Male nurses at University of Iowa make more than female nurses

IOWA CITY — Median compensation for male nurses at the University of Iowa last year was nearly $4,400 higher than female nurses.

This doesn't mean male nurses were paid more for the same work — union contracts set standard pay rates and raises. But it may mean more men choose jobs and shifts that come with more money.

'Guys probably work nights and weekends more,' said Wendy Netolicky, a UI Hospitals and Clinics staff nurse since 2004. 'Women might want Monday-through-Friday days because they are the primary caretaker of the children.'

New research published in the March issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association shows male registered nurses made $5,150 more on average per year than women in similar jobs. The analysis of 290,000 full-time registered nurses found unadjusted male salaries were higher than female salaries every year from 1988 to 2013.

Men were paid more in every specialty but orthopedics, the study showed.

When looking at base salaries of registered nurses at UI, the pay gap is very small. The median salary for 717 full-time female staff nurses, who are all registered nurses, employed on June 30, 2014, was $55,361, the UI reported.

The median male salary for 86 full-time RNs was $55,828 — just $467 more.

Base nursing salaries at UI are negotiated with the local branch of Service Employees International Union (SEIU), which represents 2,500 UI professional and scientific staff, including nurses.

I work with more men on nights and weekends than times when I've worked during the week. If guys are picking up those shifts, they could definitely be making more money.

- Wendy Netolicky

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics staff nurse

On top of the base, nurses with experience earn more, UI Spokesman Tom Moore said. The hospital also offers premium pay to nurses who work nights or weekends, or in inpatient units as opposed to clinics. Nurses who take on-call shifts get more money, as do nurses who work overtime.

'All of the factors above are gender-neutral, but depending upon the personal preference of the staff nurse, can result in a wide variance in overall compensation,' Moore said.

Iowa's state salary database, prepared by the Iowa Department of Administrative Services, shows employees' total compensation for fiscal 2014.

The median total compensation for 2,014 female staff nurses who worked at least part of the year at UI was $57,481, according to the database. The median compensation for 181 male UI staff nurses for the same period was $61,869 — $4,388 higher.

The state data does not show how many hours nurses worked or which units they staffed. These factors make it hard to compare nurses in similar positions at the UI.

'There are a lot of variables we can't account for,' said SEIU President Cathy Glasson, adding that she'd like the UI to provide data that breaks out nursing pay for specific units and experience levels.

Netolicky, who started a new job in the non-vascular neurology unit of UIHC in October, says she chooses to work nights and weekends because the pay is better. She also has worked as a float nurse, which she said pays $4 more per hour because these nurses must be trained to work in several different units.

She's not surprised male nurses, overall, took home more money last year than their female counterparts.

'I work with more men on nights and weekends than times when I've worked during the week,' Netolicky said. 'If guys are picking up those shifts, they could definitely be making more money.'