New NP-Negotiating a Salary

Jules A, MSN · Jul 22, 2015

Your best bet is to talk to NPs in your specialty in your local area. If you don't have any friends you can actually ask how much they make try "How much could I expect to make as a new grad in this area?". I'd do that to as many NPs as you have access to and see what the consensus is. Hopefully they will be smart enough to realize that undercutting their wages could come back to bite them and collegial enough to want to help an new grad because in my experience the schools were useless regarding salary negotiations.

Good luck.

Riburn3, BSN, MSN, APRN, NP · Jul 22, 2015

As the previous poster said, if you can get a feel for your area do it. If not, aim for 100k as a starting point (unless they offer higher), and always always always inquire about incentive bonuses. You'll quickly learn that what you are bringing to the table in terms of revenue far outnumbers your pay. Even if they offer you a good 6 figure salary, inquire about incentive bonuses. It tells your employer that you aren't ignorant to your value as a provider (even if you are).

If a practice offers you a good incentive bonus structure (preferably plaid quarterly), it can outweigh a bad starting salary ($70-80k), but there's no harm in trying to get both.

After that, you should be given reimbursement for CME annually, at the minimum APRN license reimbursement, and full medical, dental, and financial benefits (ie 401k). If your offer doesn't include any of the above, use that as a reason to be paid a higher salary. These are pretty standard NP contract benefits, and if they have ever hired an NP, or are a group of NP's, they will know that.

BiotoBSNtoFNP · Jul 22, 2015

Hello All,
The job outlook in my area is pretty nice. I am recently certified and licensed NP and have already had 3 interviews with 2 of the opportunities showing great interest. I believe the next step would be an offer of employment, but the salary has not yet been discussed. I am not sure how to approach this situation, so it would be great if a seasoned NP could chime in for some guidance.
I don't want to get lowballed or short change myself as I know there are many jobs in the area and not enough NPs to fill them (as told by a local recruiter). A lot of these facilities/offices are using locum tenens.
Thanks!

I am finishing my fnp program next month. My offer is for $86,500 for 40 work week seeing acute visits in a family med practice in a large hospital system is Philly suburbs.

31 days pto including sick, vacation, holiday

Comprehensive medical benefits package

2,000 and one week CME

DEA, license, credentialing covered

90 days written notice before leaving

Non compete within 10 miles for 6 months post leaving

FNP27, I had interviewed with Hr, then interviewed w the lead physician of the practice. The next day the HR recruiter called and offered me the salary and emailed me the contract. I thanked her and told her I would get back to her in a few days. I would expect your experience to be similar. Tomorrow I am negotiating my salary.

I understand I am a new grad but i feel for a major metropolitan area it's a little low. The lead physician of the practice told me I was much more ideal than the other candidates he interviewed. I have a phone meeting with HR tomorrow where I will try to negotiate the pay but because it is a large health care organization, I have a feeling the pay scale is very standardized with little negotiation. I also think they are going to say that im a new grad so not worth more...

I'm excited that I have an offer prior to graduating! But realistically unsure of what Nps in my area make. It seems like the range when i talk to others is btween 85 and 110k.

What do you think I should counter the 86,500 with?

I had another interview for an urgent care and when they asked what i expected and I said mid 90s and the recruiter laughed and said i'd start at 80k. Needless to say, I turned down that offer.

Fnp27, when you get an offer, dont accept on the spot. Say thank you and you will get back to them. Let them make the offer and tell what the pay would be. Then consider if that is adequate for you. Pay is very difficult bc I feel it varies so much by geo region, setting, etc!! Also, Consider taking it to an employment attorney for review if there is confusing terminology.

amberusky · Jul 22, 2015

My first NP job out of school was offering significantly less than the local average (8k less). In the past year, the company has realized how under paid we are and has given significant raises. I was originally offered 85k, recent raises have raised it to 110k. This is in addition to vacation, retirement, CME, licensing, credentialing, etc. Those benefits aren't great. Additionally, our medical insurance is awful! Being naive I assumed it would be good because we're healthcare providers ourselves....seems like a no-brainer. With all that said, I work for an FQHC so we are eligible for loan repayment, which I'm receiving (after applying twice), and so that extra 25k does help. Especially when I was making 85k. It's all a balance. Even if they paid me 200k, the job is still what it is. Make sure you like your coworkers, colleagues, etc. IMO, no amount of money can make an awful place good. For me, sanity and peace of mind play a large role. Good luck!

.

Jules A, MSN · Jul 23, 2015

Make sure you like your coworkers, colleagues, etc. IMO, no amount of money can make an awful place good. For me, sanity and peace of mind play a large role. Good luck!
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While I agree 100% I would urge those who are using this as an excuse to stay at a job that pays terrible to reconsider. There are excellent places to work that pay excellent wages. Don't fall prey to the codependent nursing tendencies I have seen that attempt to justify not being adequately compensated by minimizing it by gushing about how much they love their job.

BiotoBSNtoFNP · Jul 23, 2015

While I agree 100% I would urge those who are using this as an excuse to stay at a job that pays terrible to reconsider. There are excellent places to work that pay excellent wages. Don't fall prey to the codependent nursing tendencies I have seen that attempt to justify not being adequately compensated by minimizing it by gushing about how much they love their job.

Thanks for all of your insight, Jules. I have been rereading a lot of your posts about careers lately and will channel these thoughts when I ask for a higher wage!

PhillyFNP, DNP · Jul 23, 2015

Thank you all for your feedback

Riburn3, BSN, MSN, APRN, NP · Jul 23, 2015

While I agree 100% I would urge those who are using this as an excuse to stay at a job that pays terrible to reconsider. There are excellent places to work that pay excellent wages. Don't fall prey to the codependent nursing tendencies I have seen that attempt to justify not being adequately compensated by minimizing it by gushing about how much they love their job.

So true. When I graduated, a close friend of mine was going to accept a job with one of his preceptors despite it being one of the worst offers I have ever heard of. He tried justifying it by saying it would provide a good quality of life and be a tremendous learning experience.

He was offered 75k with no benefits of any kind and no incentive bonuses. His boss would have wanted him rounding in several nursing homes and hospitals, as well as normal clinic hours and weekends. We all thought he was crazy since we were all getting significantly more and thankfully talked him out of it. Because he waited and didn't bite, he parlayed his prudence into a solid 6 figure position with great benefits and incentives, plus he really enjoys it.

You absolutely need to find something that balances quality of life with pay, and no one should kill themselves just to make more money, but as Jules A said, there are positions out there that find the middle ground without sacrificing too much in either direction.

PhillyFNP, DNP · Jul 24, 2015

Ok....So I did receive an offer today. It was on the lower end of the spectrum, which is to be expected, but now is my time to counteroffer. After the offer was made and sent in writing I said thank you and that I needed some time to look everything over....salary, benefits, etc and that I would get back with her to further discuss everything after the weekend.

What is the best way of going about making a counteroffer for the higher salary?

Thanks!

Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP · Jul 24, 2015

I don't have anything to offer except to thank you for starting this thread as I feel it's very valuable information that we need to be talking about. It's a while until I graduate but I'm keen to understand this aspect of the profession long before I get to that point. I read all of these type of threads with great interest. Good luck in your new position!

carachel2 · Jul 24, 2015

I just have to ask..what areas do you all live in where a new FNP (I'm assuming this is FNP, not psych?) feels that asking for a 100K salary for full benefits is within reason?