is it fair to negotiate after contract has been presented?

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I received my contract today and I was wondering if I am allowed to negotiate after seeing all of the numbers in front of me. I'm not taking the housing stipend ($2,000) because the area is all vacation homes and this is my first assignment so I don't want to worry about housing. Hourly rate is $23.95 with a $35/day M & IE so roughly around $1700 every two weeks. Now based off of GSA Home, the low rate for M & IE is $45/day in DE so should I ask for a higher M & IE or is it too late?

Would love extra input, thanks!

This is what I do and it works for me.

Recruiter calls and tells me about an opportunity in XYZ. I ask them what the numbers are, I want to know everything, including travel pay, guaranteed hours, OT, etc. Recruiter gives me the numbers, I then tell her I will call her back in a couple hours so I can look into things. I do the math on Pan, look up cost of living stats in that area, etc. I then call her back and negotiate. On average, I can squeeze 2/hr more out if them. Not a lot, but better than nothing.

When I was a new TN, I interviewed first, told my recruiter how excited I was, and then she gave me the numbers. I was so disappointed. agency was going to pay for housing, but my hourly/take home was basically the same as my staff job. I told recruiter If I'm not getting PTO, insurance, incentive pay, tuition reimbursement, she better make this 1500 trek worth my while. i squeezed an extra 5/hr out if her. She was not happy. Times have changed since then. I don't think recruiters bend as easily anymore.

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$2 an hour is $4,000 a year. That's good.

First assignment, beach. I wouldn't sweat the money too much. You don't have to ask for more money directly and come up with your own figure, simply ask if that is the best they can do, and don't say a word until your recruiter replies. You haven't lost a thing, and the chances are fair that you may get another buck or two.

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Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.

I'm on my first assignment anyway. The $100 though low wasn't even part of my contract so for me it's found money 😊 ... but now that I'm over the hump of first time traveling I can be more savvy with next assignments.

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Sorry if you took offense from my rant! I'm annoyed at agencies, not travelers, for bad pay policies. Of course no matter the overtime pay, you will make more money from every extra hour worked.

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Specializes in Cardiology.

Thanks for the additional responses, I feel a little better now. Hopefully for future assignments I'll become better at negotiating :up:

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Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.
Sorry if you took offense from my rant! I'm annoyed at agencies, not travelers, for bad pay policies. Of course no matter the overtime pay, you will make more money from every extra hour worked.

No offense taken 😊 ... I'm actually OK with the pay I'm getting for my first assignment. Just surprised that I could actually make more! 😨

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