Salaries for FNP

Sheri FNP-C · May 16, 2009

As an FNP are employed or a contractor?
Do you collect your own billing per patient or do you work for a salary?
Are you eligible for production bonuses?
Do you get any money/time for education/reimbursement for CME?
Sounds like you didn't negotiate very well or do enough market research when you took the FNP job.

Wow...quite a harsh accusation about another posters negotiating skills.

Salary.com isn't always that accurate. For my area....

RN 50k-73k (I make 72k, but have been there 9 years)

NP 70k-96k (I haven't interviewed for one position that pays over 60k...at the hospital I work at the starting NP pay is 54k per union contract-no negotiating permitted and the local university hospital 58k per union contract)

There is an RN shortage and NP/PA over-saturation....supply versus demand drives salary here. With a huge job shortage and many, many NPs working as RNs try to negotiate too much and the job will be given to someone else!

I actually had one interview at a federally funded clinic in an underserved area that has been recruiting for 6+ months with no success partially because it is in a remote area. The pay was $60k with medical ins. alone costing about $12k/year. So a net pay of 48k versus my current RN pay of 72k. Again...this is the salary per the facilities salary schedule.

mwboswell · May 16, 2009

Wow...quite a harsh accusation about another posters negotiating skills.
Salary.com isn't always that accurate. For my area....
RN 50k-73k (I make 72k, but have been there 9 years)
NP 70k-96k (I haven't interviewed for one position that pays over 60k...at the hospital I work at the starting NP pay is 54k per union contract-no negotiating permitted and the local university hospital 58k per union contract)
There is an RN shortage and NP/PA over-saturation....supply versus demand drives salary here. With a huge job shortage and many, many NPs working as RNs try to negotiate too much and the job will be given to someone else!
I actually had one interview at a federally funded clinic in an underserved area that has been recruiting for 6+ months with no success partially because it is in a remote area. The pay was $60k with medical ins. alone costing about $12k/year. So a net pay of 48k versus my current RN pay of 72k. Again...this is the salary per the facilities salary schedule.

Don't ever take a job for less money just because it might be "given to someone else" -!!!! That's a poor excuse to take a job that wouldn't pay what you believe you're worth.

You also mentioned some union contracts in your posting as well - and this sometimes makes it like comparing apples to oranges and not on the same playing field.

You are correct. Salary.com is not the most accurate, but it is a reasonable starting point.

If the employers aren't coming close to the recommended salaries then one should look elsewhere.

And it should not be one's only resource in judging the market.

Obviously it is limited by the people that voluntarily respond to their marketing survey's.

My reply to the OP was not meant to be harsh - but ultimately it is the person who accepts the job for the stated pay/salary that carries the responsibility. I hope no body is being forced into a job they do not want or one which they do not receive the salary they feel they are worth.

This thread/topic has come up several times on these boards with people basically expressing disstatisfaction (sometimes it's like they are complaining) about salary differences.

A lot of people who went in to grad school, have done so, before knowing the salary/market conditions they were getting into.

Another problem is many people get into grad school with the belief that they will find the job they want, right there in their home town!!! And then they get unhappy when they have to take a job that doesn't pay as well as they hoped or wasn't exactly what they wanted.

When I went to grad school, I didn't assume that the job I wanted would be right here in my local area. I kept open the possibility that I might just have to move to get that job. And this is what actually happened. I worked part time for about a year at a less-than-optimal job, but kept networking for the dream job.

The dream job came up about 1.5 years later - and yes, it meant I had to move. BUT, I am satisfied (still after 9 years) with the pay, benefits and work.

Bottom line: the burden is on the employee to do the research on the current market rates and offerings. And nobody should ever feel they have to take a full time job that is less than what they feel is appropriate.

-MB

YellowBoneRN · May 16, 2009

Wow...quite a harsh accusation about another posters negotiating skills.
Salary.com isn't always that accurate. For my area....
RN 50k-73k (I make 72k, but have been there 9 years)
NP 70k-96k (I haven't interviewed for one position that pays over 60k...at the hospital I work at the starting NP pay is 54k per union contract-no negotiating permitted and the local university hospital 58k per union contract)
There is an RN shortage and NP/PA over-saturation....supply versus demand drives salary here. With a huge job shortage and many, many NPs working as RNs try to negotiate too much and the job will be given to someone else!
I actually had one interview at a federally funded clinic in an underserved area that has been recruiting for 6+ months with no success partially because it is in a remote area. The pay was $60k with medical ins. alone costing about $12k/year. So a net pay of 48k versus my current RN pay of 72k. Again...this is the salary per the facilities salary schedule.

Wow, what a paradigm...hmmm, so basically we go to school to be a FNP to for autonomy and then work as RN to really make our money...smile...well..life is short it's all about satisfaction and enjoying living life. I say why not..my plan...open my own practice be a great practitioner teaching the underserved..using one day a week to do shared medical appointment see large amounts of patients for low cost because companies are downsizing and people just don't have medical care...giving advice..

