Eileen Beal
Lisa Broesch
Roberta Chinsky Matuson
Marcia Frellick
Elisabeth Greenbaum Kasson
Jan Hunter
Joy Taylor
Kim McAllister
Sue Mellen
Chakisse Newton
Stephenie Overman
Lois Roelofs
Terry Sheridan
Rosa Talavera
Salary! It’s one of those topics that’s so sensitive, yet everyone thinks about it! Would you be willing to share your confidential response to this question from a new nursing grad:
“I finally landed my first job interview, after graduating from the University of Iowa with my BSN. And I want to be prepared to talk “salary.” Knowing that the average RN salary is around $65,000, I’m wondering what a fair starting salary is for a new grad. I really, really hope I get a job offer, and if they ask me about my salary expectation, I want to throw out a good number. What’s a fair starting salary for a new RN?”
Katie G., via email
Share your confidential response in the comment section below.
The average starting salary in PA is approximately 22-27$ per hr. Depends on where you are.
Pull up the salaries for new grads in the area/city where you're interviewing on salary.com. Also, if you know someone working at the place where you're interviewing you can get information from them. In addition, salaries are going to vary based on the type of work, hospital vs ambulatory, vs home care, etc. I know 4 years ago, 2009, when I was a new grad, the day shift salary (7am start) was as varied as 19.00/hr in the Carolinas to as high as 32.00/hr in Philadelphia. The median seemed to be about 25.00/hr. Don't forget night and weekend differentials. God Bless in your interview.
As a new RN, you have valuable knowledge, and I am sure you studied hard for your BSN.
However, entering the profession is a new challenge, and bedside nursing is the most important learning experience of your whole professional life. Usually a hospital has a starting salary, and benefits, and continuing education etc… and shift differential. You must also take into account the cost of living of your area. The "average" salary does not mean much at all. California offers higher wages, in high cost areas and harsh working conditions; Other places may offer lower hourly pay; in lower cost of living, and more humane working conditions.
The most important thing is the feeling one has for a place: how employees are treated, what is the turn over, how are patients reporting about the care, and how a new graduate is welcome and helped along,.. I am an older nurse but I remember in Idaho, my colleagues close to retirement, an ICU RN and an ICU LPN. I learned so many things from them, and they were my role models to this day… for the science and the art of nursing managed together, beyond books and degrees and titles… So nursing has been a wonderful job not just for the salary $9 or$10 /hour in the late seventies, but mostly for the fantastic lifelong impulse I was given by my experienced colleagues. That is priceless ! Take care and enjoy your first job. Marie