How to Confidently Negotiate Your Nursing Salary in 2025

How To Negotiate a Nursing Salary For the Best Possible Offer

You’ve polished your resume, crafted a compelling cover letter, aced the interview and now, hopefully, received an offer for your ideal nursing job! But before saying yes, take a moment to evaluate the offer thoroughly. Negotiating your salary isn’t just acceptable it’s essential for ensuring you're compensated fairly for your skills and experience.

Why does this matter? Because what you negotiate now can impact your earnings for years. A Harvard Law School study showed that securing just a $5,000 salary increase early in your career could amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars over a lifetime. While it might feel uncomfortable, employers generally expect salary negotiations. Remember: if they’ve made you an offer, they want you. Now it's just about refining the details.

1. Understand the Pay Structure

Before negotiating, learn how the organization determines compensation:

• Is the facility unionized? If so, salaries may follow a contract-based structure negotiated by a nursing union like National Nurses United (NNU) or a state-level organization.
• Does the employer use a tiered pay scale? Many hospitals base compensation on a nurse’s experience, certifications, education level, and shift differentials.

Ask your hiring manager, “Can you walk me through how pay is structured here?” This shows initiative and ensures transparency before you negotiate.

2. Conduct Market Research

Salaries for nurses vary widely by specialty, location, and demand. Before entering negotiations, get a sense of the average compensation in your area and for your role.

In 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the average salary for registered nurses is $86,070, with higher earnings for advanced practice roles such as nurse practitioners (NPs), who earn an average of $128,490 annually.

To make your research easier, try using Incredible Health’s Nurse Salary Estimator or Glassdoor for salary ranges based on employer and location.

3. Highlight Your Credentials

If you’ve earned advanced certifications, participated in research, or won clinical awards, now’s the time to spotlight them.

Credentials that may justify a higher salary include:

• CCRN, CEN, or other specialty certifications
• Memberships in professional associations like the American Nurses Association (ANA)
• Graduate-level education or continuing education achievements
• Leadership roles in past positions

Create a concise list of these accomplishments to support your salary ask employers value nurses who bring more to the table.

4. Know Your Numbers

Go into the conversation with a clear salary range:

• What is the minimum you’ll accept?
• What is your ideal figure?

Practice stating your expectations clearly. For example:

“Based on my experience and the market rate for this role, I’m seeking a salary of at least $95,000.”

Don’t feel pressured to immediately justify it. Negotiations are most effective when you speak with confidence and clarity.

5. Collaborate Don’t Confront

Think of negotiations as a collaborative process, not a conflict. Your goal is the same as the employer’s: a successful working relationship. Most employers understand that strong nurses are worth competitive compensation.

Approach the conversation with professionalism and mutual respect:

• Thank them for the offer.
• State your salary expectation.
• Ask how close they can get to your request.

You might say:

“I’m excited about this opportunity and grateful for the offer. Based on my qualifications and current market data, is there flexibility to adjust the salary to better align with my experience?”

A workplace that values your contributions will be willing to meet you where they can.

Negotiating your nursing salary might feel intimidating, but with the right preparation, it can be empowering and financially rewarding. In 2025, as the nursing workforce becomes more data-informed and transparent, professionals who advocate for themselves will reap the long-term benefits.

🔗 Want more support on your nursing career journey? Discover career tools, job boards, and community-driven support at GoodWork.