Everyone is so secretive about pay? New nurse and I have no idea the average pay

Nurses General Nursing

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Had 3 job interviews this week all of which are promising, and I have already done the drug test at 2 of them. At all three, when asked the salary, they told me that they do not divulge that for specific reasons until I am offered the job. I get that but I have no idea what I may make at either. One is home health, the others at a hospital in acute care and SNF. So confusing, and don't you DARE ask a nurse around here what they make because they will not tell you. I worked as a PCT in the hospital the last 3 years in nursing school and never would any of them tell me what they made, and I know its rude to ask, but googling gets me nowhere because it varies so. I am left wondering does home health RNs make as much as bedside, or would it be better to take on 3 12's with the possibility of overtime because there is no opportunity in HH? I am in West Texas BTW. I have a feeling the hosptial makes around $20.00 starting off, but then again, I am not sure since nobody will tell me anything. Is it normal for companies to not give you the salary?

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Ah.....the best kept secret in nursing....how much one makes.

The only facilities that will "tell" you is a union facility. Most facilities have a do not disclose clause (grounds for termination)....and "ranges" of pay. This leave it completely up in the air to the one who can negotiate the best. There is no formula and it is totally up to the manager what they are willing to take out of their budget. If a manager really wants a specific applicant they will pay that applicant more per hour. It is entirely possible to have 5 nurses with the same experience and they will make 5 different salaries......Welcome to nursing!

Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
I think you can have a masters in nursing without being an NP... but maybe I'm wrong and that is what she is saying?!? If so, then yes, that is insane!

NP or not, that's a ridiculous differential.

Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
I think talking about how much one makes varies strongly among different cultural and/or socioeconomic groups.

Among people i hang out with and in all my former jobs, talking about how much you make or asking someone how much they make was considered perfectly acceptable small talk. I was honestly surprised to discover that some people consider that rude.

It's kind of like discussing politics in casual conversation, some people consider it fine, others consider it impolite.

I was responding to the OP.

Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Despite all of the above comments to the contrary: ignore them, all. Everywhere you may go to work, everyone knows how much everyone else makes. From the bottom to the top. It's just a game people play: 'none of your business', and etc. Most places even have policies that asking another employee their pay rate is cause to be fired. The juiciest topic in every workplace is who gets paid what. Daily. This is all nonsense. More of the puritanical hypocritical American way of life, is all. Yawn.

I had no idea what my co-workers made. It wasn't my business. I was more concerned with what I could do to increase my pay. It wasn't out of ant "puritanical" mind-set; there are just some things I don't consider my business. I think it's impolite to discuss certain topics; it may be a generational thing too. Perhaps younger people think they have a right to know "this" or "that," while those who are middle-aged might see certain topics as off-limits.

NPs make $1.22 more than RNs there?????

That's insane.

The MSN I was talking about are bedside nurses. We have separate NP positions that can be MSN OR DNP but the starting salary for them is never listed on the job description. I know we have NPs that work in employee health, the clinic and some are hospitalists so I'm sure there is a wide range of pay for them. However, whether you are either a BSN or MSN your pay can vary significantly based on your clinical ladder status. And as I stated previously these are only the minimum starting wages.

Specializes in PACU.

I know what you're talking about! I don't get what the big deal is either!

But job interview wise I wouldn't bring it up unless they brought it up. One place HR gave me a sheet of paper with the starting pay etc. And that was before the panel interview. Another place I didn't find out until I got the official offer.

I've asked other nurses their pay and a majority of the ones I asked won't tell! It's like nursing school when you're ask how you did on a test and everyone's all secretive about it! LOL! Not a big deal to me but hey.

"I was responding to the OP" Well the OP got your tone ad your message sent. Thanks :)

Thank you guys for the comments. I am on open book with everyone and have nothing to hide, so I guess I feel nobody else would either, but I completely respect people keeping things to themselves. They have every right, and I pick up fast and learn who I can talk to and who has it in their sights to claw my eyes out. Whether its grades, pay, life or whatever, I feel like its okay to know me and ask me questions because it is what it is.

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

To the OP: I am also in Texas, although I am in the DFW area.

Anyhow, I'm not secretive about my pay on these forums, but I do not discuss my pay with coworkers. My personal experience is that some of the lower-paid ancillary staff (PCTs, unit clerks, housekeepers, dietary aides, etc.) become resentful and indignant once they find out how much floor nurses earn.

I have even heard some of them griping about 'that lazy nurse' who earns three times as much money as the harder-working techs. However, many of the lower-paid staff fail to realize that nurses are not paid for how much we do; we're paid for what we know.

BTW, I am in Fort Worth. New grads start at $23.00 hourly at my workplace. :)

I live in the Southeast..hospitals pay an average of $27/hr, hospice about the same. I don't know about HH because I haven't worked it since the 90's and then it paid $25/visit plus mileage - forget what an admission was, doctors offices pay $25-28. I understand the closer to the big city the better the wages. The health departments around here pay $36,000 average/yr and that's w/a BSN or MS.

Specializes in critcal care, CRNA.

NPs make $1.22 more than RNs there?????

That's insane.

How more should they make? They are still doing the same work as the BSN and ADN. It's still at least a $2500 raise a year between BSN base an MSN base. My first hospital the difference between ADN and BSN was 5 cents an hour.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Emergency, CEN.
A couple of possible reasons here:

Some places of employment actually have rules forbidding employees to discuss their pay with other employees. Yes, it can be a firing offense in a "right to work" state.

In most cases where two individuals discuss their pay, one is going to end up feeling bad or angry that they do not make as much as the other for what they perceive as the same or similar job.

As others have noted, many of us were raised to believe it is crass to discuss actual income figures with friends/coworkers.

Just some possibilities where the folks you asked may be coming from.

Well stated. I am one of those that think it's a rude question. The thought is that they are trying to judge whether you deserve that pay or are trying to say they make more than you. Either way, it's a catty question.

Nurse starting in my area make about 20.00/hour plus shift differential.

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