New NP, embarrassing salary offer!

AJJKRN · Nov 2, 2016

How about continuing education and other costs? Paying less for healthcare is a nice bonus.

I wish I could be more helpful but the low pay for NPs in my area has kept me from seriously considering NP school (along with the areas glut!).

This is why I choose to get my MSN in leadership for hopefully less than $8000 and have my employer pay for all of it while I continue to touch six figures.

I'm curious what a post-masters NP program will cost on down the line though.

If only I could get out of paying taxes and see more take home pay.

Palliative Care, DNP · Nov 2, 2016

I personally turned down everything I considered a low ball offer or any positions that did not offer health insurance. I am very happy that I held out. I'm very happy with the salary especially for my area. I also get $2500/yr CME, 28 days PTO, health benefits, & a yearly bonus. I believe that low ball offers are made because a lot of new NPs are accepting them. I say hold out for what you're worth.

Maineboundapn · Nov 2, 2016

Do NOT accept a low ball offer. I agree that less than 70k is insulting. Discuss what you will be billing and work from there. How many patients are you seeing per day? Think of what you will be billing for each visit! Don't be afraid to know what you are worth and negotiate aggressively. One good benefit does not outweigh the otherwise crap offer (ridiculous wage, no CME UGH) and that should be discussed. Not sure what the cost of living is where you are, but I was making well over 70k as an RN, so there's just no way I'd take that offer. If no NPs agreed to these disgusting wages then they wouldn't be offered. No NP should make less than six figures.

Trauma Columnist · Nov 2, 2016

Whew - can I ask the general area of the country you live in? Is this a specialty practice? Call?

In my area, the NPs health insurance is 100% paid and that is standard, with $1500 CME, 4 weeks PTO/year, 5 days CME, and the usual starting rate is around $80,000-90,000. Now for our practice if you wish to add family it is $540/month so yes that is expensive = $6480 but still cheaper than what you are quoted.

Is your cost of living really really low?

BirkieGirl · Nov 2, 2016

I would suggest you counter for either CME or productivity and if you feel more salary you feel is fair.

Something to really keep in mind is that if your insurance is that awesome (80%!!!!!) then that's going to cost the practice around $1000/month as well (my husband has similar coverage in a small Midwest school and it's $980/month for family-school covers him alone). Benefits are figured into your 'compensation package', so they are already calculating that their total is around $12k more than the salary offer they made you.

Although I understand the suggestion from others to not accept, if you really feel that this job is the the ONE, then you should stick to your gut. Just make sure that your acceptance meets your needs.

Good luck!

PG2018 · Nov 2, 2016

My insurance premiums are about ten percent of my salary. Who cares?

Make a good living. The other financial fruits will fall into place.

Walk from this deal. Most people don't "truly love" their job. I'd love to be a spy, but that's not really compatible with life right now.

I didn't become a nurse to not be a NP, and I didn't become a NP to make what I could've made as a typical accountant. Find a good job. You're taking on a ton of liability. Offset that risk with substance rewards.

core0 · Nov 2, 2016

I'm gathering that this is a theme in our field, unfortunately...
So after graduating and spending nearly a year of applying for positions as an APRN, I finally scored several interviews and a couple of offers. I'm particularly interested in one of the positions, which offers amazing health insurance benefits for my family (employer pays 80% of premium) but the salary that they offered me is embarrassing. Let's just say it's less than $70,000, but more than $60,000. Large University (i.e. state) position in a city w/population of approximately 100,000 people.
There are other APRNs in this same practice, currently with 10 years experience, who are making $79,000 - $83,000.
- No CME
- No productivity bonus
- 33 days of PTO, including vacation, sick, and personal days
- very good health insurance plans w/employer paying 80+% of premium
- malpractice covered
- excellent potential for career advancement (I plan to advance my APRN education)
My instincts tell me this particular position is The One; this is the position I'm going to love, love what I do, love where I am, and love my coworkers. The health insurance is extremely appealing and I'm assuming that is a big reason why they offer such low salaries. The other position I've been offered is $10,000/year more, but employer only pays 20% of health insurance premium, so I have to automatically deduct $16,000/year from my salary just for that.
I plan to make a counter offer but that is where I'm struggling. I'm truly dismayed at the low salary but I also feel very strongly this particular position is my calling. I need to be able to justify why I'm asking for more $$, considering I'm a new NP. Aside from figuring in CME and license/certification costs, what other suggestions should I make?

You've run into a problem frequently seen with large corporations. Likely the HR person has a salary matrix and is reading off of that. The other items will be fixed as they can't vary among members with the same job description. The issue you have as a presumed new grad is you don't have anything that makes them want you. That being said, you have an offer for more money which gives you leverage. We have a similar problem since our HR decided not to put any steps in the salary matrix after 5 years. This means that every new employee with more than 5 years needs a salary exception to go above the matrix. Our lead emails these to the head of HR every time he gets them to show the need for an additional step.

You need to understand the structure. Since you know what other NPs are making ask how the CME is done. Sometimes its done by department and can be negotiated separately. As for salary, you can go back and tell them you would love the job but the salary offer isn't competitive with other offers you have received. At that point they can either negotiate or not. If they won't time to move on. If you really want to work there, get a couple years experience then you can apply from a position of experience.

Aromatic · Nov 2, 2016

Too much liability for 60k.

OllieW, DNP, PhD, NP · Nov 2, 2016

The landscape is changing and employers know they can lowball new NPs especially in areas where there is a glut. I would counter, but I would consider it if all else lines up. The other choices are holding out til something better comes along, taking more salary and less benefits or moving to an area with higher need. However, if you accept you can be gaining valuable experience and keep your eyes open to other openings.

just depends what you are willing to accept.

allnurses Guide · Nov 3, 2016

How many hours/days per week? This is a clinical position or an academic/other position? Pension plan?

Any way you slice it, for a clinical position, that is a horrid low ball offer.

**NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN** · Nov 3, 2016

Unfortunately state jobs typically pay less, and they are often a "set income" depending on which state. The decreased salary is supplemented by all the other perks such as lots of vacay, no premium for insurance, etc.

And this reason right here is why I haven't found the drive to go for my NP. NPs make less in my area than floor nurses, the only perk is normal hours. Increased responsibility doesn't seem worth it.