Let's do talk about wages - it's a very valid concern. I don't have data to address the question about wage variation between local employers. However, on a national level, CA nurses are the highest paid in the nation (http://californiahealthline.org/news/californias-rn-wages-now-highest-in-the-nation-federal-data-show/).
Within CA, it's very true that nurses in rural areas make less money than those in urban areas. In fact, the nurses in the northern counties (including Humboldt) are some of the lower paid statewide, with average salary in 2014 of $84,461, annually. Nurses in rural southern CA counties do a bit better, with average salaries around $85 - 89K annually. Nurses in the San Francisco bay area (the top wages in the U.S.) are paid substantially more, at about $100K / year. (all data from the CA Board of Nursing:http://www.rn.ca.gov/pdfs/forms/survey2014.pdf) This is a difference of closer to $7 - $8 / hour, not $15. It may still be significant in nurses selecting options for employment.
Sadly, though, I think the local problems are more complex. Just my 2c, but I suspect most nurses who choose to live and work in Humboldt county are not interested in re-locating to SFO or Sacramento for better wages.
I applaud the local academic institutions and health care employers for their attention to this important matter.
Thanks Thad, for the balanced and informative reporting.
Re: “Nurses, Stat”
Let's do talk about wages - it's a very valid concern. I don't have data to address the question about wage variation between local employers. However, on a national level, CA nurses are the highest paid in the nation (http://californiahealthline.org/news/californias-rn-wages-now-highest-in-the-nation-federal-data-show/).
Within CA, it's very true that nurses in rural areas make less money than those in urban areas. In fact, the nurses in the northern counties (including Humboldt) are some of the lower paid statewide, with average salary in 2014 of $84,461, annually. Nurses in rural southern CA counties do a bit better, with average salaries around $85 - 89K annually. Nurses in the San Francisco bay area (the top wages in the U.S.) are paid substantially more, at about $100K / year. (all data from the CA Board of Nursing:http://www.rn.ca.gov/pdfs/forms/survey2014.pdf) This is a difference of closer to $7 - $8 / hour, not $15. It may still be significant in nurses selecting options for employment.
Sadly, though, I think the local problems are more complex. Just my 2c, but I suspect most nurses who choose to live and work in Humboldt county are not interested in re-locating to SFO or Sacramento for better wages.
I applaud the local academic institutions and health care employers for their attention to this important matter.
Thanks Thad, for the balanced and informative reporting.
pat farmer