Ok, let's be honest about NP salaries

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Specializes in ICU.

I'm not asking for a link to salaries.com or anything... I just want to know what sort of salary the average NP makes. It can be a quote you got from an interview, the one you started out with as a new grad, even a job listing, anything... but we have to be able to be open about this sort of thing or else ranks of new NPs won't know where to start.

As such, I'm thinking that when I graduate next year I would like to start for no less than $75,000. Is that too much or too little? Sure, there are saturated markets, but as far as I can see Atlanta isn't one of them. However, we're also the SE where RN salaries aren't anything to write home about (new grads start at $22). With that in mind, I would like to think that I can make more as an NP than as an RN working full-time.

So just looking at that number, $75K... is that realistic? I just want something I can start with and negotiate.

If I find any helpful numbers I'll post them. So far, looking at job listings, nothing is posted. It's too much of a dirty little secret, apparently.

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Specializes in critical care.

I live in Indiana. I read (can't remember where) the average here is 78K. New grad RNs here make about 22/hour as well. But it does seem like a dirty little secret so I don't have the guts to ask anyone what they make :nono::nono:!

D

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Much depends on where you live, how many openings are available and just the general supply and demand.

I live in central IL and there are few to no jobs for mid-level providers. I was quoted less than I was making as an RN at first and turned it down. However, I negotiated for $20,000 more. (I was lucky). The hospitals around here won't deal at all.

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Specializes in Plastic Surgery, ER.

I'm located in southeast VA/Hampton Roads area. I will be starting my FNP program in May, so the topic interests me!

I personally have not done any specific research on salaries yet, but a friend of mine just graduated with her FNP this month and she is planning to go to work for a cardiology practice. I believe she was asking for no less than $75,000. That figure seems pretty average from the reading I have done so far.

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

$75,000 a year is not asking for too much in this area of the country. Most NP's are now started a higher rate than that around here. However, things were different four years ago. I actually started at $68,000 a year in my first NP job. I can easily make 6 figures with little overtime in my current job.

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Also..if you decide to work in a hospital as an NP..the number of years of practicing as an RN is taken under consideration.

I'm a new grad NP (graduated earlier this yr) and I had over 5 yrs experience of working as an RN in the Northeast in a big teaching hospital and I was surprised to find out (during the interview process) that the starting rate was about $3 more an hour than I was making as an RN. Another teaching hosp was offering me even less what I was making asn RN.

I ended up taking a community primary care NP position mostly b/c of the generous salary and the signing bonus.

As for starting salaries..low 70's seems to be the going rate..but shop/interview around so you can get multiple offers then you have leverage to negotiate your salary. By negotaiting my starting salary..I was able to increase my starting salary and my signing bonus.

Good Luck!

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).

Here in NYC where I work, new grad RNs start at around $68k a year, and new NPs start at around $85k a year (before experience differentials, education diff is added in)

Where I used to work in SC, NPs started at $28-$34/hr, while new grad RNs started at around $20.

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Western salaries seem to be a bit higher. My first job was for a community health center and starting salary was only $60,00 but there was loan repayment to account for. After 3-4 years of experience it seems many folks are making 80-90000 per year and many in the 6 figure range. When negotiating I always try to bring stats with me from the NP organizations to support salary averages. I think 75000 is a very reasonable salary to ask for but obviously there is more to consider. Call, benefits, vacation, hours of patient contact per week, CME etc should be negotiated as part of the total package.

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wow reading here makes me feel so bad, like I got really ripped off :o

I am in a saturated market and negotiated the best I could for a first job but it's well below the ranges folks here are talking about.

How much is your pay influenced by the MD pay in your organization? Now where I work the docs are great and dedicated folk but most either are clueless or don't care about their pay (might be easier to do that when it's always six figures). From bits and pieces I've heard, they are likely making $10 - $20k less than comparable non-profit clinics and the younger ones are certainly making less than the national median of $140k.

Our mid levels, PA and NP together, are pretty frustrated, but I think it's harder for us to make a case for better pay when the MDs aren't doing the same for themselves! :angryfire Does anyone have experience with dealing with this type of situation?

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Specializes in ICU.
Western salaries seem to be a bit higher. My first job was for a community health center and starting salary was only $60,00 but there was loan repayment to account for. After 3-4 years of experience it seems many folks are making 80-90000 per year and many in the 6 figure range. When negotiating I always try to bring stats with me from the NP organizations to support salary averages. I think 75000 is a very reasonable salary to ask for but obviously there is more to consider. Call, benefits, vacation, hours of patient contact per week, CME etc should be negotiated as part of the total package.

You make a good point. These are aspects I'll need to consider before starting the job hunt.

I wish there were an easy way to know what to ask for when you're a new grad.

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Specializes in Acute Care - Cardiology.

yellow finch,

i just started my job, you know, and my base is $75k. i won't be taking call or doing weekends for a while (if at all). after 1 year with the group, they re-evaluate for salary increase, plus quarterly bonuses. like you, $75k was the lowest i'd take. considering i haven't even sat for my board exam yet, i figured i'd be okay with the lower range.

good luck to ya!

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Specializes in Acute Care - Cardiology.

and check out this link to a discussion i posted when i was considering my first offer... i got lots of pointers and that pa site that dave posted is a great resource, too.

https://allnurses.com/forums/f34/1st-job-offer-what-look-262177.html

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