Pay rate for ER/Trauma RN in San Antonio, TX

[bbie17]

Hello and thank you for reading my post. I have 1 year of Telemetry/Med-surg experience and was recently offered a position in an ER with a level 1 trauma center. They're offering me the same pay rate as I have right now, which to me seems very strange because I started with this pay rate as a new grad a year ago. I'd expect with my one year of experience and being a level 1 trauma, they would compensate me more than a new grad salary. I just want to get a census of the average pay rate for RN who works in ER/Trauma, so if there's anyone who works in ER in San Antonio and wouldn't mind sharing your hourly pay, I'd be greatly appreciate it. I want to make sure they're not trying to low ball me before I try to negotiate. Thanks!

[tswim]

In general, the pay scale from hospital to hospital can vary by up to $2-$3/hr within the same city/area. So, given that you only have 1 yr exp, if your current hospital had a higher starting rate of say $1 more than the one you're moving to, and base rates are about the same as last year given the economy (or time of year- which affects when new pay rates are instituted), what they are offering you might be considered fair.

Note: Specialty areas do not pay any more/less. And sometimes the bigger, nicer hospitals offer less because they know their reputations attract prospective employees.

That said, you should definitely try to negotiate; it can't hurt. And congrats on the new job!