Nurse Recruiters Share Top Tips for Negotiating Salary

Most nurses rank salary as the number one aspect of job satisfaction. Yet less than half of RNs say negotiating salary is something they always do at the start of each new nursing job, according to the Nurse.com Nursing Salary Research Report.

More than 7,400 registered nurses from all 50 states, working in a wide range of settings, responded to online survey questions last summer. The data revealed salary was the No. 1 compensation factor for all RNs in relation to job satisfaction, followed by their ability to use their full scope of practice. Nurses also said the mission of the organization, advancement opportunities, regular merit increases, tuition reimbursement, and overtime opportunities were what they looked for most in a job.

Although APRNs (61%) and LPNs (61%) were more likely to negotiate their salaries, only 46% of RNs say negotiating salary is something they do all or most of the time. Almost half of all nurses surveyed said they never or rarely negotiate their salaries, even though negotiating salary can result in a higher compensation. And men and non-binary individuals negotiate salary more often than women.

How much wiggle room do nurses have when it comes to negotiating salary? And how should they go about it?

Ask About Pay Structures When Negotiating Salary

Theresa Mazzaro, RN

Salary negotiations are worthwhile and may be possible for experienced nurses seeking new jobs, but not likely for new nurses, according to Theresa Mazzaro, RN, CHCR, senior talent acquisition specialist at Suburban Hospital, in Bethesda, Md., part of Johns Hopkins Medicine. She also serves as a member of the board of directors of the National Association for Health Care Recruitment.

The reality is there are many factors that impact how much employers can vary on nurses’ and other providers’ salaries, according to Jessica Quezada Jackson, CHCR, a talent acquisition recruiter at a health system and NAHCR board member.

In a unionized environment, for example, the union determines employment parameters, including salary. But even in the absence of a union, employers like hospitals have to abide by Affirmative Action and U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission guidelines, which promote equity in hiring practices, according to Jackson. Many employers pay nurses based on level of experience, with tiers built in for certifications, higher degrees and more. It’s not really a negotiation, according to Jackson, but rather a set tiered pay structure.

The most important thing nurses can do to make sure they’re leveraging their experience, education and more is to understand a potential employer’s pay structure, so they can negotiate where possible, Jackson said.

“Nurses can get that information through their recruiters,” she said. “A lot of recruiters are in-house, and they’ll be able to tell you what you’re going to make based on your background.”

New Graduate Nurse Pay

Jessica Quezada-Jackson

For new graduate nurses, there is typically no negotiation, Mazzaro said.

There are numerous factors that can affect a new RN’s salary. Credit for previous LPN experience is one factor that goes into the calculation of the new nurse’s base salary. The education level of the new graduate also might help that nurse earn more. Registered nurses with an associate degree in nursing might have a different starting salary than one entering the workforce with either a BSN or entry-level MSN, according to Mazzaro.

There are other ways to earn higher pay, even for a new nurse. Like a more experienced nurse, a new graduate nurse might be able to earn a differential if he or she works the night shift, versus the day shift.

Experienced Nurses’ Negotiating Power

An experienced nurse might have greater negotiating power.

Some employers have policies where they pay according to a pay scale, based upon years of experience in that nursing specialty. There is no room for negotiation or discussion, according to Mazzaro.

That’s why it’s important for experienced nurses to make sure their experience and the value they might bring to a new role is clear.

“From a negotiation standpoint, it would behoove the nurses to be able to tell their stories about the experiences of jobs they’ve had and what they’ve done,” Mazzaro said. “Because if we’re looking at just a resume and that’s the only snapshot we have when we’re calculating a salary, we might not have the whole picture.”

It’s also important to think about overall pay and compensation when starting a new job, according to Jackson. For example, nurses who are relocating to underserved areas may be able to negotiate more lucrative relocation packages versus higher base salaries.

Prepare Now for a Higher Salary Later

Nurses can work on boosting their salary potential at their current and future jobs in several ways, including becoming certified in their specialties.

“Getting that certification shows and proves via an evaluation and exam that you are competent and certified as a specialty nurse,” Mazzaro said.

And that could lead to an increase in pay at a current job or a higher starting pay at a new job.

Salary increases and education levels often go hand in hand, experts say. Nurses with associate’s degrees, for example, should ask their employers if they pay more for a BSN and, if so, how much more. Sometimes the increase in pay for higher education is a differential, added to a nurse’s pay; sometimes, it’s worked into the base salary, according to Mazzaro.

“The other thing I would recommend to nurses is to become a preceptor or a charge nurse,” Mazzaro said. “Anytime that you increase your level of responsibility, like with being a preceptor or a charge nurse, there’s typically a differential for that.”

Mazzaro said it’s usually best for nurses to talk about pay with their recruiters and not hiring managers.

“Work with your recruiter and make sure your resume is complete and up to date, especially for those nurses who are highly tenured and have lots of years of experience,” Mazzaro said. “The more you can diversify and expand your knowledge base and skill set, the more opportunity you do have to ask [for higher pay].”

 

 

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