pay rate hell..

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It seemed simple - choose to travel with the company that's got assignments where you want them and pays the best - ha!

The companies have figured out so many different ways of quoting rates it's almost impossible to get a straight quote out of them! I guess it mostly has to do with this tax advantage stuff. So instead of quoting and hourly rate they give you the bloody taxed rate and the untaxed rate and the weekly and monthly totals = only at the end to mention that they haven't yet subtracted out your housing or benefits! Nevermind that I specifically asked what the rate would be with housing and benefits.

Has anyone figured out a great way to get to the bottom of this pay rate maze? I tried just asking for hourly rates with housing and benefits - but could still not get any semblance of a straight answer - except from the big companies who 'seem' to pay a bit less.

It drives me crazy!

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Well, I hate to say...but most reputable companies don't even put you through that! There are a FEW travel companies that are straight forward, and tell you exactly what you will make per hour! Be sure to really check out the company before you sign anything!

I can tell you one company NOT to deal with:angryfire , it is callled The Right Soutions or TRS or whatever they have changed their name to now ( I was told by my attorney they have changed their name, many times!) They are very deceptive b/c they know if they told nurses what they would REALLY make per hour, the nurses would never sign the contract! Just be careful, and research the company!

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I am just having a hard time determining which companies are 'reputable'

I have worked with cross country and american mobile and they have been in the business a long time and i feel they are very dependable although their pay is lower

I have been talking to the companies recommended in the 'top 10' of highway hypodermics and they are the ones who use this fancy tax advantage sort of pay scale - I don't have any idea how reliable this website is

there are so many agencies out there it's pretty tough to even find someone else who has worked for them to ask

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Highway Hypodermics rates agencies by their benefits and whether or not they returned the questionnaire. Really says nothing about their "goodness". If CCTC and AM participated, they would be at the top of the list.

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My opinion is that if they aren't upfront with you about their pay then they are not reputable! If they don't give you a straight answer then they are hiding something ... and they are hiding it from you so don't sign it if it is confusing! :nono: Tread lightly my friend!

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I'v traveled for 2 years in california and the pay rates are very confusing also, i've found the best money is if you do your own housing and are single or traveling alone. Every extra thing you need costs loads(like a 2 bedroom) and you end up making way less than the local nurses in california, mainly because of their union contracts, the agencies basically pay you as little as they can, but dress it up so it looks much better

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If the travel company is not straight forward with the rate, I wouldn't deal with them. Example, "make $50 an hour", but they fail to mention that housing and travel comes out of that if you want it. The first test of a good company is how straight forward they are with the rate. Sometimes takes a lot of research, but worth doing. Good luck.

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I always ask them to figure out what my take home pay will be if I claim no deductions. Simple, but effective.

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Just take the attitude that you are self employed and that you are the boss off your business. If they can't tell you a straight forward answer then your probably best not to deal with them anyway. My company just gave me a quote on a contract of $33.00 per hour...now they can break that down anyway they want to as to what is going to be tax exempt and what is not...but the bottom line is I will make $33.00 per hour. Any company should be able to give you a straight forward quote like that...PERIOD. If they don't...well again, look for a new agency. They might call themselves the employer...but remember you're the boss and you can hire and fire them the same as they can you. And to your advantage...they need you lots more than you need them. You can replace them with one of hundreds of other agencies in the time it takes to dial the phone.

Thanks

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I am just having a hard time determining which companies are 'reputable'

I have worked with cross country and american mobile and they have been in the business a long time and i feel they are very dependable although their pay is lower

I have been talking to the companies recommended in the 'top 10' of highway hypodermics and they are the ones who use this fancy tax advantage sort of pay scale - I don't have any idea how reliable this website is

there are so many agencies out there it's pretty tough to even find someone else who has worked for them to ask

Cross Country and American Mobile are part of what is known as the "Evil Empire" in traveling. Most agencies pay much higher rates, and pay for your housing, utilities, housewares, furnishings and cable (also washer, dryer, microwave) without the nurse having to pay anything for these things.

You can do better!

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Specializes in RN, LNC, Owner of Staffing Agency.

Not totally defending the travel agencies, but you need to understand that it would benefit you to learn the truth about the pay the way that the agencies explain it. First off, any time that you take a travel contract that is over 50 miles from your home address, you will receive a per-diem rate. Per-diem rates are all different, depending on what state and county you are going to work in. For example, right now, I am working on contract in Alaska. The per-diem rate here is $90 per day. That means that $90 per day is not taxed on my paycheck. So, that adds to your paycheck. The agency might pay me a lower hourly rate and compensate it with per-diem. It may appear that I'm not making much money, but when I actually receive my take home pay, I'm actually bringing in about $40 per hour.

Again, it all depends on where you go, what the per-diem rates are. You can go to google.com and type in travel nurse per-diem rates and somewhere on one site is a calculator that figures it out for you. Bingo!

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Specializes in Informatics.

Here's a GSA Web site that specifies the current per diem rates for lodging and M&I (meals):

http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?contentId=17943&contentType=GSA_BASIC#downloads

Rosie, where in Alaska is per diem 90? I'm in Anchorage and it's lodging 181 and M&I 78 per day. Or, were you just using 90 as an example?

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