Another salary question

kguill975, MSN, APRN, NP · Jun 13, 2013

I am finishing up FNP school in a couple of weeks and the Physician that I am working for has offered me a job. He asked me to give him a start date and what I would like for salary (or what I think I am worth). I told him (jokingly) $150000 which I don't think he found as amusing as I did. Here are the details, it is a family practice clinic although I may have to occasionally fill in at the attached Urgent Care. There are many other providers, but I would specifically be working with the physician and his PA. I have pulled Salary.com and see that for the area 25% earn 85,000 and 50% earn 92,000 but it does not break salary down by specialty/years of experience. Does anyone know where I can get solid numbers to back up the salary I am looking for besides salary.com. I am thinking that I would love to see 90,000 but that it may seem too much to ask as a new grad and that 85,000 would be more appropriate. He did mention that he is going to spend the first 12 months training me as if it is my residency and I could renegotiate my contract at the end of the time however, the group that the practice belongs to is fairly well known for not raising salaries regularly. I was earning $35/hour as a nurse prior to going back to school.[/quote']
All new grad NPs require some training, some more than others, dependent upon what specialty they've chosen. You should ask for $85K and see where they go with it. They may try to lower your salary, since they're training you in a "residency". The difference between you and a resident is that all your visits are billable, so the practice will make money off you, while you're drawing a possibly smaller salary. Good Luck to you!

ryguyRN · Jun 13, 2013

You could negotiate and set in your contract for an increase in salary after one year and then tell them where you would like to be (over $92000) in 3 years. Something like that maybe, just a thought. BTW, that was a pretty good hourly rate for an RN. How many years experience as an RN? What state or region are you in?

Trauma Columnist · Jun 13, 2013

Dependent on number of factors:

1. You are only billable if your MD DOES NOT see pt during same visit. How long will your training be? When will you be seeing pts by yourself?

2. Area of country, rural/urban/midwest/south?? I live in central IL and $35/hr for a clinic RN is unheard of in my area....however, you may be in a higher cost area.

lynn5707 · Jun 13, 2013

Hi

I just graduated AGPCNP and have accepted a job. My RN wage just wet up to $35 hr. I have been an RN since 1991. I am in the Midwest.

I will be working part-time 32 hrs per week for a gerontology group. It is a different setting, not really home care, but working with low income seniors out of their homes. I am thrilled about the position. Even though I am salary, they give an hourly rate, which is $39.55. Others in my class have been offered $75,000 up to mid 80's. if I were full-time I would be around $83,000+ year. These figures do not include annual bonuses or call pay.

Good luck!

IcySageNurse · Jun 13, 2013

I think NP's need to stop accepting such low salaries - it's driving down the salary for everyone else.

Remember, an NP typically is reimbursed at 85% of a physicians reimbursement. Thus, an NP should make approximately 85% what a physician would be offer - 80,000ish is simply too low considering many RN's make as much and more.

I think the bottom line for a new grad should be 90,000. No lower - don't go into the 80s. I suggest you tell him that you think a fair contract would be 90,000 for the first year (the "residency" year) and then then a raise to closer to 100,000 for the second year, with further salary increases negotiated as your skills increase.

NPAlby · Jun 13, 2013

I say ask for 100k and look for other offers in the area. Think of it like being a house. You have to get comps in that market. What I make in Phoenix as a PsychNP could be totally different from what someone in Family practice makes in Ohio. As for "residency" thats sweet but not necessary. Yes most of us would have loved a residency program with someone guiding us in our first year but the reality (iMO) is that you get thrown in to work. You are NOT a resident MD you are an NP dont let them confuse the situation. You are billing under your own license. You're going to be, most likely seeing patients every 15min. You are generating revenue from your first patient. Dont lowball yourself!

NPAlby · Jun 13, 2013

Also remind him of how long you have been with the group and how you have a proven your work ethic. Yes you are a new NP but if they pick you they know they are not going to being hiring a flake who a) doesnt know what they are doing or b) does not get along wtih the rest of the staff. That should be worth 5k if they have any business sense. I think the only way you are going to get a good idea of what the going rate is, is by getting other offers. Dont marry the first guy you date.

Calibean · Jun 14, 2013

I'm sorry I think when I said the MD I am working with it was misleading, what I meant was the MD that I am currently doing clinicals with. I have been a nurse since 2007. I live in Maryland in an area that is in need of providers. I really enjoy the family practice clinic and think I could be happy there, but to muddy the waters, got a call from the OB/GYN office I did clinicals with (and loved) and have an interview there next week. I am stressing too much and am thrilled to have multiple opportunities, just need to figure out the right path and stay strong when I negotiate. Thanks for all the info!

NPAlby · Jun 14, 2013

AHHHH! Okay when then you are in good negotiating position. Keeping seeing what others have to offer and what you would find as a good fit. And ask the other NPs what there salary is. I know it's taboo in nursing to talk about money but I think thats what keep the salaries low. Good luck!

cougdogrn · Jun 14, 2013

I just graduated as an FNP and had 3 job offers w/ 2 of them being unacceptably low in my opinion. As a staff RN I make $30/hr w/ only 4 yrs experience. Job offer #1 was for an orthopedic clinic (assisting in surgeries as well as clinic) with 70k base salary plus bonus if able to bill over a certain amount (like $150k or something) so I would have to totally depend on making bonus in order to make more than I do as a staff RN which IMO is not acceptable. The second offer was for a women's health clinic with a graduated salary starting at 68k then increase to 75k after 6 mos. The third offer was for a hospitalist position w/ 110k base salary if i work 14 shifts per month. I could make more if I pick up more shifts. When I first started interviewing I wanted at least 85k. I think it is better to shoot high because they will always talk you lower. Ps. I live in Eastern Washington State.

Calibean · Jun 23, 2013

So, I now have two job offers. One with family practice - I do not know the salary yet but the MD seemed shocked when I said 90,000 and repeatedly told me that this would be a residency year and after a year of training with him I could go anywhere. I don't know what my final offer will be as I have to negotiate with HR still. On the other hand I have an offer with OB/GYN (which is an area I really loved) that is lower pay but we only work half days on Fridays and there are far fewer hours worked during the week. I have also never seen anyone in the office taking charts home like I do in family practice. I have to admit, I am a bit overwhelmed by family practice because of how much it encompasses, but with the support of the physician think I could do well and feel that the smartest move would be to get the broader base so I always have it to fall back on. OB/GYN is really a more comfortable area for me and I loved this office and really enjoyed the work, I feel like it is a great fit, but worry about the portability of it or if I go OB/GYN will it be impossible to come back to family practice if I want to at a later date?