the finance dance

salary transparency of a family medicine PA

When I was accepted to my first job as a PA, I was absolutely thrilled. It was a long process to get this first job and I couldn’t believe it was finally happening. I had attempted to negotiate my salary, though honestly, I wanted that particular job so badly, I probably would’ve accepted anything (way to lay all your cards out there, Katie).

The offer was much lower compared to my peers, though what my job lacked in salary, it made up for in strong leadership, benefits and time off, and good work environment - all things I greatly valued given the burnout rate is so high in my specialty (family medicine).

In this post, we’re talking all things salary transparency - my salary when I started vs what it is now, the pay cut I took when dropping my hours, what I make with productivity bonuses, and my monthly expenses living in Boston.

I’m also talking about the various salaries I’ve lived off of in my adult life, my philosophy around spending/saving, the privileges I hold, and what kinds of lifestyle I was able to have when living on them.

I know conversations like these are at times awkward, gauche, and quite frankly upsetting. Though I absolutely think salary transparency is important.

If discussing money and finances is triggering or leads to a sense of heightened emotion, this may be a post to skip.