Am I getting a low pay offer as RN with experience?

U.S.A. Arkansas

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical, Rehabilitation,.

Hi!

I am not sure if it's safe to go into details and specify but I would like to get accurate information as much as possible.

Background:

I am a RN in philippines for 6 years in a hospital until August 2011. I migrated to Canada and haven't practiced RN for 4 years now however, I have gotten my license and practicing as a Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) since 2012.

Now, I pursued applying in U.S. for a RN job and landed one in MENA, ARKANSAS as a full time ER RN. I was offered $22.12 USD (night shift nurse).

I'm not sure how much the regular RN pay is in Arkansas but I did some research and found a post which was updated July 28, 2015 -- rate for RN specifically in Mena, Arkanasas $92,000 annually and stated "Average Nurse RN salaries for job postings in Mena, Arkansas are 38% higher than average Nurse RN salaries for job posting nationwide."

Another link showed RN salary (2014) ranges from 30.55 - 38.00.

Seeing these ranges, I feel like I am offered too low considering I am not an entry level nurse. I have worked 6 years as RN. Seeing these ranges, I feel like I am offered too low considering I am not an entry level nurse. I have worked 6 years as RN. Correct me if I am wrong but isn't $22 almost the same pay as LPN in Arkansas?

I know U.S.A. pays better with RNs than here in Canada. Converting the pay they offered me, it's around 28.00 CAD. Fresh RN graduates in Canada start with 30.00.

Please enlighten me regarding RN pay rates in Arkansas (especially in Mena if anyone has an idea). I would like to know if I should voice out my concern and renegotiate before signing the letter or is it a normal pay rate?

Specializes in ER.

92,000 seems extremely high for Arkansas. I'm from Texas but northeast Texas area near Texarkana area new grads start at around 20-22 dollars an hour, Dallas around 22-24 for new grad. I have never heard of Arkansas paying well.

Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

I doubt very much that nurses in small towns in Arkansas are making that kind of money.

Absent input from local nurses to the contrary, $22/hour may be near target for RNs in AR. Check job board listings such as Monster, Indeed, and CareerBuilder for that area. Sometimes pay rates will be listed. You can get a better picture from the sources of actual job postings.

Specializes in Hospital medicine; NP precepting; staff education.

My mother lives in Mena. I am not surprised at that salary. Very small city. Good luck on the move.

Specializes in Medical-Surgical, Rehabilitation,.

Yeah, I expected it wouldn't be as much as 30.00 or 28.00 considering how small the town is. But I was wondering is 22.00 a fair offer considering my 6 years experience or should I at least try and negotiate even 24 or 25? I wouldn't wanna seem arrogant also if 22.00 is already a fair rate.

The 30.00 rate is the one I found on indeed.

Specializes in Medical-Surgical, Rehabilitation,.

Thank you :)

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