Offered work assisting a M.D. but what should my hourly be?

[quick1]

I know a psychiatrist who is looking for some help running his private office, mostly filing, making phone calls, keeping his paperwork organized. He's a real straight shooter and I was told by his previous assistant to contact him regarding helping him out.

He's interested and wants to know how many hours a week I can do and what my hourly rate should be. But I really have no idea. I need the extra money, I have a Masters in the field, but at same time working for him will be a good experience in general and I don't want to shoot too high. Same time I don't want to shoot too low.

I know the previous assistant only worked maybe 5 hours a week for him and got about 18 an hour about 3-4 years ago and the person didn't have any degree. His workload has since increased with no assistant so I'm thinking he may want more hours.

I'm thinking of saying 20 an hour but part of me feels like I could reasonably ask for more. Then again I have no idea what he is thinking of offering back, he might think I'll be cool with $15 or something or he might be cool with something much higher and I could undershoot.

What would you do?

[ktel]

I would personally ask for about $25 an hour, and if he objects, negotiate down to what you were planning on asking for ($20). Don't want to leave money on the table!

[eco_env]

the average pay for an administrative assitant in you area is about $18/hour, so $20 seems reasonable.

[quick1]

I would personally ask for about $25 an hour, and if he objects, negotiate down to what you were planning on asking for ($20). Don't want to leave money on the table!

I agree. I don't want to scare him off with a high offer and while 23 seems comfortably in between it seems like an odd number haha.

the average pay for an administrative assitant in you area is about $18/hour, so $20 seems reasonable.

Thanks yeah this thought keeps coming to mind , I may go with this.

[quick1]

Thanks for the feedback. Looks like he's ok with my offer of 22/hr. In hindsight I probably could have gone a little higher but I'm hoping he approves of my work and this can last a little while with perhaps a bump in pay. For now just a few hours a week, but an extra 130 or so a week to start isn't bad at all.

He's quite the workhorse, my first "shift" is 8am monday and he'll "already be booked in sessions" by 7am. Time to gear up the 6am wake up calls!