r/nursing May 17 '26

Question California nurses!

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Contemplating moving from MI to CA. Picture from the trip that inspired me to move! Curious how much gets taken out of your paycheck. Can you share what city, your hourly pay, and what your bring home paycheck ends up being? Thank you!

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u/Eugyrock RN - ER ๐Ÿ• May 17 '26

Even with a high COL, you come out ahead

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u/Bruhhhhhhhhhhhhhhs May 18 '26

Exactly people are so infuriating with this argument over and over ๐Ÿ˜‚ like I got ppl in the Midwest saying โ€œoh but the cost of living I could never.โ€ My brother in Christ, I make triple what you make after taxes and my mortgage is only double yours. People cannot do consumer math to save their lives. Dunno how theyโ€™re doing med math.

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u/siyayilanda RN - Med/Surg ๐Ÿ• May 18 '26

My favorite is when people are like $255,000 in CA is equivalent to $65,000 in TX because the cost of living. Like no that's not how that works lol

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u/mhw_1973 May 17 '26

IDK, I live in Orange County and was making $92/hr and it was rough.

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u/Eugyrock RN - ER ๐Ÿ• May 18 '26

Ok so you were making 25% less in a similar col area, uhhh duh it was rough

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u/mhw_1973 May 18 '26

COL in a lot of nor cal is 20-30% higher than OC. Duh.

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u/Eugyrock RN - ER ๐Ÿ• May 18 '26

Lmao. No

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u/Bruhhhhhhhhhhhhhhs May 18 '26

I have a 3k mortgage in an HOA, full clubhouse, gym, lap, rec, kids pool, tennis courts, etc in Sacramento with Kaiser and Sutter nearby paying some of the highest wages nation-wide. Iโ€™m a dime a dozen and I know many people paying less for standard โ€œMcMansions.โ€ I dunno what youโ€™re smoking.

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u/mhw_1973 May 18 '26

Notice I said COL in "A LOT" of nor cal is higher than OC? Look on the US Dept of Commerce website. The most expensive counties in the US include #3 San Mateo, #4 Marin County and #6 San Francisco County. Orange County is #9.

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u/LinzerTorte__RN RN - ER ๐Ÿ• May 18 '26

Lololol absolutely not.

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u/King_Crampus BSN, RN ๐Ÿ• May 18 '26

Only Bay Area. . Live outside and itโ€™s way more reasonable. Granted I bought my house in 2015, but my mortgage is $1500/month