Sheri FNP-C · May 16, 2009

Don't ever take a job for less money just because it might be "given to someone else" -!!!! That's a poor excuse to take a job that wouldn't pay what you believe you're worth.
You also mentioned some union contracts in your posting as well - and this sometimes makes it like comparing apples to oranges and not on the same playing field.
You are correct. Salary.com is not the most accurate, but it is a reasonable starting point.
If the employers aren't coming close to the recommended salaries then one should look elsewhere.
And it should not be one's only resource in judging the market.
Obviously it is limited by the people that voluntarily respond to their marketing survey's.
My reply to the OP was not meant to be harsh - but ultimately it is the person who accepts the job for the stated pay/salary that carries the responsibility. I hope no body is being forced into a job they do not want or one which they do not receive the salary they feel they are worth.
This thread/topic has come up several times on these boards with people basically expressing disstatisfaction (sometimes it's like they are complaining) about salary differences.
A lot of people who went in to grad school, have done so, before knowing the salary/market conditions they were getting into.
Another problem is many people get into grad school with the belief that they will find the job they want, right there in their home town!!! And then they get unhappy when they have to take a job that doesn't pay as well as they hoped or wasn't exactly what they wanted.
When I went to grad school, I didn't assume that the job I wanted would be right here in my local area. I kept open the possibility that I might just have to move to get that job. And this is what actually happened. I worked part time for about a year at a less-than-optimal job, but kept networking for the dream job.
The dream job came up about 1.5 years later - and yes, it meant I had to move. BUT, I am satisfied (still after 9 years) with the pay, benefits and work.
Bottom line: the burden is on the employee to do the research on the current market rates and offerings. And nobody should ever feel they have to take a full time job that is less than what they feel is appropriate.
-MB

I went to school knowing the job outlook. Yes, I think I am worth more than 60k, however I am not willing to relocate and I want to be an NP, regardless of pay. If I wait for a job that pays what I think I am worth it will likely never come along. I had a great interview in a tiny private practice. I am pretty sure the pay and benefits will be terrible, but I really want the job because I think I would really enjoy working there. For me, money isn't a factor or I would be working 12 hour nights at the hospital or as a traveler, instead I am looking for personal satisfaction.

crystal1 · May 16, 2009

I appreciate all your replies and especially the honesty and candor ! So because of THIS thread and all your replies I decided to wait it out a year and see if I can get into a less expensive FNP program in the area! I thought per salary.com that salaries were much higher but you all and others I have talked to have opened my eyes to the salary situation. Some FNP programs are over 100K in prestigious schools. THats alot of debt to pay back if the average salary isnt close to that number. So... I am going to try for a public school that offers the same program next year for 50K tuition instead. Please keep the replies coming. This is so informative for me and I am sure others who are reading. :twocents:

YellowBoneRN · May 16, 2009

I appreciate all your replies and especially the honesty and candor ! So because of THIS thread and all your replies I decided to wait it out a year and see if I can get into a less expensive FNP program in the area! I thought per salary.com that salaries were much higher but you all and others I have talked to have opened my eyes to the salary situation. Some FNP programs are over 100K in prestigious schools. THats alot of debt to pay back if the average salary isnt close to that number. So... I am going to try for a public school that offers the same program next year for 50K tuition instead. Please keep the replies coming. This is so informative for me and I am sure others who are reading.

Crystal1, you may want to check on allnursingschools website also. You can find a list there of all the nursing schools in USA and abroad. Watch that you pick one that is accredited. Also, you can check US and News World Reports for schools. Some are online and are not that expensive.

mwboswell · May 17, 2009

Crystal - don't let just a few posters on here cause you to change your outlook. Remember for everyone of us here there are thousands more out there with their opinions also. And, some of our comments should NOT be extrapolated to the nation at large, we can only speak to our own areas of experience and practice.

good luck.

-MB

carachel2 · May 18, 2009

What part of North Texas and what is their speciality in NP?

Fort Worth, Waco, Frisco, Keller = FNP.

jlcole45 · May 19, 2009

Usually the state schools are the best deal for the money. I was accepted at Duke but had to decline their offer because it was over a $1000/cr hr. and I was not awarded a scholarship.

So I accepted at the local state university for $220/ cr hr.

As much as I would have liked to attend Duke I had to work with in certain financial boundaries.

Gator FNP · May 19, 2009

Go to Advance for nurse practitioners.com site, they do a salary survey every 2 years, this may be helpful to you. I agree with everyone else, it depends on which state you work in, setting, hours, whether you have medical and retirement benefits. Keep in mind companies that contribute toward medical, dental, retirement, have a lower salary since the cost of benefits is computed into your salary. This is a large percentage that you need to keep in mind.

Hope this is helpful.

twalker · May 19, 2009

When I am asked about FNP and if I would recommend this career to anyone, I always ask why the person is thinking about becoming a FNP. If the reason is for money, the answer is no. Why go to school for so many years any not make the money that you are worth. However if it is so that you can help someone and be a valuable asset to a community than the answer is yes. Family Practice Physicians are at a record breaking low and one day we will be needed to take up the slack (even more than we are now). There are so many rural areas that need providers to help them. That is why I work as a FNP. Now is the pay great--heck no and yes I still work as a RN. So sorry if I do complain or speak the truth about my salary but ya know if I think about other alternatives in life, begging for a job, working for 20,000 or less a year, wondering if I will be the next one to get layed off, then maybe I shouldn't complain because I am blessed.:wink2:

drfitness · May 19, 2009

Do most of the FNP's you know work as RN's? Its funny how the schools let you think that FNP's make so much money coming out. One school in particular said that some starting salaries for FNP's are 100K in the northeast. I guess tht isnt true!