Do Graduate Nurses get paid more if they are bilingual?

Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN · Feb 4, 2009

I have never seen a pay differential for bilingual, but I have seen positions advertised that were asking for bilingual applicants only. It might depend on what part of Texas you are in, I am in DFW.

NurseBettyICU, ADN, BSN · Feb 4, 2009

I've seen the same type of ads. My AP teacher highly recommends to his students that they start taking some spanish classes ASAP. I checked out a book at the library that teaches spanish words/phrases specifically for medical workers.

Sure makes me wish I paid attention in Spanish class in high school. I'm kicking myself for it now.

labcat01, BSN, RN · Feb 4, 2009

I"m in Houston and I've never heard of any one getting higher pay for being bilingual.

sbyramRN · Feb 5, 2009

No, you might get hired over someone who isn't, but I don't think you get paid more for it.

bfinch · Mar 12, 2010

I dont know about nurses for sure but some occupations do, my husband is a police officer and they do get paid more if you are bilingual

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Mar 12, 2010

I agree - I have never seen any differentials for bi-lingual staff in any hospital. Are you talking about Spanish? In Houston, we have a lot of different populations so that "bi-" could refer to any language.

caliotter3 · Mar 13, 2010

There is only differential pay for being bilingual if the position calls for it. The amount of differential would be specified at the time of hire.

SandraCVRN · Mar 13, 2010

I think it's a buck were I work, but you must be truely bilingual, I mean you need to be fluent enough to pass a test and testify under oath if need be. We have the translation phones but it sure is nice and the pts like it better when they can talk to a live person.

alexemt · Mar 19, 2010

Harris County Hospital District (Ben Taub and L.B.J.) definately pay more. You have to take a bilingual test. There is a catch though. You can be sent clear across to the other side of the hospital to translate for anyone if you are "certified". May seem like not a big deal but as a nurse sometimes you can barely keep your head above water trying to keep up. Translating can take 2 sec or an 1 hour. Once you accept the differential you don't have a choice whether you want to do it or not. It's your job and you have to do it. In short it's not all it's cracked up to be. The difference is about a dollar more an hour.