salary vs benefits

[gwafuh_rn, BSN, RN]

just have a question.any positive or neGATIVE comment is allowed.to those experienced nurses,which would you prefer,high salary or good benefits?

im currently working full time on one of the hospitALS at dignity health.just started last january.most of my workmates who have been there for a long time is ssaying that the benefits are good and salary is competetive.i also got hired per diem at kaiser.honestly speaking,the salary when i was still per diem at dignity was higher compared to the one at kaiser.benefit wise, not sure yet.if kaiser is gonna open a full time spot.would i gave up the other one or switch to per diem maybe?

[Atl-Murse]

Without actual numbers, it depends. As a general rule I prefer higher pay to benefit.

[Okami_CCRN, BSN, RN]

I would go with higher pay instead of benefits. The only benefits I truly care about are health insurance and tuition reimbursement.

[llg, PhD, RN]

I wouldn't let the cash/benefits issue determine my job. The difference is probably less important than the specifics of the job. Which job will be more enjoyable/satisfying/etc.? It's hard to believe you wouldn't be happier at one place over the other. My happiness would be my #1 concern.

If truly the "happiness factor" is equal ... I would then look at the value of the specific benefits and how they would effect your life. For example, if one would you give you GREAT retirement benefits that would be worth LOTS of money over the long run ... or GREAT medical insurance that would reduce your cash spending on health care ... dental insurance vs. no dental insurance can be worth hundreds of dollars per year (tax free) .... or if one gave much more vacation time ... etc. that's nothing to be ignored. You would probably come out ahead financially be taking the better benefits. A little extra cash in your paycheck would probably be spent on things you don't need after it was taxed. You really need to look at the specifics and "do the math" with regards to what those benefits might actually be worth.

[calivianya, BSN, RN]

You are really going to have to break down the numbers to figure it out.

I have a particularly dense coworker getting all excited about an offer he got for something like $3/hr more somewhere else, where they pay less than half of the 401k match as here and the health insurance is way more expensive. I work for that same company PRN, so I've seen all the employee documents about what the compensation package looks like, and I would personally not work there full time unless they paid me at least $8/hr more than I'm making at my full time job to make up the difference. The difference in the 401k match alone comes to almost $2/hr by itself.

I'm glad he's all excited for his "raise" that's actually a pay cut.