1st assignment, ATL, BMT unit

Exactly who accepted you? The agency or the hospital? Generally speaking, nothing is a done deal until you have signed a contract acceptable to all parties. It is best to state that specifically, i.e. "yes, I am interested in taking this assignment pending the final contract details", so that no one's expectations are raised unduly, but obviously that is not really your problem. There are all kinds of issues that might block you from taking this assignment.

So yes, you can negotiate anything you want (and whenever you want if you accept the consequences). But you have to be prepared for them to turn you down, and have a response ready. If you don't have a Plan B that you are willing to do, you have a poor negotiating position indeed. Just a bluff really, or depending on the good nature of business people. Get it? Your recruiter or his/her boss may not be as nice as they present themselves.

As far as your pay goes, I'm not going to analyze it. Don't have all the details, or know what competing offers by different agencies for assignments in the same area might be (would have to have all their details as well to compare fairly). But let me say that if you are just comparing a total $37 to a total $37, that is not the whole story between travel pay with significant tax free benefits, and staff pay with significant benefits like better insurance and PTO. I will say that $37 total compensation as measured on PanTravelers calculator is sucky pay to say the least, so bad that I would expect that something has been left out. Take a visit there and see what your true total compensation is - should be in the low 40s at least (as measured by the calculator), even in the South.

But by all means, give this a shot. Your first assignment is a learning experience. If you are treated unfairly by your agency, there are hundreds more that will be better, especially with your improved resume and knowledge of how things really work. Best of luck, you should enjoy traveling, I know I do.

Thanks Ned. I was hoping you'd respond!

37/hr is a little light. You should be getting more for housing.

Atlanta is a tough market for wages. They're just not good.

Your contract is about average though. You could be making less...

My current company has me making more than I ever have in this market.

I'm @ Johns Creek just a little east of you. Not bad right now.

Have yet to sign this contract and I'm happy I haven't. My fool of a recruiter told me that he would be finding housing for me from the get go has all of the sudden sprung it on me that I am now responsible for finding my own housing and furnishing it. ***. He is ruining me on traveling...