Salary and how to interpret this graph?

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Hi Fellow Nurses,

How do I interpret this graph (link is below)?

So on this graph are 90% psych rn's working making $100,464 and 10% of all rn's working in psych nursing making $65,310.

How can I use this graph to negotiate salary?

Should I not take an offer anything lower than $65,310?

Here is link to graph:

Salary.com Salary Wizard- Do you know what you're worth?

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.

No. You are,looking at the top 10% and the bottom 10% In that NY Zip code.

it doesn't factor in education or experience. Do you have something to offer that would justify a salary higher than they are offering?

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I have one year of Med surg experience and Bachelors in Nursing.

So what is the lowest offer I should accept according to the graph? There is no info on income listed in the job posting so I am unable to gauge what would be fair.

No. You are,looking at the top 10% and the bottom 10% In that NY Zip code.

it doesn't factor in education or experience. Do you have something to offer that would justify a salary higher than they are offering?

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Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.

This graph is a statistical bell-shaped curve.

10% of all Psychiatric Unit Staff Nurses in the 10012 zip code make less than $65,310 per year. So, 90% make more than that. The graph doesn't say how much less they make. They could be making $65,309 or $1 per year and still be part of that 10%

90% of all Psychiatric Unit Staff Nurses in the 10012 zip code make less than $100,464 per year. So, only 10% make more than that. The vast majority (90%) of staff nurses make less than $100,464 per year. In fact, 50% make less than $80,596.

This graph will not help you much as it doesn't say anything about the amount of experience these nurses have or whether they work full or part time. If you are a new grad, you should not expect to make as much as a psych nurse with 10 years experience. You would need to find a graph that compares what other new grads are making and pick something in the middle. Depending on how badly you need the job, you should be prepared to accept less.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Basically, it is a frequency distribution for (I assume) nurses working in psych units. It reflects the number of psych nurses making each level of salary - IN THAT SPECIFIC LOCATION. Salaries (for any type of job) will very different in other geographic areas. So, if you are not in that specific location, this data is not relevant. If you have no psych experience, but are trying to move into that specialty, you will probably be offered a lower salary than someone with experience in that specialty.

And THIS, ladies and gentlemen is an example of why BSN education includes statistics - LOL. The ability to critique information is an essential component of critical thinking.

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I figured this was the case. Thank you for everyone's input.

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Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.
Basically, it is a frequency distribution for (I assume) nurses working in psych units. It reflects the number of psych nurses making each level of salary - IN THAT SPECIFIC LOCATION. Salaries (for any type of job) will very different in other geographic areas. So, if you are not in that specific location, this data is not relevant. If you have no psych experience, but are trying to move into that specialty, you will probably be offered a lower salary than someone with experience in that specialty.

And THIS, ladies and gentlemen is an example of why BSN education includes statistics - LOL. The ability to critique information is an essential component of critical thinking.

For all the fancy graphics it's actually pretty useless to negotiate a salary with. It won't tell you the number or salary level of the psych nurses in this one zip code.

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