What is the most effective way to negotiate for higher pay? My peers in the same area are making almost $4/hr more than I am.
The only tip I’ve heard that will get you higher pay is switching hospitals or jobs every 2-3 years. Loyalty doesn’t pay anymore.
Highlight your experience and expertise, any committees or volunteer work you do or serve on, any nursing organizations you are a part of or what you do that is special and unique to you being on your unit. How would your unit be different if you were not there? You can also bring US Labor statistics or Glassdoor/Indeed salary comparisons along to make your point. What other perks does your job have or not have that are important to you? A type of health insurance? Ability to serve on committees? Access to research? Is it a teaching facility that has access to a library or do they reimburse you for certifications?
Then Reflect on if you really want to stay on a unit that does not value you monetarily as much as your peers? Maybe it's time to switch organizations. You can always interview at other places, get offer letters and take that to your current management/HR if you decide you really want to stay where you are.
Honestly, I've talked to a couple of big Trauma Centers connected to a University during my travels and the only way you'll get that if you're already staff is if you get the permission of your peers to share that you've been discussing (which you should be!). Even then this won't always work because of "market-value" blah blah blah. Best way is to apply to other facilities near you and take whatever number to your Manager/HR to negotiate. But be ready to walk if they refuse to match. You're worth it, I promise you.
Just ask! There was a time that I approached my manager to ask for a pay increase because I overheard new nurses talk about their hourly pay and I found out they were making at least $3 more. You don’t have to give your peers names. Your goal is to earn what you deserve. My manager was supportive enough to contact HR and they finally adjusted my pay rate.
Go to the AAUW(American Association of University Women) website. We support equity for women and girls through advocacy, research and education There you will find a free online course teaches you how to ask for more money. Check it out. Good luck. Margaret
Work in a union hospital guaranteed pay raises. No fighting who gets more. Not helpful to start higher then stay there longer at that oay
You simply just state, "I need to make __ for me to accept the position." You may add why you believe you are worth more. Or add what other companies are paying. Or state you know nurses are making (the $4) more and you want $5 more. Always ask for more. You are doing it not only for yourself but others as you are setting the bar for the industry in your area.
I think it’s all part of your hired salary. If they come in at a lower rate of pay, you can ask to make it part of your 6 month and yearly review to include a percentage increase to bring yourself to what you deserve. If everyone declines $35/hr, companies will be forced to offer more. When I graduated in 1999, $35 was the starting salary range, too. This doesn’t take cost-of-living increases into account for the past 25 years. Nursing salaries are grossly low. We should not be making less than $50 for new grads, and $60 for experienced. It sounds like a lot but with this economy, it’s really not that much at all.
Leave. I leveled up by leaving two positions at the 2.5 year mark. If the job & location are ideal for you come back in a year. You will get what they are making and possibly more. This is my exact experience.
Sad to say it, but the easiest way is to resign and demand a higher starting wage from your next employer. Its the nature of the beast.
Know your worth ! Sell yourself when you are in hiring process . I am an operating room nurse .. I am proficient in many high need areas in surgery with advanced training. I also have the CNOR certification , I speak for myself . If an offer is made and I believe I am worth more I ask for an increase .
I struggled to accept a lower pay position at the hospital closed to where I live. You have to balance and chose what is the best for you. The hourly rate does not mean everything. The working environment, coworkers, doctors they are play a part of it. If you are happy working at current place, that’s good enough. Or you can try to jump to other places, see what you can get.
I believe the internet has pretty clearly decreed that the best way to get higher pay is to apply to the job that has the pay you want and leave your current job once you’ve secured said pay.
It depends on how long you have been there. If you have been there fewer years than your peers, then you won't get as much as they are making. Also, do your peers get shift differential for working evenings and nights or weekends? Those shifts seem to make more. I agree with the first answer. Be realistic, you may not get that much more if anything at all. You have to decide if this place is worth staying in or if there is somewhere out there better for you. Most people who have been there a long time with a hospital are usually maxed out and the hospitals will not pay them more. The hospitals know these people will not leave and there is no incentive to pay them more.
