Are you Earning the Salary you Desire and Deserve?
Are you ready to make more money? Check out this article for tips on how to increase your salary.
If you think that you're being underpaid, chances are you probably are. Forbes wrote an article comparing the average salary for NPs for each state. You can access the article here. Just compare what you're making with the average salary list on Forbes to use as a comparison. It is important to note that Forbes did not group by speciality, so you'll have to take that into consideration. Unfortunately, I have many NP friends who are not receiving the compensation they desire or deserve and this is really a shame since they are taking such excellent care of their patients.
Starting off with a low salary amounts to thousands of dollars lost over the course of your career. You're not only missing out on salary pay, but 401K matches, and perhaps higher bonuses. I've always been a great salary negotiator and have asked for what I want, usually getting it. Most recently I was able to negotiate within five minutes a 7,000$ increase in salary for a new job I had just accepted.
So what can you do if you think you're being underpaid? Check out the points below to help increase your income.
Research the market. Know how much other NPs with your speciality and experience are making. Use that as leverage when negotiating for a higher amount.
Ask for what you want. Many people fear that they will sound greedy by asking for more money. However, hiring managers are used to negations, and many expect you to do so. One of my favorite quotes is by Oprah when she states, “You get in life what you have the courage to ask for.” This quote was on my fridge until I moved and I looked at it everyday. If you want something, life is not going to hand it to you, you need to ask for it!
Be prepared to negotiate. If they offer you a salary which is somewhat less than what you desire, negotiate for what you want. If they are not willing to negotiation see if you can make this up with more vacation days, increased benefits etc.
If the salary is too low, consider walking away. This depends on what type of financial situation you are in, and some may not be able to do so. If you do turn down a low ball offer keep searching for positions that will compensate you with the salary you desire.
Remember, salary is not fixed, this is negotiable. It's up to you to do everything possible to get the money you deserve! Don’t be scared to ask for what you want, your negotiation skills could end up earning you thousands more over your lifetime.