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

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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?

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Specializes in ED; Med Surg.

Mine is contractual, so we all make the same depending on seniority...so I knew what I was going to make long before I had a job. You are non-union I assume? It is still kind of odd that they wouldn't even give you a range. Like "here's the range of starting pay, depending on experience". That kind of thing. Hmm.

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Thank you for your reply. I am non union and the only hint of anything was when I was told they "pay about what everyone else in the area does" which could be $15.00/hr or $50.00/hr for all I know :)

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

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

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I get that, and you sound about like the nurses I asked but its not like I say "Hey can you tell me what you make?" I say "Do you happen to know what this hospital starts new grads at?" Hoping that one will tell me a figure. I typically get "Ask them yourself" which I have to no luck and typically get "It ranges". The attitude is sometimes appalling. While it is your business what you make and I appreciate that, I don't see the issue in saying "well it ranges this and this" because likely you do know.

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Specializes in Oncology.

Are there any government run hospitals in your area? Many states you can look up what government employees make online, an in my state you can look by job title.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

Where do you live? I would guess that the new grad starting rate is somewhere between $20-40 (low end in the southeast, high end on the east and west coasts)

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

I also live in Texas but not in your area. Our HR will tell people a range, and the offer will depend on experience, level of education and how desparate we are to fill that position. Our new grads start at $20/hr but by the 5th year, with per diems for various things, they could be making nearly twice that

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I don't know what the big secret is. and it is not for a savy person...... Seems weird that they don't give you a range. Look around online some hospitals list it but those are usually union hospitals. In those there are no secrets. If you know how long someone has been annurse you know exactly what they make. Have you tried looking on the texas forum? I am not familiar with pay in that area. I have no interest in selecting a job without knowing the pay. RIDICULOUS

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I get that, and you sound about like the nurses I asked but its not like I say "Hey can you tell me what you make?" I say "Do you happen to know what this hospital starts new grads at?" Hoping that one will tell me a figure. I typically get "Ask them yourself" which I have to no luck and typically get "It ranges". The attitude is sometimes appalling. While it is your business what you make and I appreciate that, I don't see the issue in saying "well it ranges this and this" because likely you do know.
These people se nuts. I always used to ask in this way and usually got an answer like, "I think $25/hr" or something. I dont understand the mass conspiracy unless there is a big discrepancy between what the favorites get paid vrs the other.
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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
I get that, and you sound about like the nurses I asked but its not like I say "Hey can you tell me what you make?" I say "Do you happen to know what this hospital starts new grads at?" Hoping that one will tell me a figure. I typically get "Ask them yourself" which I have to no luck and typically get "It ranges". The attitude is sometimes appalling. While it is your business what you make and I appreciate that, I don't see the issue in saying "well it ranges this and this" because likely you do know.

That's because it does range, depending on previous experience, education, the type of unit you are going to work in, shift diff. Besides, I'll bet most nurses don't really know what the exact ranges are. That's an HR question.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

salary.com is a pretty good way to get a general idea.

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