2014 Wage Survey For CNAs, Medical Assistants, HHAs, PCTs: Post Here!
Sadly, far too many allied healthcare workers are not always paid what they are worth. Knowledge is power, so wage surveys have the capability to empower workers by generating immensely helpful information about pay rates.
Money is integral to our quality of life. Sorry, but a fake smile is not going to keep a roof over our heads, a pat on the back will not pay the past due electric bill, and a hug isn't going keep us fed and clothed. We all want, need and love to be compensated appropriately for the very important work that we do. Unofficial wage surveys are tremendously helpful because:
They empower workers by providing information on the wages that our peers earn.
They address aspects that strongly impact wages such as geographic differences, specialties, and cost of living.
They allow people from around the country to disclose their earnings with a certain measure of anonymity. This is useful because many workplaces have policies and procedures that disallow any public discussion regarding pay rates, so respondents are more likely to disclose what they earn if they feel they will not be reprimanded for doing so.
The millions of hard-working people across the country who belong to the allied healthcare community have recently ushered in another new year that is filled with a mixture of boundless potential, endless possibilities and anxious uncertainties. Nurses aides, medical assistants, patient care technicians, home health aides, and other types of unlicensed assistive personnel are extremely important to the flawless functioning of our healthcare system and to society as a whole.
Unfortunately, too many allied healthcare workers are not always paid wages that correspond with their high levels of motivation, professionalism, dedication, thoroughness, multi-tasking capabilities and years of experience. In fact, it might be shocking to discover that some of our peers are not earning a great deal more than the federal minimum wage threshold.
If we think about the topic of pay for too long, we might become disillusioned at the realization that the gum-popping cashier at the McDonald's fast food joint earns about the same hourly rate as CNAs in many cities and towns.
Many people who deny the importance of wages are simply being dishonest with themselves. Salary is a major factor for the majority of people who figuratively bust their butts and put in exhausting days at work. And even though an allied healthcare worker might take great pride in the work she performs on a day to day basis, she probably would not keep reporting to the workplace if her boss made the following announcement out of the blue:
"We are regretfully informing you that the company is no longer issuing pay checks to any employees starting today. From now on, the company will compensate all employees with thumbs up, hugs, warmth, smiles, pats on the back, cookies, platitudes, and recognition for doing an outstanding job."
Members who want to contribute to the unofficial wage survey for 2014 should feel free to post their answers with the information in the following order
What is your job title (CNA, medical assistant, medication aide, HHA, PCT, PCA)?
Where are you located?
What is your hourly wage?
Are you paid shift differentials?
What shift(s) do you usually work?
What is your current specialty (rehab, med/surg, ortho, doctors' office, clinic, long term care, psych, home health, hospice, etc.)?
How many years of experience do you have?
What is your status (full-time, part-time, or casual / per diem / PRN)?
Are you a pursuing a career as a nurse (RN or LPN)?
What is your job title (CNA, medical assistant, medication aide, HHA, PCT, PCA)? Nurse technician (student position) with current hospital; passed board last month. Was a student nurse tech with VA system (contract ended with graduation).
Where are you located? Midwest
What is your hourly wage? $10.50 with current hospital, $15 with VA
Are you paid shift differentials? yes with current hospital, 15% for shift dif, 15% for being prn and 20% for weekend dif.None with VA.
What shift(s) do you usually work? My schedule is very flexible. I work when I want.
What is your current specialty (rehab, med/surg, ortho, doctors’ office, clinic, long term care, psych, home health, hospice, etc.)? I currently float all over with current hospital.Was in Sicu for student job with VA.
How many years of experience do you have? 1 year with VA and 2 years with current hospital.
What is your status (full-time, part-time, or casual / per diem / PRN)? PRN
Are you a pursuing a career as a nurse (RN or LPN)? New grad RN, will transfer to CVICU (with current hosptial) for RN job in about a week.
[*]What is your job title (CNA, medical assistant, medication aide, HHA, PCT, PCA)? CNA.
[*]Where are you located? CT.
[*]What is your hourly wage? $15.13 at day job, $13 at evening job.
[*]Are you paid shift differentials? Day job is 15% before 8 am, and OT on weekends. Evening job is $1 on evenings, and $2.50 on weekends.
[*]What shift(s) do you usually work? 7-2:45 day job, and 3-11 evening job.
[*]What is your current specialty (rehab, med/surg, ortho, doctors office, clinic, long term care, psych, home health, hospice, etc.)? Day job is visiting nurses, evening is LTC.
[*]How many years of experience do you have? Almost 4.
[*]What is your status (full-time, part-time, or casual / per diem / PRN)? Part time at both, but work full time.
[*]Are you a pursuing a career as a nurse (RN or LPN)? Yes, just finished last pre-req. Hope to get in this coming Fall.
What is your job title (CNA, medical assistant, medication aide, HHA, PCT, PCA)? Medical assistant
Where are you located? Southern NH (Seacoast)
What is your hourly wage? 14.85
Are you paid shift differentials? No
What shift(s) do you usually work? Days (7-6ish, it varies
What is your current specialty (rehab, med/surg, ortho, doctors’ office, clinic, long term care, psych, home health, hospice, etc.)? Primary care office (family practice)
How many years of experience do you have? At current job 5.5 years, 8 years experience total
What is your status (full-time, part-time, or casual / per diem / PRN)? Full time
Are you a pursuing a career as a nurse (RN or LPN)? Will graduate in May 2014 from RN program. After the past semester was eligible for LPN, awaiting the state to issue my license any day now. My current employer agreed to let me work as a LPN at a new rate of 17.50. This will actually be 18.02 because I will be receiving my annual raise based on my annual review which will be 52 cents (and will go on top of the LPN rate even though it is based on my med asst rate since it is two separate things).
A couple other notes... I did not complete a medical assistant program. I was trained in some skills by a doc in a private internal med practice while in high school and then during my first year of college (I graduated with a BA in psych in 2011) I obtained my EMT basic. Based on this experience and EMT cert my current employer hired me. Now, they do require new hire medical assistants to be certified. I started with them at 12.00/hour and now have progressed to the 14.85 with annual raises and one or two cost of living increases. And like I mentioned will soon be at 18.02 as a LPN.
What is your job title (CNA, medical assistant, medication aide, HHA, PCT, PCA)?: Medication Aide/Direct Care Personnel
Where are you located?: Ohio
What is your hourly wage?: $11/hour
Are you paid shift differentials?: Not shift differentials, but time and a half/double time for holidays
What shift(s) do you usually work?: Days/afternoons
What is your current specialty (rehab, med/surg, ortho, doctors' office, clinic, long term care, psych, home health, hospice, etc.)?:LTC/ ICFMR (mentally disabled care facility)
How many years of experience do you have?: 10
What is your status (full-time, part-time, or casual / per diem / PRN)?: PRN
Are you a pursuing a career as a nurse (RN or LPN)?: No
Specializes in Med-surg Telemetry, Leadership, Education.
What is your job title (CNA, medical assistant, medication aide, HHA, PCT, PCA)? CAN/Certified Unit Assistant
Where are you located? NW US
What is your hourly wage? $13.81 as of 8/13
Are you paid shift differentials? Yes, 15% for weeknights, %18% for weekend nights
What shift(s) do you usually work? NOC
What is your current specialty (rehab, med/surg, ortho, doctors' office, clinic, long term care, psych, home health, hospice, etc.)? Acute care hospital
How many years of experience do you have? 2
What is your status (full-time, part-time, or casual / per diem / PRN)? FT
Are you a pursuing a career as a nurse (RN or LPN)? Yes
Current RN program 
Glycerine82, LPN
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