Ask yourself these 3 questions:
- Money aside, which position is the best clinical fit for you?
- Money aside, which position is the best culture fit for you? (personality or mission of the group or hospital)
- Money aside, which location/town/city is best for you?
These 3 answers are more important than salary and bonuses. Each day, you are going to feel the culture and clinical aspects of the position a lot more than you will feel a slightly higher salary.
Other factors to consider:
- RVU and bonus packages. Some RVU or bonus packages are $3-20k on top of base and some are 50-$300k on top of base salary
- Tax free state? (AK,TX,FL,NH,SD,WY,WA,TN,NV) This can save $14-50k/yr in taxes
- Is the commute shorter? If so, how much gas money and time will you save with the new route?
- Finally, be sure to consult a cost of living calculator such as the one at https://www.bestplaces.net/col/ . $200k per year in Chicago, IL can decrease to $153,116 per year in Mount Vernon, IL to maintain the same standard of living.
- What the call schedule and is there compensation for it?
- What’s the volume of patients you will be required to see per day ?
- What portion will your employer contribute to your medical insurance premium? Carefully evaluate the quality of the new medical plan.
- What percentage will your employer contribute to your retirement fund or pension? 5% of your salary?
- Does the PTO include the vacation time, sick time, holidays, extended sick bank, CME time (and money), and family leave time that you want?
- Does this position schedule you in shifts that are better for you and your family?
Biggest factors:
- Is it a better clinical fit or a setting you would rather work in? Is this a good career step? Is this a good challenge for you?
- Does this company cultivate a culture, philosophy, and stability that benefits its employees?
Often it is better to sacrifice a little money to be in a better work environment.