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 Oncology; medical specialty website.
"I was responding to the OP" Well the OP got your tone ad your message sent. Thanks :)

There is no "tone." You asked why, and I tried to tell you. Some people consider their pay a personal issue and don't feel comfortable talking about it.

If you get offended over something like this, you're going to find the workplace very difficult.

Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
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.

That's ridiculous. People don't want to tell you what they make, and that means they have it in for you?

There is no "tone." You asked why, and I tried to tell you. Some people consider their pay a personal issue and don't feel comfortable talking about it.

If you get offended over something like this, you're going to find the workplace very difficult.

I did not say I was offended at all... What would make you think that? Perhaps you read it wrong?

That's ridiculous. People don't want to tell you what they make, and that means they have it in for you?

Excuse me? Did I say that at all? No I did not. I was not comparing whether they tell me what they make as being "in for me" I was speaking in general. Again... Reading wrong? Not trying to be rude at all, I just don't know if you are wanting an internet cat fight or what :) I told you I respect your opinion. Moving on :)

Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.
I pick up fast and learn who I can talk to and who has it in their sights to claw my eyes out.

I'm pretty sure it was this line that brought our attention to the fact that you appear to equate a lack of openness on personal matters (as defined by you) as some kind of hostility toward you.

You might want to consider that conversational boundaries do not equal rudeness, hostility, or a hidden agenda. They're just boundaries.

Specializes in critical care.

[soap box]

I have to tell you, I hate, HATE when employers don't volunteer salary information (ranges are fine by me) up front. I think it should be in the job listing, to tell you the truth. I know the minimum amount of money I need to make. If a potential employer can't (or won't) pay that, it is incredibly frustrating to waste both our times. I do understand that they want to know your qualifications before making an official offer, but you can't tell me they don't know up front the minimum they are willing to pay their new hire. Advertising a range would not be unreasonable.

[/soap box]

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

In my area, most places, rates are advertised depending on the organization, in order to attract candidates; however, most of the time the "factors" are based on pay, experience, clinical ladder...when I heard a co-worker say she looked forward to a 10% raise in her clinical ladder, I was not going to tell her I have a 5% advantage over her... :no:

I also live in an area with a ton of hospitals, competing health systems...they seem to try to keep their rates under wraps...unfortunately, I found out how much they pay from AN and from glassdoor.com...It's really not much of a secret, IMHO.

I've also found in my experiences, co workers who wanted to know what I made were trying to either find our if I made more than them to ask for either the same amount or more for their "worth"-true story: they quoted they wanted to be paid "for my worth"; I was making more than this individual who was a new grad RN, while I had about 5 years LPN experience; I never told them I made more, I just skirted around it because another LPN gave the information, and we were paid similarly. Another incident involved a coworker who generally seemed unsatisfied at making less than pool counterparts, to the point, the administration saw this co worker looking over a nursing pool's shoulder to find out how much they made. (it wasn't me BTW) There were cameras directly above the swipe; and when you swipe in or out; your base pay is with your information on display (pretty bizarre :yes: )

This nurse got written up during a performance review, and this nurse wanted to bargain getting a raise.

I'm more inclined to not tell people how much I make; I've had too many bizarre issues on what the intentions of what the individual wanted to know. My income and budget has NO impact on another...And it's not polite to brag. ;)

Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Excuse me? Did I say that at all? No I did not. I was not comparing whether they tell me what they make as being "in for me" I was speaking in general. Again... Reading wrong? Not trying to be rude at all, I just don't know if you are wanting an internet cat fight or what :) I told you I respect your opinion. Moving on :)

No, I don't want a "cat fight."

Assume you will make $15, can you make ends meet on $15 an hour, then anything over will be gravy. If they are going to offer you a position, they will have to tell you then your hourly rate. See what will work with your life as far as what job you choose.

Good luck!

I'm pretty sure it was this line that brought our attention to the fact that you appear to equate a lack of openness on personal matters (as defined by you) as some kind of hostility toward you.

You might want to consider that conversational boundaries do not equal rudeness, hostility, or a hidden agenda. They're just boundaries.

Thank you I will consider that. Internet makes it hard for someone with a joking personality to "tone". When I typed the quotes you meant it was referring to "life in general" not just about the nurses I talk to, and also, when I ask about pay, I don't really want theirs, just a range and make that quite clear and it is never in a rude way, just a informative way. I have manners and use them.

Specializes in critical care.

For coworker salaries, it can go one of two ways: I make more, or I make less. If I make less, I might be annoyed, offended, or start questioning why. If I make more, I might feel a little smug about it (not my proudest admission, but I'm being honest here). Either way, I'd be happier not knowing. And I'd be really irritated if someone actually asked.

Specializes in Assisted Living Nurse Manager.

I never ask anyone what they make per hour and I never give out what I make. I think salary is a personal matter. You could try calling the HR dept and ask them what the pay scale is for new hires.

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