what to put in "desired salary" box when selection is required?

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Specializes in med/surg tele, postpartum, mother baby.

So I am applying for an RN position in Texas, and it is required to make a selection in the desired salary box... I am a new grad from California and I don't know what to ask for. the choices are 30-35k, 35-40k, 40-45k, 45-50k etc. (and higher/lower, but those are fairly within reason I think) what would be a good choice? I don't want to low ball and end up getting like $7/hr, but I don't want to ask for more than what they make in the area because then they might just laugh and throw my app in the shredder. :confused:

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I always type "negotiable" or "open to discussion" in the section that is asking about the amount of salary desired.

If the application does not allow me to type these words, I will type "$0.00 per hour" as my dollar amount. Of course I wouldn't work for $0.00 hourly, but this might get the recruiter to discuss the pay issue with me.

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That's exactly correct, 0.00 is a good number, or even $1, that's what i usually put down. Good luck.

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Specializes in Telemetry.

You could try the Texas forums to see if anyone has posted about going rates for new grads in the area you are applying, and just input something that looks about average? I know someone from Tyler who said new grads make about 45k/year starting, but I'm sure that varies a lot by region?

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i have also always written in "negotiable." even if there are boxes for you to check - you can write in across/above/below the boxes the word "negotiable." something else i've done is written "negotiable/average starting salary." i think that tells them "i don't think i'm going to get paid more than everyone, but i'm not going to be cheap labor either."

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Specializes in ED.

Nothing, if you want the job.

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Specializes in med/surg tele, postpartum, mother baby.

"nothing" and "negotiable" are not options, you have to pick a dollar amount or a salary range

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leave it blank if you can

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Specializes in Hospice / Psych / RNAC.

Open to negotiation whether there's a box choice or not.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

op: if you have to put something down then put the amount you got at your last nursing job, but maybe a few dollars more per hour. i did this and still got offers way above it because the pay of my current nursing job is a joke! :D also the positions i apply to are union and so the employer cannot pay me what i formally got paid no matter what i write. if the position is not a union position and you are new to nursing, then find out what the minimum pay is for a new nurses for that facility. usually it is lower then those with experience, but it should be the same as or similar to other non-union facilities in the region.

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Specializes in ER, Trauma.

If think you're stuck with certain choices. Really sucks that they'd do that when you have no idea what the scale is in that area. I'd pick something mid point, maybe a notch lower or higher. I doubt if they're going to hold you to it.

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Specializes in medical.

In our area, employers pay everyone about the same rate. No matter which amount you put down, they are just going to pay you what they want to.

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