How much is a normal raise

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · May 4, 2016

Pretty much everywhere raises are minimal to nonexistent. Unless you are fortunate enough to be in a union facility that was actually able to secure decent raises as part of the contract, good luck getting any bump in pay. As sad as 2% is, it is still better than what many are getting.

Even more sad, no raises combined with increases in health insurance premiums means many of us bring home less money than before.

mightynurse4 · May 4, 2016

My raise was 2% this year, merit increase. I was happy to get it!

jpicurn · May 4, 2016

We used to get raises anywhere from 2%-6% depending on the year from 2000-2008. From 2008-2012, we had pay freezes and no raises, no bonuses, no extra anything. In 2013, we got a one time "bonus" depending on your hours per week worked, mine worked out to be $285 after taxes. We got a 2% raise in 2014, and 2% in 2015. They are currently discussing RN salary at my hospital, and likely doing another 2-3% raise in the fall this year.

As an adjunct clinical instructor, I have been pretty stagnant for the past two years, and it was just announced they are doing a 5% salary increase this fall.

SheriffLauren · May 4, 2016

Switch jobs, try to negotiate a higher pay at the new one, or join a union position where the raises are negotiated yearly/quarterly.

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · May 4, 2016

Empty threat...

I am feeling heartbroken. I work hard, I am always on time. I switch shifts all the time when asked by my manager last minute. I am on 2 committees that are extra. I am also back in school working on my BSN. Well, we just got our annual raise, mine is almost 2%. I feel very hurt. What is normal? Of course we were told if we discuss compensation or raises in any way you can be fired for violation of the code of conduct. It was delieverd to us via email, not even face to face. I am now feeling like I want to give up my committees, since they cut into my school time, and as soon as I finish school IM OUT. Clearly no appreciation here. And when they continue to call me last minute to cover a shift, the answer will now be NO.

DowntheRiver · May 4, 2016

My last raise was 3% (.85/hour) and my performance review was "exceeds expectations" almost completely across the board. Not bad, 1-3% is typical per year at my company. I've received three awards this year as well for excellence and instead of merit increases my company lets you pick prizes. I'd prefer the cash but I can't complain too much because the swag is nice - first one was genuine pearl earrings and my second one was a kate spade purse. Still deciding on this once since I just received it :)

BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN · May 4, 2016

There is no normal, 2-3% is COLA. Sometimes we don't even get that. The joys of working for a county entity.

echo2112 · May 4, 2016

2% seems to be the average. Which is complete BS. Not even close to a cost of living allowance in my area. Housing here has increased on average 13-17% annually since 2007. It's is so incredibly expensive, and yet we can only seem to get a pathetic raise. I got a much larger raise by moving into a specialty field - my bosses had to give me more because of how hard it is to find trained staff.

FurBabyMom, MSN, RN · May 4, 2016

I'm lucky - we've had raises each year I've worked where I work now. Most of them were about 1-2% combined cost of living/market and merit.

In the last year I've had something like a 6% increase in pay. I got about a 3% raise when I was promoted (up the clinical ladder), and about another 3% with this year's combined market/merit raise. I was supposed to get less for my promotion but what they initially wanted to give me didn't take me to the minimum hourly rate for that job class (so I got a little bonus). Maybe investigate another job or the clinical ladder?

I do lots of switching schedules, switching call, etc. In my opinion that's just part of being a good coworker to your coworkers. If I don't have plans I trade shifts or call with folks when asked because I know that if things were different I could be the one who needed someone to do that for me. Goes back to treating others like you want to be treated. Call is something I'll take at the last minute when people call out because most of my coworkers only call out when they're sick or can't avoid it and if you're sick enough to stay home you're sick enough not to have to come in on call.

Last year I worked an insane amount of overtime between call, not being relieved on time, and working my day off fairly frequently. We were incredibly short staffed last year and it looks like this year may be the same. We had an incentive to come in on our day off (critical staffing pay) because it was cheaper to pay us extra overtime and incentive pay than to pay for travelers. It was seen as meeting the needs of the department but not required.

Definitely revise your resume to include more of your committee work and any education/precepting you do. I went over my resume with a fine tooth comb before applying for my promotion and then only had to make minor revisions when I was applying to grad school. :)

NotYourMamasRN · May 5, 2016

I can say from my first career, the national average for performance based review pay raises is 1% to 3%. And you had to be stellar to get 3%. Not that we are not all stellar, but you had to kiss some serious butt to get that. And the company budgets for and decides how many people are eligible for each percentage per department, then the managers have to decide who the best of the best is to get the highest percentage. And some departments do not get to even give a 3%. I am sorry, it is not a reflection of you but a reflection of employment practices in the US.

bebbercorn · May 5, 2016

Recently the rate at my facility for new hires/grads went up by several dollars per hour, and there was no change in existing worker wages. Guess how long I'm staying?

NotYourMamasRN · May 5, 2016

Recently the rate at my facility for new hires/grads went up by several dollars per hour, and there was no change in existing worker wages. Guess how long I'm staying?

This happened at one of my previous employers. Note previous! A new grad was making 2 cents less an hour than me. I was pretty upset.