Hello know your worth.Request a raise effective immediately. This happened to me as well.A nurse of 5 years made $5hr more than me at 28years.Male vs Female is wage discrimination esp since my experience out weighed his by far..Don't settle
If you are in Florida, especial in Tampa Bay Area. Join HWS an internal agency for float pool for HCA you can get $44.25 to $49.25 hourly.
When going in to ask for an increase in your salary be prepared. Show proof of you accomplishments, certifications, continuing educations, contributions to the unit and years of experience compared to your peers. You will want to show why you qualify for the increase. Good luck.
Look for jobs that have Nursing Association that they do deal with Nursing annual
Contracts.!!..I do advise you to move to another job...or to another state, like NYC ..where they have Union.
Be prepared to talk to your boss. Consider what you have to offer the company vs. your peers and write a comparison chart, even if only for yourself.
How qualified are you? How many years of good experience do you bring to the job? Are you actually doing the same work that they are? Do you have any special areas of training and/or interest that you could make more money doing? Do you float to other units for the wage increase?
Explain your goal to your boss with a dollar amount for what you want to make and the type of work you would do for that wage. Include a timeline for achieving that goal.
Make the discussion more like - I want to reach this goal and make this much money by this date, rather than complaining about not making as much as your peers.
You have to make sure you have a valid comparison to make sure you have a valid reason to ask for a raise, so get your info and be willing to improve yourself as needed.
Confidence, highlight your clinical experience prior to becoming a RN and most importantly, ASK! You only miss the shots you don't take.
Work for a union hospital! Everyone will make more money and equitable pay!
Look at your resume and make sure you have all your skills, experiences and training listed.
Think about how you compare with your peers in terms of those mentioned above... its all in how you sell yourself! Not only on paper but during the interview... think about asking what they are looking for and then respond with how your skills and experiences
fill their gap.
When the offer is made, pause, deep breath, than state, I am looking for a salary of X... state a number twice what you are looking for, as that gives both parties wiggle room to negotiate the rate.
Good luck!
Tell them what you are currently making. Tell them make it worth the mive
You can always ask for more money.. usually it has to be approved by someone higher up. You won’t always get it but you can ask. If you know for sure what others with similar experience are getting paid you can always mention to recruiter without dropping a name. I’m negotiating for a position now and mentioned that hospitals in a smaller area were offering almost $10 more an hour so he told me he could ask for a higher rate. All they can do is say no. One of my last jobs offered me a rate but I negotiated for $1 or so more per hour because there wasn’t a sign on attached to their offer like one of the competing hospitals, they agreed. Just ask.
Just ask... Or move on
Know your self worth. Don't just take what they offer you. There's always more. Hold out. Don't live check to check.
Buy what you need, not what you want. Don't spend money frivolously. Have a backup plan.
Move to a higher-paying state (ex: NY, CA). Get a union job-you won’t have to negotiate-your pay raises are built in to your contract. Work evening or nights & get a shift differential. Work overtime or take call.
Union contract
To my knowledge the only time you can negotiate pay is before you accept the position. If you want a pay raise you will likely need to move to a higher paying position such as management or seek employment elsewhere
Apply for new positions and interview a few times. Get a good feel for what your salary would be at a new employer. If you want to stay in your current position, go to your manager with the information from your interviews, but be prepared if they aren't willing to give you that raise.
Make yourself valuable!! Prove to them they can't lose you.
Work at a Union Hospital!
In San Diego, CA, most major hospitals will pay based on “years of experience”. Doesn’t matter if you’re a strong or terrible nurse, they just plug your years of experience into the system and that’s what you get. No incentive to go above and beyond.
All things being equal, education, experience etc., the nurses earning more may be following set career path incentives set by the employer, or negotiated for higher wages when hired. Be your own cheerleader and advocate foryoursrlf. Ask management if they offer incentive bonuses as well.
Suggest a smaller increase pay raise immediately (ex - $2), with an additional pay raise after 6 months and an additional performance review. Shows interest in remaining/growing with the company, confidence in your ability (you’re not afraid of a review), and humility (smaller increases over time).
I've almost always negotiated my salary when starting a job. I've asked what the salary range is for the position I'm being hired and when I can expect to get a raise. It's helped me, sometimes I get a higher rate than what they're asking sometimes not. If the salary is not negotiable or will not be I won't take the job.
