Typical pay raises progression

Nurses Career Support

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Hi everyone,

I was a little curious as to what the pay raise progression is like as a nurse? (I'm starting nursing school in the spring, and want to be a nurse regardless of the pay). I was just a bit curious as to how it compares to my current position in the as a hospital lab scientist where we all receive an average of less than one percent per year (it's been about 20 cents to 70 cents per year). I think this is going to be similar to what nurses get, but my coworkers in the lab say that nurses usually have larger raises due to career ladders and so forth (the lab doesn't have ladders or bonuses). For reference, I've been in my position for 7 years, and my raises have totalled about $5 in 7 years.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

This is going to be completely facility dependent. Some have a set rate for an increase annually. Some have merit based increases. Some may do both a cost of living increase and a merit increase.

Career ladders/clinical ladders aren't truly raises- it's compensation for showing that you go above and beyond. At my facility, the first level above minimum receives a $1/hour more when they are working- holidays and paid time off are paid at base rate. The second level above minimum receives $2/hour more- again, only when they are working.

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17 hours ago, Rose_Queen said:

This is going to be completely facility dependent. Some have a set rate for an increase annually. Some have merit based increases. Some may do both a cost of living increase and a merit increase.

Career ladders/clinical ladders aren't truly raises- it's compensation for showing that you go above and beyond. At my facility, the first level above minimum receives a $1/hour more when they are working- holidays and paid time off are paid at base rate. The second level above minimum receives $2/hour more- again, only when they are working.

Thanks for your response. I want sure how career ladders work. Do you get the next level in a career ladders as a result of your manager giving it to you, or do you apply for it?

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Again, depends on the faciilty. In mine, it is an every two year application process with a portfolio but not a job role. In others, it's an application process to a job role with formal interviews.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

At my facility the career ladder for nurses does not equate to an increase in hourly wages. Its a one time per year bonus type of pay out.

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Specializes in Cardiothoracic ICU.

The earning potential for a nurse with skills in a high demand specialty like intensive care, LDRP, ER, and procedural areas are pretty incredible. I personally have tripled my income over a couple years by learning new skills, playing the career ladder game, and aggressively negotiating for raises. I know nurses that make over $200,000/year. I made $150,000 with only 4 years of experience. Now with 8 years of experience I consistently make more than $170,000/year.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Most career ladders are a one time payout of some kind of bonus based on the portfolio you submit, with certain minimums. Most facilities do not equate a career ladder to a bump in hourly pay.

Typically merit raises top out at a maximum of 3-4% for floor nurses. The best way, unfortunately, to get a significant pay raise as a nurse is typically to change jobs every couple of years. Hospitals focus more on getting nurses in the door than they do on retaining them.

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