DON salary

[Lovanur]

Does anyone know the average

difference in pay in DON and ADON. I

am a ADON in AL, and looking for a DON position. Don't want to sell myself too short or too high if get offered a position.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

In the area where I reside, there's a $17,000 to $$25,000 annual pay difference between ADONs and DONs. For instance, I once worked at a facility where ADONs were paid $78,000 annually and the DON was paid $95,000 per year. This is in Texas.

[Lovanur]

Thanks! Such a big pay difference? Wanting myself to move to Houston once I get DON exp. under my belt.

[joemomma35]

It's funny. I think RNs who work as many hours as the DONs make almost the same amount of money. Sometimes more.

[Lovanur]

Well, I'm salary, so if I calculate my actual hours, it would be about $ 15.00 an hour. It's a rewarding but unrewarding career.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Depends where you live. Unit managers make 95-105 k per year. As a floor nurse I would average the same pay now. My DOC makes approximately 115 k per year. I'm in Canada.

[NOADLS]

Where I work the ADON tells me that the RN's on full rotations make more than her while the DON makes a hefty chunk more.

[momofIAndT]

Goodness. I'm moving to Canada.

But seriously. Remember that as DON you are salary. You are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. YOU are responsible for EVERYTHING that nursing does. And you cannot take vacation time during survey window, and that's about 4-6 months out of the year. Make sure it's a path you really want to go down. Most DONS only last 2-3 years in long term care at one facility. Burnout rate is HIGH.