I would talk to your manager first, then human resources. They would have to be some type of reason why they're making more money than you.
As I nurse, I have learned the best thing is to negotiate for what you want upfront, when you receive a job offer. It is almost impossible to obtain a higher salary once you begin.
When considering a new job, I usually will figure out what I need to make the change worth it, then add to that until I'm almost uncomfortable asking! (I usually undersell myself in an attempt to be helpful) I usually find that I'll get the offer for what I wanted plus a little more. At that point
, I won't be squeezed out the following year if I don't get another increase
Meet with your manager and ask for a raise and give reasons why. Performance reviews and peer reviews can provide evidence of whether your request is warranted.
Keep in mind that sometimes there are agreements that other employees cannot discuss their wage or raises with their peers/colleagues, so be aware of that if you’re asked how you know that or who told you.
The worst that can happen is getting paid the same wage. And if a raise isn’t agreeable to your manager or company then take that as writing on the wall.
You have to pay yourself by moving to a different hospital every 2 years or so, state what you want to be paid. I did this from 1992-2007 and top out in pay in the hospital setting. In 2014 I finished my MSN and got a remote job in 2016 making WAY more money, better benefits and finally work-life
balance.
Work with your Union Reps for assistance & support! They have a wealth of knowledge & experience!
Love doing the nursing work and new assignments as if I was on a playground having much fun. Was wondering who the highest paid nurse at the facility was until a nurse came and stated I was the highest paid nurse.
Calmly asked for a $15/hr raise and they calmly said yes. Sometimes supervisory would send me interesting nurses and we would get everything and much done. Allude to what you want done and I will complete the task. Supervisors were telling me I could not complete all the EKGs and they were all completed in two days with the other work; protocol was also changed as there was a better way; everyone was happy and surprised. Nursing is fun and interesting as are the clients.
You may not be able to negotiate a higher rate. Health System don't typically bring everyone up to the new rate being offered to new hires. Your health system may have other ways such as through professional recognized certifications, the clinical ladder and perhaps transfer to a specialty procedural area.
Get certified in your field of practice
Assume some additional responsibility in your workplace
Obtain a membership in your local organization and adopt a cause on your field
I was in a union hospital so most often its fair for your experience level.
L
Talk with your manager about it. It's possible the job compensation needs to be reevaluated to remain competitive.
Ask your Human Resources department for a fair market analysis. This way they can compare your salary with the current market and will see if they should be paying you higher.
You want more pay you have to be a step above your peers
Most employers have periodic reviews. If you have been there for at least six months schedule a meeting with your supervisor. Explain your assets to the facility/company. State clearly the raise you feel you deserve. Your employer may state certain performance , or experience expectations or requirements. Be cordial and thank your supervisor at the end of the meeting.
Be assertive, don't settle, know your stuff, have multiple other options. Today I told them exactly how many hours, where, what I expected as far as housing etc and a rate I would not take less then.
Unfortunately, this would depend on your direct supervisor. Meaning, if you are walking on eggshells with the particular person you may want to find another facility which suits your needs. On the other hand, if you have some sort of professional relationship then I would move forward to engage with your thoughts.
With that being said, suppose you have a decent work relationship with your direct organizer. I would simply ask; "what are the odds of a raise with this XXX facility"? This can go one of two ways, "We cannot afford to pass out raises at this time, or what type of raise are you thinking"?
Either way you would have your answer, you need to leave the facility or stay. You will never have regrets if you ask the question. Leaving without asking the question may linger with you for a while. This way you have a solid answer moving forward with all this information. Good luck
I have found when being asked to take on new responsibilities or approaching an anniversary to clearly and concisely state that after some research I believe that x amount is the fair wage for what I offer in skill level and reliability. The worst that can happen is they can say no, in this climate you are likely to get what you require and if not, you have so many options. I also believe you should job search every 3-5 years if you want to stay ahead on the salary scale.
Speak with your manager. Take information proving the higher rate that others are making. Use your experience, number of years, and cost of living to negotiate
Based on years of experience
Ask for it directly and tell them why you deserve it! There are lots of healthcare accounts on ig that give tips on how to negotiate and basically sell yourself. Also depends on the hospital and being union or not , if u work in a hospital..
