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My First Paycheck as a New Grad Registered Nurse: A Transparent Breakdown

As a new graduate registered nurse working in the emergency department, I’m excited to share a detailed look at my first paycheck. Throughout nursing school, I struggled to find clear information about what registered nurses actually earn. Salaries vary widely depending on location, hospital, and department, and I didn’t know my exact pay until I received my offer letter. So, I’m here to be completely open about my earnings, including my base pay, shift differentials, and a breakdown of my first paycheck, to help answer questions for anyone curious about this profession.

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My Base Pay and Shift Differentials

I work on the West Coast in Oregon, hired as a new grad nurse for night shifts in the emergency department. My base pay is $38.75 per hour. On top of that, I earn shift differentials for specific hours:

• Night shift differential: An extra $4.75/hour from 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM.

• Evening shift differential: An extra $2.50/hour from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM.

• Weekend shift differential: An extra $2.25/hour from Friday at 11:00 PM to Sunday at 11:00 PM.

For a typical night shift (7:00 PM to 7:00 AM), my hourly rate breaks down as follows:

• From 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM: $41.25/hour (base pay + evening differential).

• From 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM: $43.50/hour (base pay + night differential).

If I work weekends, the weekend differential adds another $2.25/hour. I’ll likely rotate weekends, but my schedule isn’t fully set yet.

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Overtime and Incentives

One exciting perk is time-and-a-half overtime after 40 hours in a workweek. However, since I typically work three 12-hour shifts (36 hours), the first four hours of an extra shift don’t qualify for overtime. Once I hit 40 hours, the overtime rate kicks in. Additionally, hospitals often offer incentives for picking up extra shifts due to staffing shortages. At my hospital, these can include bonuses (rumored to be around $500 per shift), time-and-a-half pay, and even an extra $25/hour. As a new grad in a three-month orientation, I can’t pick up extra shifts yet, but I’ll update you once I can!

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My First Paycheck Breakdown

During my first month, I’m in a new grad residency program, attending daytime classes (Monday through Friday, no holidays) for certifications like ACLS, PALS, TNCC, and a cardiac rhythm course. This means my first paycheck doesn’t include night or weekend differentials, nor does it reflect deductions for health insurance, dental insurance, or 401(k) contributions, as I’m still sorting those out.

Here’s the breakdown for my first paycheck:

• Hours worked: 80.5 hours (a mix of base pay and some evening differential).

• Gross pay: $3,180.03.

• Taxes withheld: $904.35 (includes federal, Medicare, and Social Security taxes).

• Net pay: $2,275.68 (the amount I actually received).

Seeing $904.35 taken out for taxes was tough but not surprising, as I’m used to heavy taxation from my previous service industry job. In Oregon, tax claims are now personalized based on income, so I’m claiming the standard amount assigned to me.

Where Did It All Go?

As the title suggests, most of my first paycheck is already gone! After years without a steady income during nursing school, I have a lot of expenses to catch up on—bills, debts, and maybe a few treats and toys for my dog, who’s been waiting patiently for some love. It’s bittersweet, but I’m thrilled to finally be earning as a nurse.

A Resource for Nurse Salaries

For anyone curious about nursing salaries across the U.S., I highly recommend checking out a website with anonymous Google documents organized by state. These documents, which I’ll link in the description, include entries from registered nurses detailing their pay based on location, department, and years of experience. Some even include shift differentials. It’s an incredible resource for understanding what you could earn if you move or start working in a specific city or department. The most recent entries are at the bottom, and the data goes back several years.

Final Thoughts

I hope this breakdown sheds light on what a new grad registered nurse in the emergency department earns. Money comes and goes, as my mom always says, but I know how curious I was about nursing salaries when I was starting out, and I want to provide the transparency I wished for. If you’re considering this profession or just curious, I hope this answers your questions. Stay tuned for more updates as I progress in my nursing journey!