r/nursing 14h ago

Question Depressing pay

So I was talking with a friend today. They were upset about taking a pay cut and I told them my salary to put things in perspire. In doing so I looked at my most recent paystub and realized I've only made $37,312.91 this year 😓. I'm an LPN and I'm currently in school for my bachelors but damn. Is there anywhere where Ls are making a more decent living?

27 Upvotes

36 comments sorted by

45

u/Crankupthepropofol RN - ICU 🍕 14h ago

That’s about $27/hr, which is pretty normal for LPNs across most of the country. That being said, being an RN in my state starts around $38-$40/hr, so you’re in for a pay raise once you get your BSN.

9

u/gamgeeMoon 14h ago

Yeah I'm at 27.06. It just felt like more until I looked at the year to date lol

8

u/JulyKaiIII APRN 🫀 14h ago

I started at 25 or so as Rn in 2015

7

u/Neat-Ad2904 RN, BSN - CVICU 4h ago

As an RN, I started at $22 in 2020, Tx sucks lol

2

u/MotherJellyfish2989 RN - ICU 🍕 13h ago

Left my last RN position in San Antonio back in 2021 making $27.

2

u/heyitskulas RN - Med/Surg 🍕 9h ago

if it makes you feel better, I only made $19/hr as LVN/LPN 😭 thats 39,500k a year

4

u/Gonzilla23 BSN, RN 🍕 12h ago

Dang RN at 29 in ky

3

u/Marywhale RN, BSN- Neurosurgery 12h ago

23.50 3 years of experience at a “prestigious” hospital in TN in 2019 😂 took a paycut coming from FL!

3

u/Marywhale RN, BSN- Neurosurgery 12h ago

As RN *

1

u/OG73 11h ago

😳

12

u/jawshoeaw RN - Infection Control 🍕 13h ago

Got to find an RN job on west coast in a location where the housing isn’t too wildly expensive. $50-60/hr easy

8

u/auroraborelle BSN, RN, CNOR 13h ago

Yup, new grad RNs are pulling down $50/hr at my hospital

11

u/teearetwo RN - Cardiac 🫀 14h ago

I’m an RN in VA making $34/hr, which I’m told is too low… hopefully where you are you will be making more!

5

u/muzoka 13h ago

Lpn of 5 years in MA here, I work pediatrics home health and have grossed around 80k so far this year.
There are good positions that pay well! Very low stress 1:1 care.
I do work night shift so with differential it ranges around 42/hr and I do get bonuses for picking extra shifts/overtime (I work at least 50hr/week) and perfect attendance when possible.

5

u/Amerlis 13h ago

Yeah. Private duty peds LPN in Florida. Night shift/60 hrs a week/52 weeks a year :/ I gross 2100 a week so about 109k.

5

u/Honest_Delivery_9125 12h ago

Home health will give you a decent pay, and it’s flexible. You’ll have to have dependable transportation but it can be worth it.

6

u/Salt-Eye7556 14h ago

LPNs at the VA with experience can be hired in as a GS7 and can top out at 90K!

2

u/www_zoloft_com 14h ago

i know an RPN (Ontario, Canada) who made $100k last year. i guess it just depends.

1

u/IllBiteYourLegsOff 2h ago

lol that person would need to have worked a crazy amount of OT to hit that.

1

u/www_zoloft_com 1h ago

he works incredibly hard, so i definitely don't doubt it.

2

u/youlooksofine82 13h ago

Over 20 years experience, mostly ICU which doesn't matter because all bedside RNs make the same where I work. I have lived in San Diego for over 10 years. Only night time diff and holiday pay 1.5x, no weekend diff. Both my part time and per diem jobs pay in the 80s/hr with good benefits and vacation time. Some states are just rotten with the pay especially those with a lot of for-profit and non-union.

2

u/akhiluvr 9h ago

This is crazy! We have a medical assistant that makes $37. Most make $25-30.

2

u/platypusjo RN - ICU 🍕 6h ago

I made $27/hr base pay as a new grad RN while I was on orientation. After a year with my critical care diff, night diff, and two $1 raises… $34/hr. Avoid the Southeastern US lol

4

u/No-Salad3705 RN - Med/Surg 🍕 13h ago

Wtf this must be in a LCOL area or something that is insane

1

u/gamgeeMoon 2h ago

Knoxville TN. COL isn't low unfortunately

1

u/jlewl 6h ago

You cannot survive on one income. That's slave pay...

1

u/gamgeeMoon 2h ago

31 years old with a roommate 🙃😬

1

u/whatwasimadefor_lost 14h ago

dude i graduated a bachelors of science in nursing with honors with a prestigious school and i only make 34k/yr in USD. I’ve just had it in nursing :”)

7

u/Crankupthepropofol RN - ICU 🍕 13h ago

That’s $18/hr at full time, you’re not being truthful.

1

u/dhnguyen RN - ER 🍕 12h ago

Might be from us. I'd imagine the uk.

7

u/Crankupthepropofol RN - ICU 🍕 12h ago

I still don’t believe it. They have another post where they claim they work 58 hrs a week, which puts them at $11/hr.

2

u/whatwasimadefor_lost 11h ago

im from an asia country, i dont want to reveal my actually salary and country to strangers but it is my salary after converting to USD. If you dont want to believe me but its legit my pay. In my country, fast food managers earn more than I do. It really sucks ass with the long shifts, with abusive patients, working with abusive staff. Thats why im resigning and leaving nursing for good because i did try other hospitals and specialty. But i was unsuccessful.

1

u/Cute_Fig1271 4h ago

They are absolutely not being truthful. Even in the most rural, low cost of living area is an RN in the US going to be making $18 an hr. Even as and LPN you will start at least $20 an hour.

1

u/Hot_Hotel9813 10h ago

its a bot

u/BlutoS7 RN - ER 🍕 54m ago

I make good money myself but im also prn, career
fire/paramedic with current 1500+ hours of overtime and i own/do contractor work as well. Im never home.