Identify your skill set, years of experience and education. If your years of service and skills are comparable that is a good tool to use when negotiating. Levels of education do cause differences in pay levels. Identify these differences and see if you have an opportunity to increase your pay through further education. ie: associate degree nurse vs BSN. Previous evaluations have considerable influence on current rates of pay. U may be just like someone else interns if the factors above but if others receive higher (better) evsls than u they will receive higher merit increases. Finally ask your manager what u can do to increase your pay rate.
There seems to be an ongoing shift in the professional culture regarding salary transparency among colleagues. I personally find this refreshing and feel issues like this are part of the reason this is not only beneficial, but necessary. I’m sorry to hear this and understand how frustrating it can be.
It is hard to say with certainty what the most effective way is to negotiate in nursing without a full understanding of your experience and specialty. Here are a few ways I have personally used and/or have seen colleagues negotiate with hospitals in the past:
1) Direct communication - mention your awareness of a pay difference to your manager or other appropriate member of an upper-level team within the facility (even better if you are comfortable speaking with them or have prior existing rapport). Even if they can’t directly increase your salary on their own, they may be able to help you reach the right people or put in a request on your behalf.
2) Have a backup option and use it as weight for your negotiation - Are you willing to transfer to another job or facility? This isn’t feasible for some people, while others may have more flexibility. If you are able to use another offer you’ve received or know a competing hospital within the area and specialty who is paying more, use it to your advantage. E.g. “X hospital is paying me $, but IY hospital who is willing (or has already offered me) $$$. It is hard to remain in a facility to do the same work when I am able to receive a higher compensation at a different facility. Do you think you’d be able to match that rate?”
3) Be transparent and give an ultimatum if necessary and appropriate - only use this as a last resort, if you are truly willing to relocate or transfer jobs, and if you have enough leverage to do so (I.e., not something a new grad should do or someone with 2 months experience on a new floor in which they have no specialized experience for). I.e. “I have seen a significant pay difference between my peers and I. While I do enjoy the unit and my work, given my current financial situation/for the benefit of myself and family/etc… I will need the facility to provide me with $X/hr in order to remain employed here”. ** again try other methods first and only if you are actually willing to leave.
Some hospitals are more willing to negotiate than others. Sadly, some only use # years of experience as a way to justify certain salaries.
Have you been working the same number of years as the person who is making the 4/hr more than you? They likely received periodic raises as a retention incentive formatted through the facility if they were there a significant amount of years longer than you.
Good luck!
I would make an appointment to see the human resource department, I would have a pre-developed note to yourself on why you feel you deserve to have more money for the job that you do. You need to be confident in what you put out…. point out your good qualities, point out how you feel you benefit the community of the place you work, advise it would really be helpful for you to have a pay increase at this moment and to please think about it and let you know .
Get a copy of their pay package and submit it to your employer. This unfortunately happens a lot and sometimes we make money other people don’t without realizing- so for example if you’re a travel nurse and your company gave you a 600 dollar non taxable travel reimbursement but 4 dollars less an hour over all maybe your pay package is still valued the same. So be sure to consider that as well!
Be up front and discuss your wants and needs and explain why you qualify for that raise. Give details on the attributes that you bring to that position that warrants a raise in pay, do your research in the surrounding area of others who shares the same experience that receives your the pay you are seeking and provide the stats to your employer
Highlight your experience by illustrating a story of your qualifications. For example, “I’ve worked in a highly demanding medical-surgical unit caring for a caseload of 4-5 patients with critical conditions for 3 years. I was the lead as a charge nurse supervising a team of 5-6 RNs.” I do this when negotiating my pay and it works like a charm because I’ve reminded the employer of my qualifications.
I never discuss pay with my coworkers. It causes animosity, and pay is different based on experience and performance. I personally make well over the per dien rate at most hospitals; however, I have a very well rounded resume including flight RN, MRT RN, ICU and PACU. I learned hard lessons along the way to get that experience. I have been an RN for 30 years, so I should be making well over the pay of an RN if say even 7 years. You also tend to get raises more quickly by moving around to different hospitals. Something to think about.
Good luck. I’m the only RN with a BSN on my unit and Iam in the same boat! 😩
