Negotiating Pay

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jun 9, 2016

It depends on the type of workplace. Generally, hospital floor nursing positions entail hourly wages that cannot be negotiated, whereas hospital nurse manager positions involve salaries that can be negotiated if the candidate brings unique experience and/or certifications to the table.

Hospital HR directors utilize wage grids upon which to base their monetary offers. For instance, all nurses with less than a year of experience are offered $X, all nurses with one to five years of experience are offered $Y, and so forth. The wage grid is a way to avert discrimination claims.

However, hiring managers at small mom-and-pop workplaces such as independently owned hospices and nursing homes frequently do not use wage grids, so the pay tends to be negotiable.

FutureCruzanRN · Jun 11, 2016

It depends on the type of workplace. Generally, hospital floor nursing positions entail hourly wages that cannot be negotiated, whereas hospital nurse manager positions involve salaries that can be negotiated if the candidate brings unique experience and/or certifications to the table.
Hospital HR directors utilize wage grids upon which to base their monetary offers. For instance, all nurses with less than a year of experience are offered $X, all nurses with one to five years of experience are offered $Y, and so forth. The wage grid is a way to avert discrimination claims.
However, hiring managers at small mom-and-pop workplaces such as independently owned hospices and nursing homes frequently do not use wage grids, so the pay tends to be negotiable.

Thank you so much for responding. I saw that the job I am applying for started at $25/hr and wondered if my 2.5 years of experience would increase that base amount.

Libby1987 · Jun 11, 2016

Thank you so much for responding. I saw that the job I am applying for started at $25/hr and wondered if my 2.5 years of experience would increase that base amount.

Did they post the minimum years experience needed? Is so, 2.5 years may not carry negotiating weight.

NurseMegP, BSN, RN · Jun 11, 2016

They might start you at a certain wage and you might be able to get a raise soon into working if you continue to do a good job and show them that you're worth a raise as well. I haven't had a lot of experience in asking for higher wages but do remember that if you ask for too much more they may decide to go with a candidate who willingly accepts the base rate of pay. Best of luck!

NOADLS · Jun 11, 2016

From what I've seen and looking at wage grids, 2.5 years is not in the range where you have the power to negotiate your wage. In the case of staff nurses, negotiating a wage is a lot harder because of the supply of workers available for the job. 2.5 years experience isn't exactly a deal breaker. Even if you had 10 years experience, some places are very rigid with the way they compensate.

Smaller facilities are more open to negotiation. If you are seeking a management position and have significant experience, you would also have negotiation power.

FutureCruzanRN · Jun 11, 2016

Did they post the minimum years experience needed? Is so, 2.5 years may not carry negotiating weight.

Yeah, the minimum is 1 year.

FutureCruzanRN · Jun 11, 2016

They might start you at a certain wage and you might be able to get a raise soon into working if you continue to do a good job and show them that you're worth a raise as well. I haven't had a lot of experience in asking for higher wages but do remember that if you ask for too much more they may decide to go with a candidate who willingly accepts the base rate of pay. Best of luck!

I never even thought of that. The cost of living is just so high in the new city, and I'm starting grad school. I didn't want to put myself in a crazy situation. I'll just wait to see what they offer.

FutureCruzanRN · Jun 11, 2016

From what I've seen and looking at wage grids, 2.5 years is not in the range where you have the power to negotiate your wage. In the case of staff nurses, negotiating a wage is a lot harder because of the supply of workers available for the job. 2.5 years experience isn't exactly a deal breaker. Even if you had 10 years experience, some places are very rigid with the way they compensate.
Smaller facilities are more open to negotiation. If you are seeking a management position and have significant experience, you would also have negotiation power.

I think they are really at a need at this specific hospital and uniy. The unit had a 50% turnover last year so they are looking for nurses with a bit more experience.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jun 12, 2016

I think they are really at a need at this specific hospital and uniy.

However, if the HR figureheads at this particular hospital utilize a predetermined wage grid, you will be offered the prevailing rate of pay for RNs with 1 to 5 years of experience that appears on the wage grid.

The HR staff will probably not be open to negotiation because basing your pay rate upon the wage grid protects the hospital from future discrimination claims.

The specialty hospital where I once worked also had chronic employee turnover problems, but the HR director and managers were sticklers for paying new hires per the wage grid. Negotiators usually ran into a brick wall. Other times they were offered a whopping $0.50 more per hour.

Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN · Jun 12, 2016

I was able to negotiate a pretty good rate "off the grid", but had been working for that employer for at least a solid year and knew they were very happy with me. If this new place you're looking into has super-high turnover, that may be a sign that they don't offer very competitive wages.

FutureCruzanRN · Jun 12, 2016

However, if the HR figureheads at this particular hospital utilize a predetermined wage grid, you will be offered the prevailing rate of pay for RNs with 1 to 5 years of experience that appears on the wage grid.
The HR staff will probably not be open to negotiation because basing your pay rate upon the wage grid protects the hospital from future discrimination claims.
The specialty hospital where I once worked also had chronic employee turnover problems, but the HR director and managers were sticklers for paying new hires per the wage grid. Negotiators usually ran into a brick wall. Other times they were offered a whopping $0.50 more per hour.

Oh okay, I see what you're saying. Thanks again!