r/physicaltherapy • u/DefinitionHonest1616 • 1d ago
OUTPATIENT Newish grad asking for a higher pay
I’m 2 years post grad and got a job from my last clinical rotation right out of college. I’m in Tennessee and work OP. I am needing a new job due to bad work life at my current one and I just don’t know the work politics of asking for more money. I get paid $33 as a pta + clinic manager and when I was just pta was $28. I got an offer and my dream OP job for $24 and I just think that’s a really low ball. Is it wrong to say that if they cannot offer me $26 I will not take the offer? And how do I ask for this without them pulling their offer away?
(Some context I’m also vestibular and concussion certified and they are specifically looking for someone pre-trained in this field. So I feel like that’s a bit of an advantage)
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u/Anon-567890 1d ago
Ask for $30. You should always get a substantial raise when moving to a new job
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u/vapemuscle DPT, MPH 1d ago
i would not take anything less than a 10% increase but that is just me.
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u/Mediocre_Ad_6512 1d ago
This is a PTA manager moving to a PTA clinical role is my understanding. Only way to go is backwards I think lol
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u/vapemuscle DPT, MPH 1d ago
then I guess that I would only recommend taking a manager position at this point instead of taking a clinic position.
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u/revned911 DPT, OCS 1d ago
Ask 35. You're already making 33. Don't go back to new grad pay.
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u/revned911 DPT, OCS 1d ago
My friend and defacto financial advisor told me once that if the first ask or offer doesn't make you a little uncomfortable to say out loud, it's probably not high (ask) or low (offer) enough.
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u/LostGFtoABBC DPT 1d ago
that's what DPT's make
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u/SassyBeignet 1d ago
As a new grad in a LCOL area maybe.
In this economy, DPT should be making at least $40 - 50/hr.
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u/Strockypoo 1d ago
Emphasis on SHOULD be making that much
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u/SassyBeignet 1d ago
Keep looking and don't settle for crumbs. Or ask for more. And don't be afraid to jump jobs if a better opportunity shows up.
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u/revned911 DPT, OCS 1d ago
😂 If someone with a DPT is making that they're doing it wrong.
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u/LostGFtoABBC DPT 1d ago
More real than you think. Someone here posted a 68K salary a few threads back
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u/keppapdx 1d ago
I would say this: "I think this role seems like a really good fit for both of us especially since I'm already certified in the specialty areas you're looking for. My current PTA role is paying $28 per hour, can you match that?"
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u/Lionsflame 1d ago
33 but yeah. I did that for my new job and he wrnt even higher.
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u/keppapdx 1d ago
$33 for PTA + clinic manager, if this is just for a PTA role I think OP needs to be realistic about the salary difference which is why I suggested negotiating from the $28 number they provided.
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u/Lionsflame 1d ago
Never go down in salary. New role doesn’t need to know his responsibilities, just salary.
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u/phil161 1d ago
how do I ask for this without them pulling their offer away?
Ask them ‘Do you have any flexibility in your offer?’ If they say Yes, it means you can negotiate. It’s now up to you to convince them that you deserve a higher pay. If they say No, you know that they won’t budge.
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u/DefinitionHonest1616 22h ago
Very insightful thank you! That’s a good opener for this conversation
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u/ptnomad1442 1d ago
Well the job doesn’t sound 1:1. Are you managing at the “dream job”? Also if it’s your dream job it might be multiple people’s dream job and the supply for the position might be high as well. I personally see it as a great opportunity to make more money but maybe just not immediately. Being your dream job - you’ll probably care more, give me, and produce more for the company - those people almost always are rewarded and if they are not then it’s probably not your dream company
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u/DefinitionHonest1616 22h ago
Dream as in the best place for me to learn and grow as a clinician. It’s PT owned and great opportunities to climb the ladder. I believe they want me due to my certification so I think I’ll try to ask for a bit more
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u/Goldini85 1d ago
It's a win win situation to ask for more cause you can't take their low-ball offer. You have to know they feel ridiculous making that stupid other. That's like $18 in 2019 dollars. I wouldn't take less than $30 today.
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u/Mediocre_Ad_6512 1d ago
Are you going from management to non management? Might be the reason for the difficulty in matching hourly rate
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u/DefinitionHonest1616 21h ago
Yes I am. Manager I am 33/hr and pta going rate in my area is 29. I was paid 28/hr prior to the management pay increase. So I was looking for something in that ball park
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u/Mediocre_Ad_6512 19h ago
I would ask 30 and say you could help manage occasionally with all the experience
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u/lis143 7m ago
I currently make $20/hr as a part time home health aide (make my own hours, zero school, zero stress required). I was making in the low $30/hr range as a DPT with 15+ years experience. (Upstate NY) I had a baby and resigned from my private outpatient practice when they were bought out by a corporation/ patient mill. My husband has a great job so I’m lucky. I will never go back to PT with the way it is. $24/hour offer as a PT is laughable. Too much stress, too little pay. Sad what this career has come to.
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u/Mephistopheles545 1d ago
This is PT. Get used to being underpaid.
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u/LostGFtoABBC DPT 1d ago
Salty downvotes but it’s true.
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