Do new nurses make more than experienced nurses?

llg, PhD, RN · Sep 5, 2007

It's not the norm, but it does happen ocassionally -- most often in cases where there is some sort or "sign-on bonus" in effect or another type of bonus being offered because a particular job is hard to fill.

Most nurses consider that type of compensation structure very wrong and it is terrible for morale. So most employers try to avoid it. When it happens, it is usually not as dramatic as the example cited in your post -- a newbie making more than someone with more than 10 years experience. It is usually a newbie making more than someone with just a few years of experience.

Finally -- it often happens that a person will be an experienced nurse, but new to your particular institution. In those cases, it is common for the more experienced nurse to be paid better -- even if the experience was obtained elsewhere. That's a different story and it happens all the time.

leslie :-D · Sep 5, 2007

when i started as a new nurse at a hospice facility, the nm had approx 25 yrs exp.

so we need to keep this in mind as i share the following.

one time, the nm asked me to grab her paycheck, as i went to retrieve mine.

when i handed it to her, she opened it and started complaining about something.

she showed me the error.

it was then i noticed that i made considerably more than her.

i relayed my concerns to the director, stating it wasn't right that i made so much more.

a few wks later, the nm shared with me that she had gotten an unexpected, but very generous raise.

as it should be. :)

leslie

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Sep 5, 2007

I dont see newbies getting anywhere near what I make

biker nurse · Sep 5, 2007

I do the hiring at my job More time =more $$$

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Sep 5, 2007

I only have about a year and a half of experience, but I earn about $1 more hourly than some nurses with 20 years of experience. However, these nurses do not have 20 years seniority at my workplace (they just started within the past 6 months), so my facility tends to pay every new employee the same starting pay rate, regardless of years of experience.

I know. . .it's unfair that I earn slightly more than someone who has been in the trenches longer than me.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Sep 5, 2007

Some facilities raise the new grad salary in order to stay competative. On my first six months I had to get a raise to the new minimum, as did many others, so new grads were making the same as some of us with experience, but most of us were still in our first year or two. During times of rapidly rising starting salaries, new grads were at an advantage making money that others took years to earn. But I doubt it's widespread the experienced workers are making less than new grads. There'd be no incentive to stay.

My current employer has the right idea: when they raise the new grad minimum they also raise the max, so those of us maxed out can keep making more money. Other times they have been "market adjustments", meaning an across the board raise for everyone to stay competetive.

My current employer also rewards experience for new hires, paying them more than new grads by some forumula that pays experienced nurses more.

Being a charge nurse and privy to my coworkers salaries (which are confidential of course) I can say with certainty that at my facility new folks aren't making as much as experienced nurses.

What is aggravating is that I'm maxed out now and unless they raise it, I don't get a raise, and thus lesser experienced people can catch up and make the same. But the max is high enough it takes about a decade to get there. :)

hikernurse · Sep 6, 2007

when i started as a new nurse at a hospice facility, the nm had approx 25 yrs exp.
so we need to keep this in mind as i share the following.
one time, the nm asked me to grab her paycheck, as i went to retrieve mine.
when i handed it to her, she opened it and started complaining about something.
she showed me the error.
it was then i noticed that i made considerably more than her.
i relayed my concerns to the director, stating it wasn't right that i made so much more.
a few wks later, the nm shared with me that she had gotten an unexpected, but very generous raise.
as it should be. :)
leslie

Good for you, leslie :)

Nursebarebari · Sep 6, 2007

My girlfriend was making much less than I was making because her facility paid less than mine and they deduct money for everything- health insurance, pension, parking, etc. She is five years ahead of me in nursing. When she found out from me, she left the job and got another one that pays better.

So yes, it is possible.

time4meRN · Sep 6, 2007

Will have a hard time beating 37.75 with 4.75 shift diff and weekend diff , charge and preceptor pay, let a lone add on OT and critical call in pay. (work in Ohio) Had a nurse that has been working 3 years say, If I made that kind of money I would be dancing into work every day.. The thing is she is already talking of leaving nursing because it is so hard. I told her, wait till you've done it almost 30 years then come tell me how hard it is. I've earned every last sinkin' red cent of that. I remember whein I made 4.76 an hour on night shift.

sjt9721, BSN, RN · Sep 6, 2007

I dont see newbies getting anywhere near what I make

We don't have the cash flow to pay you what you're worth!

JuLyAnGeL · Sep 6, 2007

new nurses make more than experienced nurses!!!! im my country this happens but only under one condition it is the certificate , i mean than the new nurses how has rn certificate will be paid more than experienced nurses not matter his/her experience is . and experienced nurses may raise her/her salary only if he got a higher certificate. strange but this wat happens