How to Negotiate Your Nursing Salary

Nursing salaries are determined by workload, experience, and education. It takes dedication, diligence, and countless hours of clinical experience to earn a nursing degree. Add long shifts and work environments containing potential health hazards, and the expectation of a high salary should present no questions. However, this isn’t always the case. To ensure appropriate compensation for a challenging nursing role, all nurses should be prepared to negotiate their salaries.

Approaching Salary Negotiations

Though seemingly stressful, negotiating a salary can be simplified with the proper preparation. When the main objective is to persuade an employer to increase a salary offer or current compensation, conducting thorough research and providing relevant examples are keys to coming to an agreement.

Determine an appropriate salary range for your role by conducting research on similar nursing responsibilities and salaries using accurate data sources (i.e., nationally recognized organizations and  journals). Once you’re prepared with documented research and understand average compensation, it’s time to negotiate your salary.

Negotiating Your Nursing Salary

Tailored specifically for nursing careers, the following tips can help in establishing a fair salary agreement with your employer.

Determine your value prior to starting the negotiation.
Use your research to determine a salary that appropriately fits your education, experience, and responsibilities. Going into a salary negotiation with a specific number in mind can help in discussing your salary with an employer.

Present the unique value you could bring to your potential nursing unit.
Looking beyond the typical job responsibilities and expectations, address the unique qualities only you are able to offer the organization. Indicate how your impressive education and experience have combined to mold you into a versatile individual with a variety of professional abilities. Also, provide details on specific contributions you can offer the unit.

If possible, allow employers to offer a salary first.
While it’s beneficial to enter a salary negotiation with a specific number in mind, it’s also beneficial to understand what the institution has budgeted for the position. If you’re asked to state your desired salary, ask the employer what it has budgeted for the position. Use the information provided on which to base your anticipated salary.

Present the additional items you are willing to negotiate.
In addition to base pay, many medical institutions offer benefits to their employees. Health insurance, 401(k) match programs, paid holidays, vacation time, education reimbursements, special discounts, and bonuses are all important factors to consider when negotiating a salary. If the budget restricts a salary increase, perhaps the employer will consider increasing the amount of benefits and perks you receive.