Interview salary discussion, how much is over asking?

[tomjones200824]

Professionally i function as nurse facility supervisor for off coverage hours. Currently, i do this for a 210 bed nursing home. I am interviewing soon for a similar position in a hospital with approximately 500-700 beds, including an ER and ICU units. The facility is not far off a drive but requires twenty five additional minutes of driving time...

Question: I earn roughly 63k at the current location, hourly position. The potential new position is salaried. Given the above informanton, is it inappropriate/far fetched to request a 10% increase to current pay? As OT hourly rate increase is not possible and accrued OT will never be compensated for?

[llg, PhD, RN]

If you are going to be doing the same job located in the same region, then I would expect a similar salary -- not much of a raise. However, the fact that the new job is in a bigger facility and be more complex (with more units to cover, etc.) would probably merit an increase. I always try to avoid a specific number and would just say that I expected a bit of a raise because of the increase in scope and complexity of the job.

I don't think 10% would be unreasonable ... but it wouldn't surprise me if they didn't go that high.

How do the salaries compare between the 2 institutions in general? Does the bigger facility pay higher for most positions in general? Or does the smaller place pay more because they are more "luxurious" for some reason -- better funded, etc. That would be the key determining factor -- not anything particular about you or your wants.

[I<3H2O, BSN, RN]

Words of wisdom that were given to me: When you are interviewing someone for a position, ask them what they want to be paid. They should know their worth. A person who settles for whatever you give them will soon look for a new job that pays them more." So, I would go in asking for what *I* felt I was worth. If you will "settle" for $70k, ask for $72k or $75k...all they can tell you is no.