Is this a good contract?

NedRN · Oct 7, 2014

The only way to find out if your compensation is market rate is by looking at the market. Call more agencies and find out what they are offering for your specialty (whatever it is) and experience in the area of interest. No point in negotiating for more if the current offer is not in the ballpark.

Just because an agency offers you tax-free money does not mean that it is tax-free at the end of the year. If you are spending most of your time at home, it cannot be all tax-free. Depending on how you arrange assignment housing, most likely all that will be tax-free is your actual costs of housing. Such situations really require professional analysis by tax experts such as TravelTax.

PhillyFNP, DNP · Oct 7, 2014

How come nobody gives a straight answer on what is good or bad as far as the take home compensation is? Is 1300.00 per week net pay in the range of an appropriate compensation being that I am traveling and working the night shift. I just want to make sure I am in the ballpark and that I am not getting low balled? Yes, I know everyone has various experience, skills, and education, but I am sure the staffing agency bills the hospital all the same.

Loo17 · Oct 7, 2014

I am not a traveler nor do I live in PA but that sounds like a horrible deal. A good friend of mine is a staff nurse in PA with 5 years experience and makes $36/hr on day shift. The night shift differential for staff is $6/hr.

The travelers at my hospital make $15-20 more than me with their allowances built in. If money really matters I would not accept that offer. If you just want to earn some extra cash while waiting for your certification than go for it. Maybe just add some stipulations that you want to work consecutive days so you can get a cheap hotel then drive home for the rest of the week.

Good luck!

emb92250 · Oct 7, 2014

My rule of thumb is if you take their housing, expect about $1,000/wk. if you take the stipend, expect $1,400/wk. But I think I have lower expectations than most.

NedRN · Oct 8, 2014

How come nobody gives a straight answer? I just want to make sure I am in the ballpark and that I am not getting low balled? Yes, I know everyone has various experience, skills, and education, but I am sure the staffing agency bills the hospital all the same.

I gave you a straight answer on how to get a good answer. There are too many variables to be able to give you a "correct" number. In fact, you haven't provided enough information about your compensation to be able to compare. Getting health insurance provided? That is worth at least 3 dollars an hour. Travel pay? Perhaps another dollar an hour. Licensure reimbursement, completion bonus?

All agencies do have a different bill rate for each hospital. And a different rate per nursing specialty. Sometime a critical needs or rapid response rate that is different than regular negotiated rates for that facility.

Next variable is that every agency has a unique gross profit margin. Usually the larger an agency the higher the required gross profit margin which translates into lower traveler pay. That one alone can change total pay by five bucks.

Some agencies have better negotiators than others leading to higher bill rates. Many agencies will pay new travelers or travelers new to them less money to compensate for the real increased financial risk they represent.

All of of these variables on top of poor reporting of compensation quite literally impossible to feed you a simple answer what you thought was a simple question. The good news is that you can ignore everything I just said and find out the truth yourself by calling a few agencies. You might find something far better in the process!

PhillyFNP, DNP · Oct 8, 2014

I gave you a straight answer on how to get a good answer. There are too many variables to be able to give you a "correct" number. In fact, you haven't provided enough information about your compensation to be able to compare. Getting health insurance provided? That is worth at least 3 dollars an hour. Travel pay? Perhaps another dollar an hour. Licensure reimbursement, completion bonus?
All agencies do have a different bill rate for each hospital. And a different rate per nursing specialty. Sometime a critical needs or rapid response rate that is different than regular negotiated rates for that facility.
Next variable is that every agency has a unique gross profit margin. Usually the larger an agency the higher the required gross profit margin which translates into lower traveler pay. That one alone can change total pay by five bucks.
Some agencies have better negotiators than others leading to higher bill rates. Many agencies will pay new travelers or travelers new to them less money to compensate for the real increased financial risk they represent.
All of of these variables on top of poor reporting of compensation quite literally impossible to feed you a simple answer what you thought was a simple question. The good news is that you can ignore everything I just said and find out the truth yourself by calling a few agencies. You might find something far better in the process!

The 1300 net per week reflects straight hourly pay and housing stipend and nothing else as aforementioned. I am feeling that it is considerably low according to some of the feedback thus far, which is why I need to know if I should ask for a higher take home.

NedRN · Oct 8, 2014

You can ask all you want to regardless of what posters on the Internet suggest. But don't think you can use internet numbers as a negotiating point. Real numbers from other quotes would be the way to go. But that won't change the underlying bill rate one cent.

What at did your last job pay? How does this compare to that? How much are the intangibles worth to you such as the location?

No matter what, if you don't explore your options by calling other agencies, you will never really know if you are getting a good, bad, or indifferent deal.

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Oct 8, 2014

If you ask me, $1300 net weekly is pretty damn good. It's definitely more than what I bring home in my staff job.

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kmitchmo3 · Oct 9, 2014

I think it is low... being that Im a staff nurse and I work per diem on PCU making $43/hr without any differential. Being that you are a FNP, with add'l training and education, I would look for more. Personally I would look at $1600-2000-take home. And $1600, only because you haven't passed boards. But after that - definitely look for more-u EARNED IT!!

360jRN · Oct 11, 2014

I'm from Louisiana so primarily work in the south and ER only; however, I did work in WV a couple years ago and my bring home was 1550ish for 36hours. Currently working in east Texas and bring home about 1375 for 36 hours. Previous assignment in south Texas was about 1450 for 36. I would assume and consider 1300 as "low" given your location. Are you including your meals stipend with the housing stipend figure of 900? Because that seems ridiculously high if youre not. Average housing stipend I've had has been 500's, lowest was quoted at 450. Meals has always been in the low to mid 200's. I know youre not going to make traveling your profession but be careful with those low hourly rates because I've always been told that youre more likely to get in trouble with the IRS if youre making such a low hourly rate. Look it up for a better explanation as to why lol. My normal hourly rate is 20-22/hr.

What you have to decide is what is your bottom line. Whats the least you have to get in order to sign the contract and go and be happy about it.... but you have to consider what tradeoffs you can make when comparing two different contracts with differing pay.

Why are you wanting to do a travel contract instead of staying at your current job?

Edit: If you have any inclination of working OT make sure you negotiate a better OT rate because 1.5 x 15 = 22.50/hr.... When your effective rate is 36/hr (1300dollars/36hours = 36dollars/hr) so in my view youre losing 13.50/hr while the agency is still billing at their same rate. Just food for thought.