Bill doesn't go far, so depending on what you want to take and how far degree wise you go, you will probably end up with some school debt but it is manageable if you do it smart and get a degree that you can use.

If you want something bad enough, you will be able to do all this. Be aware that nursing is more stressful and the working environment is horrible compared to the Navy. Your wife will feel like she is taking on the world when she becomes the bread winner in the house. She may have to take/keep terrible jobs just to make money so that you get to work on your dreams. Be aware of those feelings, acknowledge them when she is unhappy and tired after work, and look for ways to lighten her load. It will help your marriage in the long run.

Separating from the Navy is very stressful on everyone. Make sure you take the TAP classes offered and any other assistance you can get from government or private sources for jobs, financial aid, even friendship from vets. It is hard to transition from such a structured environment to one where you get to make all the choices. Large colleges often have non-traditional students organizations. You can often find help and friendship with people in your same boat.

Thank you SO very much for your guidance- I appreaciate every word that was said. I take it you've seen this before/ done this before?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

RN 1989 gave you good advice. You might want to consider affiliating with the reserves as a PT gig to help out with finances etc after discharge.

Some of the NG programs basically allow you to attend school for free in exchange for your drill weekends and AT. (Then your GI bill will become a real income source for you.) There is a lot to think about when you are in transition.

Has your wife considered working for the VA?

The Salary range at USA jobs showed 60-100 K for California RN's.

Here is a link to the careers website for one of the VA hospitals. She would need to fill out the applications in the column on the right.

http://www.losangeles.va.gov/careers/index.asp

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Only1Balto, I live in Tennessee and the cost of living is much cheaper here. Your wife could find a job starting out at around $20-$25/hr and there is no state income tax.

I support a family of 6 on my income alone as an RN. Of course, we have cut our lifestyle down to nothing, but I am able to pay all the bills and put a little in savings for emergency expenses. My husband won't go out and earn a penny but he cooks up a storm and you have never tasted cooking as good as his so I guess I can look at the bright side...BTW, I am making $25/hr and my take home is around $1600 to $1900 bimonthly, depending on if I work 4 or 5 eight hour shifts a week.

I can't imagine trying to live on one salary in California, though, from what I've heard about California.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Home Care, Hospice, OB.

another (much older) vet here--have you thought about taking your terminal pcs and moving somewhere much less expensive than socal? there are tons of places in the us where an rn salary will cover you if you are frugal and stagger your classes to minimize the time the kids are in day care (better for them, too..)

there is a ton of material on line to help you research area that you feel you could live with that have higher pay, low cost of living, and a school for you. if you are dead set on staying put, you will have to work part time yourself, and will be pi$$ing away a free move to anywhere in conus...:twocents:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
another (much older) vet here--have you thought about taking your terminal pcs and moving somewhere much less expensive than socal? there are tons of places in the us where an rn salary will cover you if you are frugal and stagger your classes to minimize the time the kids are in day care (better for them, too..)

there is a ton of material on line to help you research area that you feel you could live with that have higher pay, low cost of living, and a school for you. if you are dead set on staying put, you will have to work part time yourself, and will be pi$$ing away a free move to anywhere in conus...:twocents:

yes- we do plan on moving to ga but wanted her to get 2 or 3 years of nursing under her belt and so i can finish school and she can build a resume. things there financially will be alot better but we're just making sure we can take care of what we need to hear before we move out there. hope i'm making sense. thanks again for all of your input! means alot to me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Yes- we do plan on moving to GA but wanted her to get 2 or 3 years of nursing under her belt and so I can finish school and she can build a resume. Things there financially will be alot better but we're just making sure we can take care of what we need to hear before we move out there. Hope i'm making sense. Thanks again for all of your input! Means alot to me.

You want to pay some high taxes GA is the place to go.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Home Care, Hospice, OB.

fyi--if you can transfer schools, your lovely bride can be a gn just about anywhere! they are like o-1's (ensigns or second lts')--quite interchangeable.:chuckle it's down the road when she has specific experience that its harder to find a specific slot in her speciality.:twocents:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
You want to pay some high taxes GA is the place to go.

True- but a mortgage on a house by a lake is around 800 in GA where as rent in an infested apartment anywhere here is 1200+ I think the odds will layout.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
fyi--if you can transfer schools, your lovely bride can be a gn just about anywhere! they are like o-1's (ensigns or second lts')--quite interchangeable.:chuckle it's down the road when she has specific experience that its harder to find a specific slot in her speciality.:twocents:

i will look into that- thank you :) i want to go to itt or a tech college so it might be better if we do it down there (in ga).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion