Raises and pay rates....

[mmgraham102602]

Hi! I had a quick question to all you employed nurses out there! My hubby and I were dreaming about buying a house soon and I haven't yet graduated but my question is, once you get a job how do the raises work? I know at the hospital in my hometown they are have a contract that does x $ every year and by year x you will be making this amount. (does that make sense?) But I didnt know if it worked out here a little different. Is there a set % of a raise (ex. of 2-6% of your salary each year etc). Also, realistically do you work alot of overtime and does it affect your monthly income? Can you pretty much count on working OT? Thanks for any help!

[llg, PhD, RN]

It varies greatly from employer to employer. That's part of what the job hunting process is about. You interview imployers: they interview you. Then you choose.

In most hospitals where I have worked (non-unionized) the amount of the raises each year is not set -- but rather based on economic conditions and the local job market at the time. But I have almost gotten at least 2% each year I have worked. One year, I got 10% as they were "making up for" a few years of not having been sufficiently generous.

[MIKE411]

That is a hard question to answer. But in most cases people get a 3% min cost of living raise at least. Working ot can make your take home pay go up quick, but you have to be careful not to get burned out.