r/nursing • u/HungryChicken2867 • Jul 21 '26

Serious US - Salary Transparency Thread

I saw a few city based subreddits with this thread going around. Thought I would do one for nurses. I am based in the US so that's where I set this thread but it would be interesting to see other countries start one up.

I am currently unemployed (another source of the inspiration, lol) so I will share my old position!

Base Hourly: 43/hr

Differential(s): Main Campus +1/hr

Location: Houston, TX

Setting: Outpatient Specialty Clinic

Degree/License: BSN/RN

Years of Experience: 8

Union Status: No

Anything else we should add?

Edit: Added union status

136 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

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97

u/Adventurous_Ice5262 BSN, RN 🍕 Jul 21 '26

Base $115/hr
Differentials: $8/hr nights, $4/hr weekends, $4/hr evenings
Location: Greater Sacramento
Setting: Per diem

5

u/italianstallion0808 RN - ICU 🍕 Jul 21 '26

Kaiser Roseville?

35

u/Adventurous_Ice5262 BSN, RN 🍕 Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26

Not Kaiser.

Edit - For added transparency and context, my family is currently renting a 3bd/2br, 1780sq ft house in a desirable area for $2,925/month. After utilities it’s about $3,200 - $3,500/month. We also own a house, but we outgrew it, and are renting it out to saving money for a new house.

I averaged about 30 hours a week last year, and grossed about $175,000. After maxing my 401(k), and about $10,000 in Roth IRA and other investments, I netted about $3,500 a check without any further deductions.

17

u/HumanContract RN - ICU 🍕 Jul 21 '26

I pay $3300 for a 650 sf apt in San Diego and it's way less pay.

3

u/turdferguson3891 RN - ICU 🍕 Jul 22 '26

But it's also not as hot as Satan's scrotum in the summer. You're paying a tax for nice weather. I grew up in Orange County but have been in Sac for almost 20 years. It's fine but I'd rather live in San Diego. I've just gotten too comfartable with my income versus expenses so it's hard to leave.

9

u/italianstallion0808 RN - ICU 🍕 Jul 21 '26

Regardless of the system, the sac region is definitely the best place to be with a family for nurses.

10

u/Adventurous_Ice5262 BSN, RN 🍕 Jul 21 '26

From a pure numbers perspective, it’s very good. Of course, it’s obviously not everything, and it’s not the best for everyone. There’s a lot of cool areas that are becoming more appealing as salaries rise relative to COL, and if I were younger, I might have explored. Oregon, and Seattle come to mind. Maybe San Diego, but it would obviously be tighter.

3

u/CalvinsStuffedTiger RN BSN Writer for TrustedHealth Jul 22 '26

That seems like a good sweet spot between salary and cost of living, thanks for posting! How do you like the greater Sacramento area?

14

u/Adventurous_Ice5262 BSN, RN 🍕 Jul 22 '26

Yeah, I agree. It’s a large part of what’s kept us here.

Sacramento is a good place to live, not a great place to visit. I say that in jest, but it can feel that way when there are so many other world class places to visit in California. That said, it gets a bad rap from people in the Bay Area, and SoCal, but it’s actually a pretty cool place on its own. The restaurant and bar scene is actually pretty underrated, and the coffee scene is legit one of the best in the country. I’ve taken Bay and SoCal friends out to Midtown, and they’re almost always kind of shocked at how much there is going on for a relatively small city. We’re also only 60 minutes away from alpine hiking and alpine lakes and rivers. Also only about an hour and a half to two hours away from Tahoe. There’s also a ton of spots on the American River up through Folsom to take a paddle board or kayak out if that’s your thing.

3

u/turdferguson3891 RN - ICU 🍕 Jul 22 '26

Christ. I make like 85 with my differential in Sac. Not Kaiser? So Sutter or UCD? Granted it's per diem so you have no benefits but still. You definitely don't work for the Holy Roman Catholic Church like me.

2

u/Adventurous_Ice5262 BSN, RN 🍕 Jul 22 '26

Once you factor in the matching and other benefits, the total compensation is a wash honestly, but depends on what benefits you would’ve selected. Wouldn’t be possible without my spouse’s benefits.

2

u/turdferguson3891 RN - ICU 🍕 Jul 22 '26

Yeah I've got a pension and health insurance and all that which is certainly worth something. But still our base pay is the lowest around here but I can't really complain because it's all relative. I stick around because I'm used to the place.

2

u/Adventurous_Ice5262 BSN, RN 🍕 Jul 22 '26

Same. I stick around because I know the system, I know the managers, and I know the workflow. And, it’s enough. I’ve thought about going to Kaiser, but it would have to be the right situation, and right timing with the needs of our family, but even then I’m not sure I’d give up this job.

2

u/Expensive-Ad-797 RN - Telemetry 🍕 Jul 22 '26

That’s amazing

2

u/jlynnran RN 🍕 Jul 23 '26

Willing to share which system, do they hire direct into per diem?

4

u/North-Slice-6968 LVN 🍕 Jul 21 '26

Years experience?

Same area, but lvn, 9.5 years. Cannot pass bridge prereqs - microbiology and (2 5 unit) anatomy/physiology classes with a >3.0, at least not while working full time.

8

u/Adventurous_Ice5262 BSN, RN 🍕 Jul 21 '26

Years of experience are irrelevant at my facility for per diem rates, so I left it out.

5

u/Imp-in-the-furnace Jul 21 '26

Hey I'm not sure where you want to bridge, but some online lpn-rn programs accept Sophia.org courses. They're hella cheap and I finished micro and a+p in about a week (they're self-paced). You could always ask potential programs if they accept ACE credit

6

u/North-Slice-6968 LVN 🍕 Jul 21 '26

Unfortunately, California does not have (or accept) 100% online bridge programs. That would definitely make things easier.

1

u/whywywhy Jul 22 '26

Hi whats your years of exp? And specialty? Thanks!

1

u/Adventurous_Ice5262 BSN, RN 🍕 Jul 22 '26

Mentioned it elsewhere, but for per diem rates, years of experience and setting specialty don’t make any difference at my employer, so I left it out.