How to negotiate starting pay

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I just had an interview today and they said the starting pay is $9 an hour for a caregiver....they said to come back Monday to shadow a caregiver to make sure this is really what we want...if I get hired should I ask if they pay is negotiable? I've never done that before and I don't know how one would go about doing that...I want to ask if I can get 10-10.25 an hour...is this reasonable? Also what's the protocal for asking for more and is this a "no-no"?

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Specializes in ICU.

Where are you located?

What's the average for your area for this type of work?

Do you have any experience?

The only way I would try to negotiate pay is if I had experience or skills that warranted it - or a competing offer from a similar company that is willing to pay more. $1.00-$1.25/hour is a lot for that salary range - you're going to have to have good reasons to back up why you're "worth it" to start at that much higher of an hourly wage. (For comparison's sake, I started out as a CNA at $9.25/hour, no experience. At my 1 year evaluation I got the largest raise my manager is allowed to give - $0.25/hour - and that was with a year of experience, always being on time for my shift/working overtime/covering open shifts, and exemplary reviews from coworkers and patients).

Of course, you never know until you ask. Just make sure you do it in a professional way. Are you planning to accept the job even if they don't offer the increase in pay? If so, be careful how you ask, so you don't lose the offer alltogether.

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Specializes in NICU, Post-partum.

Hospitals have pay grades and such-and-such position pays a set amount for X amount of experience, and they are very unlikely to pay more.

My advice is as someone with no experience, you are not in a position to negotiate a salary because you'll want to stay in good graces in case you want to apply there for a job as a nurse.

New grad nurses are a dime a dozen...you could easily blow a job opportunity by asking for more money.

Once you gain experience, THEN you gain negotiating power depending on your specialty.

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this is a caregiver position at an assisted living place so theres NO CNA required but I do have my CNA. I do have experience INTERNING at a free health clininc, therefore there was no pay...I do believe that you wont know till you ask but I just dont want to blow the offer alltogether...I had the interview today and was asked to come back monday to shadow a caregiver to see if I want the job...So is me asking a yay or nay?

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Specializes in NICU, Post-partum.
this is a caregiver position at an assisted living place so theres NO CNA required but I do have my CNA. I do have experience INTERNING at a free health clininc, therefore there was no pay...I do believe that you wont know till you ask but I just dont want to blow the offer alltogether...I had the interview today and was asked to come back monday to shadow a caregiver to see if I want the job...So is me asking a yay or nay?

The rule of thumb in job searching (and you can research this online) is that you never discuss pay until you have been offered the job.

Hospitals also pay on what you DO...not by certification in most cases.

For example, in most hospitals, new grad RN's start out at the same pay rate as BSN's...some hospitals pay a very small differential...such as 25 cents an hour extra or something like that....an RNC might get you another 50 cents on the hour, etc.

If the job doesn't require being a CNA and you are doing the same work as those that don't have a CNA, they are unlikely to pay more.

Granted, you can always ask, but in this job market, they probably have another candidate that may not want more.

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So if I get the job will asking hurt me?

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Specializes in NICU, Post-partum.

No...but just be very, very careful about playing hardball.

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No...but just be very, very careful about playing hardball.

Ok so I was thinking to say this upon hire..."is there any negotiation on the starting pay?"...boss:if she says yes and asks how much am I talking I'll reply with around $10...if she says no i will just be like ok that's fine...thanks ( I def will take that $9 lol If sh says $9)

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Ok so I got another interview on Wendsday (im hoping they pay more) but the problem is I have to shadow a caregiver monday at the other place to make sure I want the job and then I have to let them know if I want it or not...when they ask me if I want the job or not should I tell them I have another interview on wendsday and Ill let them know by the end of the week? (im not sure how to go about doing these things) my bro said dont tell them that because they will think you dont really want the job but I do want it i just dont want to settle I want to check this other place out wed...help will be appreciated :D

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Specializes in ICU.

If they offer you the job Monday, say you appreciate the offer and you are interested but that you'd like some time to think about it and get back to them. *Do not* say you're interviewing somewhere else later in the week. Some time to think over their offer is a reasonable request, they should grant it.

Then go to the interview Wednesday with the other organization, and if they offer to pay you more, great! THEN you have a bargaining chip. Say you like "Monday's" place better, but still aren't happy with the pay...then you can call them and tell them you really like their facility and want to work for them, but you've had another company offer you $X more, can they match that? If so, win-win. If not, you can then accept the job that offers you more money, or the job you think you'll like better, whichever one that is.

Good luck!!!!

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Specializes in LTC, Rehab, CCU, Alzheimers, Med-Surg.

I have had some good experience with negotiating pay, and you can get more money depending on the company and how you ask, etc. They offered you the job, which means that they want you to work for them. Never be afraid to ask for more pay. Don't be pushy and DEMAND more pay, but it does not hurt to ask. This is what I said when I was negotiating wages with my current employer - "I have been considering your offer. I am very appreciative, and excited to work at X_____. I have been going over my budget and I was wondering if there is any negotiating that can be done concerning the wage?" It might not have been that word for word, but it was something along those lines. I let them know I wanted to work for them, but the wage was a little low. My mom told me never to ask for more money or to negotiate pay. I say why not? I ended up getting an extra 60 cents an hour. I don't know if this is relevant, but after threatening to quit one job I got a 50 cent raise :) I wouldn't recommend doing that, though.

I think people are too scared to negotiate pay, and it really shouldn't be that way. If you're a good employee, then you are worth a reasonable wage. Don't be afraid to ask!

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In my area even CNAs are having difficulty finding jobs, so I would reconsider trying to negotiate higher pay when you have no experience.

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