A Follow of 2022 PA RVU Bonus Salary
A couple of weeks ago, I reviewed five different workRVU compensation packages for PAs. The examples given showed various pay amounts per workRVU and different thresholds for when the PA would begin to earn a bonus, and each sample had different base salaries. The biggest takeaway from the review is that base salary rarely tells a complete story of PA compensation. Without looking at other benefits, we can see the range in payment by having a different calculation for your bonus.
If you’re a new PA or a PA changing jobs, it is essential to keep this in mind and when you’re comparing two positions, make sure you’re comparing apples to apples. Once you have an offer, it is essential to ask the right questions to receive a fair compensation package.
I like to ask how many patients you’ll expect to see in a day; this lets you know how busy you’ll be. If they are offering a lower base salary but an excellent bonus compensation, are you going to be seeing enough patients for the bonus? Or do they use the PA as “overflow”; while everyone else in the clinic has a full schedule? Are you only going to be seeing 5-6 patients a day?
You can ask how many patients the previous PA saw in a day and if that would be the expectation for you? If this is the first time they are hiring a PA, they might not know, but this question can also help you determine what they expect from you and how the other PA performed. Maybe the previous PA didn’t see a lot of patients, and this question can give you a warning. I’ve asked this and have found out that the other PA left because they weren’t seeing many patients in a day, which was a red flag for me.
If they don’t tell you the bonus calculation, you need to ask: is there a bonus? If yes, how do you calculate is it calculated? For a bonus calculated based on workRVU, you need to know the dollar amount they are compensating per workRVU and at what point you will start getting it. The lower the amount, the sooner you’ll be earning your bonus. Don’t let them tell you that they’ll figure out the bonus once you start. Make sure you have that figured out before you sign a contract.
Sometimes they might offer a base pay for the first year, and you can start earning the bonus in the second year. It takes time to learn a position and get a new hire started before being productive.
It is essential to look at the total package when looking at an offer. Just as base salary does not show total compensation without an explanation of bonus, other benefits can be precious. Use some of the questions discussed in this post to help you have a better understanding of your base and bonus compensation before you accept a job.
What other questions would you ask about your base and bonus salary? Please comment below the original post, sign up to receive future posts by email, and share with your friends!
