Salary negotiation & relocation

Nurses Career Support

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I applied at a hospital with my requested salary, I got the job (yay) and now waiting for reference checks etc. I finally asked HR what the pay and benefits are, it is $5 less than what I put on my application. Now I am coming from a big city to a little town, so I expected less pay but shouldn't they want to pay me more since it is a hard place to staff? Now I haven't received my offer, should I wait till then to negotiate? Now this is my first professional job, how should I bring up that I need more money?

Also it included $3000 relocation that will be reimbursed, what does that usually cover? I am going to visit family near (3 hours away) by, and I'm planning to look around for apartments, I should save the receipts right? Gas, motel? I just have bedroom furniture so moving that wouldn't be hard. I really wished it covered furniture.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

They will pay you what the market rate is for THEIR community, not the community you are coming from. Sometimes, a small town will pay a little extra for people with very rare specialty training and experience -- but from your post, that doesn't sound like it would apply in your case. Expect to be paid the "fair market rate" for the town in which you will be working.

As for the relocation expenses, you'll have to ask them what types of expenses are covered. Usually, it will cover things like a moving van and travel expenses when you visit to find a new home. Whether you can squeeze in any added expenses related to your visit with your family, that's a "maybe." Definitely save all of your receipts and ask them which expenses are eligible for reimbursement.

Congratulations on the new job. Don't be afraid to ask for more information and/or clarifications about these financial matters -- and it's OK to ask for a little more if you can justify it -- but don't expect to be paid at the same rate as you would in the higher cost of living area -- and don't give yourself a bad reputation at the start by being unreasonable in your salary expectations.

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Thanks for response :)

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

I will add, if you are a new grad you don't really have any room to negotiate.

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Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.

Also, that $3k relocation bonus is going to be taxed at a high level so don't count on the full amount for moving expenses.

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