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?

I work in a union facility and pay rates are listed in the union manual. Also, you can go to salary.com and look up salary information for your area. This will give you a possible range of new hire rates. It is possible that HR did not give you a salary range, because they are waiting for the results of your drug screen and maybe even responses from you references before they give out that information. If they say the ranges are comparable to those in your areas, than I would google for that information to give you a general idea.

I was taught that discussing salary with anyone is crass. My father taught me that personal finances are just that, personal. Discussing pay or finances outside of anyone but your spouse or significant other is just plain rude and not a conversation for idle chit chat. I may talk about my salary on this forum, but it is in an anonymous way. I would never discuss it with coworkers or even family members. That is just how I was raised.

Well, there's nothing inherently rude or crass about discussing salary. Again, it's just one of those things that varies from one group or culture to another.

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We don't discuss pay in general, but when it is our annual review/raise time we all discuss what meager raises we get while certain other staff get huge bonuses.. In most cases we are over worked and under paid, not too much to discuss. I do find some employers are secretive before you are hired in. I had an interview about a year ago, and the HR "couldn't" tell me what the pay would be until the job was offered. Now I can see not being able to give me an exact amount, but to not even provide an idea.. Ridiculous!!

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Specializes in Emergency, ICU.
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.[/quote']

I've been reading this thread and getting educated on this kind of culture. I've always worked for union shops, so salary is not a mystery. Everyone has the same base and a detailed list if what the upgrades are valued at is always available. For example: base $34.58/hr + $2.75/hr differential +$1.07 education differential. Plus, there's the experience pay which is something around $1200 per year increases. (These are not exact numbers, don't have my paystub in front of me, but my job now is about $40/hr with all my add ons). And I know my colleagues with 20 yrs of experience have that extra $24,000 or so added to their base salary, so we all know what people make.

I think this levels the playing field. We are all nurses who are worth the same. No one is "better than" based on pay. I know who is a better clinician, for sure, but it has nothing to do with their pay.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

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Specializes in OB/GYN.
Why would I tell someone I work with what I make? That's my personal business.

There's no need to be rude! She's just asking a range. Not trying to get into anyone's business. I'm sure you have been there in her place before, wondering how much of a ball park figure she would be making. That's all, no big deal!

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Specializes in OB/GYN.

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

That's insane.

They may not be NP. They may have a MSN in something else besides NP

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

"Why would I tell someone I work with what I make? That's my personal business."-- OCNRN63

There's no need to be rude! She's just asking a range. Not trying to get into anyone's business.!

Enlighten me, please. Why do you feel OCN's post at the top is rude?

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Specializes in Psychiatry.
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.

Perhaps I'm "old school", but I was taught to NEVER ask the salary at a job interview. They will divulge it when/if they offer you a position.

Food for thought

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

Perhaps I'm "old school", but I was taught to NEVER ask the salary at a job interview. They will divulge it when/if they offer you a position.

Food for thought

^THIS. I got the salary when I was offered a position yesterday. I accepted it. ;)

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Specializes in Psychiatry.
^THIS. I got the salary when I was offered a position yesterday. I accepted it. ;)

This is great news!! Congrats LadyFree!! :nurse:

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

Thanks Nurse_Diane! :)

OP, I hope you have an offer! :yes:

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Specializes in FNP, ONP.

When I read the OP and first reply or two a few days ago, I assumed the comments were in reference to anonymous discussion on this board. In my wildest dreams it never occurred to me the OP meant s/he was actually asking people about their salaries. If you asked me about my income, I'd be totally aghast. I probably would quite literally gasp aloud and stare at you as if you had removed your trousers and relieved yourself on the floor. It isn't done among gentleman, ever. I presume "ladies" would clutch their pearls. Simply put, you cannot ask such questions in polite company.

Here, anonymously, I'd tell you whatever you wanted to know. IRL, absolutely not, and I'd be mortally offended at being asked. I would think very, very poorly of anyone who dared ask and never forgive or forget such a slight.

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I just accepted an ICU new grad job that is union. I knew before I even applied that the starting was $38 plus night differential(California). When I was a student I definitely asked around about pay at the local hospitals, but I think knowing who to ask is the key. All of the nurses I asked were more than happy to give me an idea. I think it is ridiculous that HR isn't sharing the salary, or at least a range.

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