Nurse claims she will leave medical field for job at Target after store raises hourly wage to $24

‘More than what I make.. bye medical field,’ one respondent writes in the comments

(@thatnurseriley/TikTok)

A nurse has sparked a debate about starting wages, as some Target stores are paying their employees up to $24 an hour.

In a recent video shared to TikTok, Riley, @thatnurseriley, noted how Target is increasing its hourly wages for employees this year. Throughout the clip, Riley could be seen posing in front of a news article, written byAlabama Live, with the headline: “Target starting pay raised to $24 hour.”

As she lip synced to an audio saying, “That’ll do it…you do not have to worry about me,” Riley took off her stethoscope and work badge and placed them into her bag.

“@target where should I send my resume?” Riley wrote in the caption.

As of 10 March, the video has received more than 2.2m views, with many TikTok users sympathising with Riley, as they also work in the medical field.

“More than what I make,” one viewer said in the comments. “Bye medical field.”

“To think I started as an RN on an understaffed med surg floor for less,” another added.

While Riley did not specify how much she currently makes, Payscale reports that the average hourly pay for an RN in the US is $30.96.

Others said that they weren’t surprised that some Target employees have a $24 hourly wage, with one person writing: “Yuuuup. Medical field better start paying our worth or they can catch us all at Target and McDonald’s”

However, many TikTok users claiming to beTarget workers said they didn’t exactly believe that the company will be raising employees’ wages.

“As someone who works at Target,” a comment reads. “It’s a PR stunt. Don’t believe a word they say.”

“Me, as a Target employee, wondering where my $24 per hour,” another added.

In a press release shared on 28 February, Target announced that it was setting new starting wages for employees who are paid hourly, ranging from $15 to up to $24 an hour. However, the exact pay for Target’s team members depends on “the job and the location.” The wages, set by the retailer, are also based on factors like “local wage data.”

Speaking to The Independent, a representative for Target communications emphasised how the new starting wage range will unfold this year, with the exact wage depending on location, market-level wages, and more.

The Target spokesperson also recalled how, over the last five years, the company has announced “significant enhancements in wages,” some of which include “an industry-leading education assistance program” and “access to counseling services and doctors.”

“As a result, we’ve been able to drive positive change in the lives of hundreds of thousands of team members who have more steady income, pathways to career growth and education, and access to benefits that meet their evolving needs,” the spokesperson added.

The Independent has reached out to Riley for comment.