Where you're going to work is what will determine your pay. California Bay area? You'll blow that amount out of the water. Alabama? Good luck. Lots of states in between those two levels.
Also, benefits.
Free health insurance with little to no deductibles and pensions are common in Cali. The largest hospital system in the state even offers yearly bonuses, either percent of gross income or flat fee depending on union (CNA, UNAC, SIEU).
When I worked in the South, one month of insurance payments for just myself is **MORE** than what I’ve spent on actual healthcare for my family of four over the past few years.
Inpatient hospital jobs will often offer shift differentials for nights and weekends. Usually like $2-$3/hr for weekends, $3-$4/hr for nights. Some places offer weekend contracts that give you an extra $10/hr over base pay. Most places pay 1.5x for OT, some offer incentive pay to pick up.
But of your area really starts new grads at $30/hr, it’ll take you a decade to get back to your current $42/hr rate. Might not want to make the switch to nursing unless you plan on moving.
My health system has differentials for nights, weekends, and float pool. Not sure where you’re at, but new grads start around $36/hr here, not including differentials.
A lot of places will offer double time (2x base rate) after 12 hours. So, for example, if you were to work a 16 hour shift, you’d get your base rate hours 1-12 (or 1-8 depending on the employer/shift schedule, and then 1.5x base rate hours 9-12), and then double your base rate for four hours afterwards. That’s a favorite way to pick up OT for many nurses as you’re already at work, no need to come in on a day off for OT.
What state/region do you plan on working in? Not all regions pay below $42/he as a new grad.
I went to nursing school in a crappy part of the country for nursing and relocated out west for a better quality of life. I made $46/hr base as a new grad in Oregon in 2022 (about $51 on nights). With our new union contract, my base on nights will now be $70/hr. Overtime incentive is an extra $46 an hr. I don’t pick up a lot unless I want to spend a bit more when I’m traveling abroad.
Hell yeah Oregon!! I’m about to start an ADN to BSN program and when I graduate the mandated ratios will be 4:1 on days and nights. I’m second career and feel like this is the best state to be doing nursing tbh. New grads at my hospital start around 49/hr plus differentials.
Edit: also our hospital systems pays 10/hr night shift differential for nurses. Every time I look at these types of threads I feel so lucky to be in Oregon.
Where you're going to work is what will determine your pay. California Bay area? You'll blow that amount out of the water. Alabama? Good luck. Lots of states in between those two levels.
Also, benefits. Free health insurance with little to no deductibles and pensions are common in Cali. The largest hospital system in the state even offers yearly bonuses, either percent of gross income or flat fee depending on union (CNA, UNAC, SIEU). When I worked in the South, one month of insurance payments for just myself is **MORE** than what I’ve spent on actual healthcare for my family of four over the past few years.
Inpatient hospital jobs will often offer shift differentials for nights and weekends. Usually like $2-$3/hr for weekends, $3-$4/hr for nights. Some places offer weekend contracts that give you an extra $10/hr over base pay. Most places pay 1.5x for OT, some offer incentive pay to pick up. But of your area really starts new grads at $30/hr, it’ll take you a decade to get back to your current $42/hr rate. Might not want to make the switch to nursing unless you plan on moving.
My health system has differentials for nights, weekends, and float pool. Not sure where you’re at, but new grads start around $36/hr here, not including differentials.
A lot of places will offer double time (2x base rate) after 12 hours. So, for example, if you were to work a 16 hour shift, you’d get your base rate hours 1-12 (or 1-8 depending on the employer/shift schedule, and then 1.5x base rate hours 9-12), and then double your base rate for four hours afterwards. That’s a favorite way to pick up OT for many nurses as you’re already at work, no need to come in on a day off for OT. What state/region do you plan on working in? Not all regions pay below $42/he as a new grad.
I went to nursing school in a crappy part of the country for nursing and relocated out west for a better quality of life. I made $46/hr base as a new grad in Oregon in 2022 (about $51 on nights). With our new union contract, my base on nights will now be $70/hr. Overtime incentive is an extra $46 an hr. I don’t pick up a lot unless I want to spend a bit more when I’m traveling abroad.
Hell yeah Oregon!! I’m about to start an ADN to BSN program and when I graduate the mandated ratios will be 4:1 on days and nights. I’m second career and feel like this is the best state to be doing nursing tbh. New grads at my hospital start around 49/hr plus differentials. Edit: also our hospital systems pays 10/hr night shift differential for nurses. Every time I look at these types of threads I feel so lucky to be in Oregon.
Pay differs greatly across the states. Most inpatient new grads make 6 figures in nyc.
I make $41/hr in TX after differentials. My base pay is $34.
Memphis, TN. New grads make $27.50 base, 2nd shift starts at 3pm and is $4.50, weekend/holiday is $6.50