How much is a normal raise

[Sully64]

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.

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

Your 2% raise is common. This is the wage stagnation of America's workers and without a strong union it is unlikely to change. People think merit raises are all about rewarding the good workers when in fact its really about saving money. The philosophy behind merit raise is budget for a 2% across the board raise and then give a stellar worker 4% and even this out by giving another worker 0%. So the only way to get a 4% is to be a favorite. On top of this some places give the older experienced workers even less for the same eval score to save money. We have no power to change this other than voting with our feet or working for a good unionized employer if you have that option.

Some places have clinical ladders where you can get a little extra raise, but these are usually one time raises that come with lots of hoops to jump, first to get the raise and then to keep it. Where I work the raise is conditional on meeting all the ever changing requirements with the constant threat of demotion and pay cut if you don't keep up jumping thru the hoops every year! No thanks, that hassle is not worth it to me!

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

I am the only one in my department on a committee, and I am the only one with a specialty certification which I earned this past year. And sadly, on my unit, being on time is pretty rare although I agree it is a normal expectation. We have really poor attendance, and a lot of call outs.

This may help you stand out, but it doesn't guarantee a great raise! Given the budget constraints most workers get the same lowly pay say 2% rather than 4% since other workers will have to get a 0-1% raise to balance it out. It probably makes an employer feel bad to give someone no raise so it is easier to give the same raise to everyone.

Use your experience and certification on your resume to find an even better job and then negotiate a real pay raise! Or use it to climb the corporate hospital ladder if a management job becomes available. The committee work probably looks good on a resume as it shows you are an engaged employee. Try networking with your fellow members for a better job opportunity.

Put your profile on linked in and you may find other employers will come to you for offering a better job! I've witnessed this happen to others thru linked in..

[nmnrn]

negotiate for a higher wage. if you do not ask, the answer will always be no. and if that doesn't work and you believe to be marketable and your resume is strong, maybe look for a job somewhere else with higher pay

[ontheway2crna]

Ours are 2 percent to 6 percent annually based on an evaluation.

[AlphaM]

The standard for many facilities seem to be around 2% don't let that discourage you.

[Emagehtmai]

My raise the last two years has been 1% each year. I did get a raise of roughly $1.20 when I went from Clin Nurse II to Clin Nurse III. But that'll be the only time that happens. In nursing, you have to job hop to get raises. A friend of mine here who only has about 2 uears experience and makes about $2/hr less than me will be starting at an ICU at a different hospital and getting a $5/hr raise (we work a med-surge floor right now). I've been at my current job for 2.5 years and will probably be here maybe another year or two and start looking again. In my 2.5 years here I've had a total of $1.46 in raises.

[caliotter3]

My normal raise has been nothing. The one raise I got one time was not a typical "raise", it was a performance reward in the form of a raise in pay (instead of a one time bonus). I have, though, received a decrease in pay, due to a decrease in the rate of reimbursement.

[aunderwood_81]

A 2% raise would be nice to have

[gdottie]

We are always told everywhere it is against policy and you can be fired for discussing salaries. I'd like the data source on the comment that it is illegal. I think people SHOULD discuss compensation, and we wouldn't be such suckers....

[caliotter3]

We are always told everywhere it is against policy and you can be fired for discussing salaries. I'd like the data source on the comment that it is illegal. I think people SHOULD discuss compensation, and we wouldn't be such suckers....

I vaguely recall reading on the site of my state's employment department that it is against the law to forbid employees from discussing wage rates, but that is just my state. And it is in this particular state (CA) that I have been told over and over by various employers that they forbid this discussion. The employers know that most employees are not going to complain because they want to retain their jobs.

[KJS66]

I have been an RN 25 years. 2% raise is pretty standard, many places don't even give raises on a regular basis. At my last ED 10 yrs, no raises the last 6! I make about 18.00 more per hour now than 25 yrs ago! This is not a profession you go in to in order to retire young or rich..it's a calling and a passion. Can you make a "decent" living? Yes....

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

Per our contract I get roughly 4% every year, plus an additional 2.5% every 5 years. Union hospitals, people. They're the bomb.

I got a 2 percent raise, but am in negotiations for a first Union contract...we need at least a 6 percent increase to get on target with the rest of the market...we are one of the lowest paying hospitals in the area, apparently-although I've had a ten percent increase from my first job to this current position.