How much above your base pay do you generally make?

klone, MSN, RN · Mar 23, 2016

I make $2.75/hour over my base pay. Not from shift diff, but from certifications and being on the clinical ladder.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Mar 23, 2016

I left the clinical bedside setting three months ago. However, when I did work bedside, I earned approximately $10k to $12k above my base salary per year due to having specialty certification and accruing night shift differential.

Editorial Team / Admin · Mar 23, 2016

I make a good $20-28,000 extra per year on top of my base salary. That's including differentials (nights/evenings/weekends), on call pay (a whopping $2/hour), and call back pay (1.5 x base salary for a minimum of 2 hours). Now, I also take a boatload of call (anywhere between 32 and 100 hours per pay period) and spend a lot of extra time at work. Could make an extra $2-4,000 if I wanted to ladder but I choose not to.

floridaRN38 · Mar 24, 2016

1.50-2

llg, PhD, RN · Mar 24, 2016

I like this topic for a thread. I don't think we have had that specific question asked before. It's something I urge new nurses (and nurses changing jobs) to think about. Too many people only consider that base pay when they consider possible jobs. The ability (or lack thereof) to make additional money can be an important part of your compensation.

I have worked most of my career in "exempt" jobs -- paid a salary rather than an hourly wage. So I don't have opportunities to increase my paycheck the way most staff nurses do. When I work a holiday, weekend, night, etc., I get nothing extra. I also get no overtime pay: so if I work extra hours, it is for free. ......... The implications of that specific salary status surprises some people who move away from bedside staffing into leadership, educational, or advanced practice positions. They suddenly realized that they no longer have those opportunities to earn some extra money when they need it.

However ... on the positive side ... I have a fairly flexible schedule and enjoy most of my work, which are very important considerations for me. I can (and do) earn a little extra money by working a 2nd job.

caseyuptonurse · Mar 24, 2016

I made about an extra 10k from night shift differential and a little bit of overtime. (About 1-2 extra shifts a month)