Taboo: Salary Talk

It has always been known by everyone that it is taboo to discuss about money and salaries. It is one of those topics, along with sex and religion, that is kept “hush hush” in social conversation. But haven’t you ever wondered why there are so many people trying to be a nurse overseas? They say that the pay is good but how good is it?

The advantage of working overseas, especially in the US and the UK, is that you are earning dollars and pounds. But what you should remember is that you will also be spending the same. The cost of living is quite higher there too and you will also have bills to pay.

But putting aside those thoughts, let’s get into how much a nurse really earns when he/she is working in the US. There are a couple of factors that determines the overall nursing salaries. These includes: level of education, years of experience in the chosen field, state and city where you work, the type of work and the type of specialty. What you have to remember, the higher the level of expertise, the higher the pay. If you are just a beginner in this field, don’t expect too much. You have to start at the bottom like everyone else.

The hourly rates for registered nurses vary in each state. Take for example Texas, the median hourly rate is $25.00, while in California it is $31.88. It is clear that the wage is higher in California but you also have to remember that it is way more expensive to live in California than in Texas. So when you get to file for NCLEX, you should first consider in which state you want to work in. Though there is such a thing as reciprocity but it can’t be done as easily as you imagined.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nurses earn an average of $52,330 per year. Imagine that! When you do the math, that is way higher than the meager salaries of nurses working locally. It could really be worth it to work abroad and earn those digits.

As with the cliché, money isn’t everything. It may give you material things but it won’t give you lasting happiness. But if you enjoy what you do and earn much for it, then that’s another story!

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