Upstate Medical University to provide GEO pay raises for nurses

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Upstate Medical University says it will offer pay increases to registered nurses (RNs) and, “for the first time,” to licensed practical nurses (LPNs) as well.

In all, Upstate will provide 1,481 RNs and 125 LPNs with the geographical area pay differential (GEO). GEO raises will allow Upstate to be “more competitive” with nursing salaries.

The medical school will pay the raises to eligible nursing staff in addition to their base pay. The raises are calculated based on years of service, experience and education, Upstate said.

The move represents Upstate’s third RN GEO adjustment in the last four years. Previously, RNs received a GEO raise in 2019 and 2021.

“Upstate nurses are at the core of care we provide our patients,” Dr. Mantosh Dewan, president of Upstate Medical University, said. “Not only do Upstate nurses deliver medical care, they also lift up families during difficult hospitalizations and provide leadership throughout this top-tier academic medical institution — one that has proven itself to be essential to our Central New York community.”

The GEO raise will provide between $9,000 and $14,187 annually for PEF-represented RNs and $7,000 annually for CSEA-represented LPNs. This 2022 GEO raise is in addition to GEOs received previously. The increase will allow Upstate to “recruit and retain” nurses who are “instrumental in the high-level of care” patients receive at its hospitals.

PEF is short for New York State Public Employees Federation and CSEA is short for Civil Service Employees Association.

“As I’ve said for years, PEF’s goal is to increase the compensation and benefits package of state nurses to retain and attract skilled professionals to public service,” Wayne Spence president of PEF, said. “This is one more step that the president of SUNY Upstate Medical University is taking to move in that direction.”