Hey Reader,
When I tell people I now earn more working 20 hours/week than I did at my first full-time job, they think I got lucky.
But it wasn’t luck.
It was the result of every strategic job move, every negotiation, and every hour I didn’t work just to prove I was a “good employee.”
Today, I want to show you my actual salary numbers—no fluff, no filters. Just facts and strategy.
💰 My Actual Salary Progression (Pre-Tax, Full-Time Equivalent)
I’ve worked as an hourly clinician for my entire career, so these are full-time equivalent estimates to help you compare across roles and work hours.
I started in Colorado at $30/hour. The rest of my career has been in California, where wages tend to be higher. I work primarily in acute care.
💰 My Salary Progression (Pre-Tax, Full-Time Equivalent)
- Year 1: $62,400 → Outpatient, no negotiation (CO)
- Years 2–3: $123,428 → Travel therapy (doubled income)
- Years 4–5: $101,520 → Perm acute care job, weak negotiation 😬
- Year 6: $130,000 → Negotiated new job + per diem
- Year 7: $110,000 → Full-time acute care, per diem optional
- Year 8: $120,500 FT equiv → Worked ~30 hrs/week, earned ~$90K
- Year 9: $126,500 FT equiv → Worked ~30 hrs/week, earned ~$95K
🔍 How I Made It Happen
✅ I Negotiated Frequently
I didn’t wait around for someone to hand me a raise—I asked.
Every new job, every shift in my role, every opportunity to level up—I treated it as negotiable.
Here’s what that looked like:
- Negotiated $2.50/hour more at signing (by asking confidently and showing my experience)
- Asked directly for a promotion after a year of consistently showing up and solving problems
- Pitched a 10-hour shift schedule that gave me more flexibility with the same pay
- Negotiated a part-time position (20 hours/week) with full benefits—with the option to pick up more work whenever I w
- Picked up per diem roles that padded my income on my terms
💡 Travel therapy taught me to negotiate early and often.
If I didn’t, I left $10K+ on the table—per contract.
💬 And even when I didn’t get what I asked for?
I still walked away better: more confident, more prepared, and more skilled for the next conversation.
Negotiation is a muscle—you build it every time you use it.
✅ I Tracked and Proved My Value
If you want more money or a better role, don’t assume they see your impact. Show them.
What I brought into my conversations:
- Productivity metrics (patients per day, evals per week)
- Initiatives led (ICU lead role, specialized CEUs, staff scheduling support)
- Problems I solved (better workflow, reduced weekend gaps, coverage wins)
I keep a simple doc tracking my wins and ways I go above and beyond.
No fluff—just evidence.
💡 Not sure what to track? Here are some starting points:
- Taking on a training or mentorship role
- Improving patient outcomes or satisfaction
- Cross-training in multiple settings
- Volunteering for hard-to-fill shifts
- Implementing new workflows or tools
- Leading in-services or education sessions
Even small things add up.
If you’re adding value—track it. Then bring the receipts
✅ I Prioritized Strategy Over Hustle
I stopped chasing more hours.
Instead, I chased:
- Higher hourly rates
- Weekend and holiday differentials (I’m fine working Memorial Day—not Christmas)
- Flexible shifts that protected my energy
-
Income streams that didn’t drain me:
- Rental income
- Investment growth
- Credit card points + banking bonuses
For the first 6 years of practice, I earned aggressively and invested aggressively.
Now I don’t have to. That’s the point.
💡 That financial margin gave me negotiation power—and peace of mind.
❌ What Didn’t Work
Not everything I tried was a win. Here are a few mistakes I’ve learned from—so you don’t have to:
- Asking for a raise because of my personal expenses
I once tried to negotiate based on my student loans. I think I actually wrote in my email (cringing as I relive it): “I need more money because I have student loans to pay off and rent is high.”
Spoiler: they didn’t care.
Companies don’t give raises because you have debt. They give them when you clearly show the value you provide
- Trying to negotiate after accepting a job
This one stings.
I verbally accepted my first perm job after travel and then tried to negotiate.
They shut it down—completely.
Negotiate before you move forward. Once you accept, you lose all your leverage.
- Expecting a raise without doing the prep
Early on, I waited for a raise to be handed to me—and complained when it didn’t happen.
Now? I bring a one-pager that outlines what I’ve contributed, metrics that matter, and specific ways I’ll continue to add value.
- Working every shift just to prove I was a “good employee”
I used to say yes to everything—weekends, holidays, last-minute coverage—because I thought that’s what made me valuable.
But all it did was burn me out.
Once I started picking fewer shifts at higher rates, I made more and protected my energy.
If you want better pay, be ready to show why you’re worth it. No one else is going to make that case for you.
✅ What Worked
Here’s what actually helped me earn more and build a career that fits my life:
- Started the conversation early:
I brought up going part-time with my supervisor 6–8 months before making the change. That gave us time to create a plan that worked for both of us.
- Added consistent value:
I took initiative, supported teammates, led in areas like ICU care and staff scheduling, and stayed flexible with coverage when I could. It built trust—and leverage.
- Maximized income early:
I took high-paying travel jobs, worked holidays I didn’t mind giving up, and funneled that money into investments. That’s what gave me the freedom to reduce hours later.
- Picked smarter shifts, not more of them:
I focused on weekends, holidays, and per diem roles that paid more. It wasn’t about grinding harder—it was about getting paid more for the time I was already giving.
- Tracked everything:
From productivity stats to leadership wins, I documented how I showed up—and brought those receipts into every raise or promotion conversation.
💡 Small, strategic shifts add up. I didn’t just ask for flexibility—I earned it and planned for it.
Takeaway:
You don’t have to work full-time to make a full-time income.
You just need a plan that fits your goals, your values, and your energy.
✅ Want Help Mapping It Out?
I’m opening a few spots this month for free 30-minute Freedom Strategy Calls.
This isn’t a vague “pick my brain” session.
We’ll get clear on:
- What’s keeping you stuck in full-time
- What kind of schedule and income you actually need
- Your best next step to start creating time and financial freedom—without quitting your job
👉 By the end, you’ll walk away with:
- A clearer path forward
- One small shift you can make immediately
- And if it’s a good fit, I’ll share how we can work together in a 3-session coaching package to build your full freedom plan
📅 Spots are limited—book yours here before they fill up:
→ Book your spot here.
🔜 Coming Next Week:
How I Calculated My Freedom Number
…And how you can use it to confidently drop hours without financial panic.
Talk soon,
Mariah
The Part-Time PT
Work Less. Build Wealth.
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