If you should read articles about high paying jobs, nurses are usually on that list. However, the pay isn't the same everywhere. There are some factors that affect the salaries of nurses. Here are some points to take note to determine the salary of a nurse.
- level of education - this is the type of degree that the nurse has finished
- experience - the more years of practice in the field the higher the pay
- state and city working in - the cost of living in that area
- type of work - a staff nurse is paid differently from a traveling nurse
- type of specialty - there are different specialties in nursing and each pays differently
Here's the median hourly rate of Registered Nurses by state (2006):
- California: $31.88
- Florida: $23.26
- Georgia: $23.83
- Illinois: $25.00
- Pennsylvania: $25.00
- Tennessee: $22.25
- Texas: $25.00
Additionally, according to 2004 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nurses earned an average of $52,330 per year. The middle 50 percent averaged between $43,370 and $63,360. The bottom 10 percent earned under $37,300, while the top 10 percent made more than $74,760.
The nursing shortage offers extremely advantageous opportunities for current nurses earning a higher degree and for nursing students preparing to enter the workforce. Many hospitals are now offering incentive programs such as:
- Recruitment bonuses (ranging anywhere from $2,000 to $20,000)
- Relocation assistance
- Housing assistance
- Day care
- Tuition repayment
These recruitment incentives go to nurses who accept a position at their facility and agree to a set work commitment. Be sure to discuss these types of incentives when you are applying for your next job to make sure you are earning as much as you can.
In these difficult times, we all need to have strategies to be able to make it through especially when it comes to the profession we choose. However, we shouldn't forget where our passions lie as well. If we don't like the job then no matter what we do, we'll never find fulfillment and success in that area.
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