Leaving first job, did you have a pay increase?

PCnurse88 · Jul 3, 2017

Are you leaving the hospital, or just the unit? I left Hospital A medsurg to go to Hospital B medsurg and actually took a $6/hr paycut. My benefits were much better and instead of traveling 50 miles one way I was traveling 15 minutes, so that plus other personal reasons made it worth it. However, even though I took that paycut, I was still making more than the level 1 (new grads) were making.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jul 3, 2017

Nope. Went from being an RN III in an ED to being a 2LT in the Army Nurse Corps. Initial paycut, but it caught up eventually and surpassed my civilian pay. Left Army, took another pay cut. lol.

I lived in a city in which people left one hospital system every couple years to switch to the other hospital system for a pay raise. Rinse, repeat. It really depends if you are going from one system to another, staying within the same hospital, etc. How much experience do you have when you say "some"? If you are going to a new specialty in which you don't have experience, that can definitely matter if your total experience doesn't translate or isn't a lot.

Either way, ask for the pay range and aim high. :)

allnurses Guide · Jul 3, 2017

Yes, my pay increased a dramatic 12% between my first nursing job and my second.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jul 3, 2017

When you went from your first job to your second job, did your pay increase? I am considering leaving my current job for a different specialized area. While I would like to think I would have a pay increase because I have some experience under my belt, I worry I may have to take a pay cut to enter this specialty. My personal situation, I would be leaving a specialized adult ICU. What is everyone else's experience with this time of thing?

My pay increased dramatically. My cost of living increased more. I went from a small, midwestern city to a large city on the east coast.

ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP · Jul 3, 2017

Pay cut by about 55 cents. And the benefits were not as good. But I got into my dream specialty and work day shift now.

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Jul 3, 2017

I have never taken a job that pays less. Started at 19 -> 26 ->28 ->43

YumCookies, BSN, RN · Jul 4, 2017

I went from 21 to 23 at my first nursing job (SNF), then 24 to 27 at my second nursing job (med-surg tele) - the raises were due to high turnover rates.

BloomNurseRN, ASN, BSN, RN · Jul 4, 2017

I had a pay increase of approx. $2 per hour but I went from working in an outpatient environment to working in an acute care hospital, so I know that made a difference. At this point, if I were to change positions within the hospital I would probably not receive a pay change.

HelloWish, ADN, BSN · Jul 4, 2017

I got a 12K pay increase going from a hospital med/surg unit to a oncology clinic.

guest769224 · Jul 4, 2017

Definitely. I did 1 year as a new grad in ICU so I could market my experience and then high tailed it out of low paying no man's land.

From $22/hr as a grad to $53/hr with 1 year exp. now and just my ADN. All I did was cross the stateline.

DowntheRiver · Jul 4, 2017

Urgent Care started at $26/hour ended at $27.50/hour within 1.8 years

State nursing job started $22.50/hour and lasted 8 months.

Took a $5 pay cut to work for the state but the benefits were amazing - hard to beat a $250 deductible. The hours were supposed to be 8 to 5 M through F which is why I took that job but it became very Saturday heavy which is why I quit. Husband travels too much and I need my weekends off. It was a bit of drive and wear and tear on my personal vehicle so that lead me to leave as well.

Just switched to Oncology 8 weeks ago and make $28.50/hour with a guaranteed 40 hour work week. Absolutely NO OT approved though.

Benefits are pretty good but not as good as state. Still way better than most in the area. Now I work 4 ten hour shifts and ALWAYS get weekends off plus the additional day off. It is also shorter to get to work in the morning. Traffic still sucks going home but that's anywhere in Florida for you.

You really need to make a pros/cons list and analyze the various costs of the switch like the above posters mentioned.