Contemplating work up north! Opinions please.

Started by zzzopiclone9
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zzzopiclone9

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Hello everyone, I'm currently a pharmacist in Northern Ontario, Canada getting paid 55 $/hr. I get 3 weeks of vacation every year. I find that I am interested in travelling and and trying to touch base with my roots in Asia. I was offered a job up North (Nunavut) for 85$/hr and I can work for 3 months and take 2 months off, which allows me to travel after working for 3 months. I had a couple questions for any pharmacists out there:

1. 85$/hr seems low for travelling up north all the way to Nunavut. What do you guys think?
2. What do you think is the minimum you would work an hour if you were to go all the way up north in Nunavut?
3. What other job opportunities are their for pharmacists who want to have the option to travel for months a time and then go back to work?

Thank you
 
Is it BFE? BFE isn't for everyone. Definitely, not for me.

That said that's 60k pay difference, that's a significant raise (+50%). If this is a big city metro, hell yes I'd move.

If it's in a sh1t town, but I need the money, I will think twice before moving and living there permanently.

You will probably make the same as your job now if you take 2 months off here and there to travel with that 50% pay raise. If that's the goal, then I can see why not.
 
zzzopiclone9 said:
Hello everyone, I'm currently a pharmacist in Northern Ontario, Canada getting paid 55 $/hr. I get 3 weeks of vacation every year. I find that I am interested in travelling and and trying to touch base with my roots in Asia. I was offered a job up North (Nunavut) for 85$/hr and I can work for 3 months and take 2 months off, which allows me to travel after working for 3 months. I had a couple questions for any pharmacists out there:

1. 85$/hr seems low for travelling up north all the way to Nunavut. What do you guys think?
2. What do you think is the minimum you would work an hour if you were to go all the way up north in Nunavut?
3. What other job opportunities are their for pharmacists who want to have the option to travel for months a time and then go back to work?

Thank you
Click to expand...
That’s where that guy just got killed by a polar bear protecting his daughters while they went for a walk. Who wants to be somewhere where you’re hunted by polar bears?
 
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Momus said:
Is it BFE? BFE isn't for everyone. Definitely, not for me.

That said that's 60k pay difference, that's a significant raise (+50%). If this is a big city metro, hell yes I'd move.

If it's in a sh1t town, but I need the money, I will think twice before moving and living there permanently.

You will probably make the same as your job now if you take 2 months off here and there to travel with that 50% pay raise. If that's the goal, then I can see why not.
Click to expand...

BFE? like isolated? Yeah it is hella isolated it is in Nunavut which is like northern canada like up north north lol. for me its just the option of working 3 months and having 2 months off that is like so tempting . And yes i would be pretty much making the same amount
 
If you are young, single, and know for sure you will utilize your time off the right way, then definitely do it. You never know, maybe you’ll stumble on other opportunities during your extended travel. Maybe neigotiate a little more if you feel like the pay is too low.
 
Life is all about pushing the envelop, trying something new. You have an awesome offer at hand that give you time, money and unique experience. At least try that, who knows what would come out of it. Any time changing job is like taking a chance, gambling, but it is also like opening a box of chocolates. A chance to serve and truly appreciated by your community is also an extra you don't get in most retails.


Sent from my iPad using SDN mobile
 
wucool33 said:
If you are young, single, and know for sure you will utilize your time off the right way, then definitely do it. You never know, maybe you’ll stumble on other opportunities during your extended travel. Maybe neigotiate a little more if you feel like the pay is too low.
Click to expand...

I'm 29 year old male and yes single right now. Yeah the super nice thing is that the 2 months off after working 3 months straight. Like how much would you want an hour if you worked up north (nunavut), if you don't know where that is google search quickly its way up north ahaha lol.
 
ornithoptor said:
Life is all about pushing the envelop, trying something new. You have an awesome offer at hand that give you time, money and unique experience. At least try that, who knows what would come out of it. Any time changing job is like taking a chance, gambling, but it is also like opening a box of chocolates. A chance to serve and truly appreciated by your community is also an extra you don't get in most retails.
Click to expand...

Yeah I agree with you life is all about pushing the envelope and putting yourself in a uncomfortable situation. How much would you want an hour working up north in an isolated community?
 
Is it $85/hr salary, meaning they are going to be paying you for the 2 months off?

If it's not paid vacation/leave then absolutely not, because you really are just making the same as you are now (yes more time off, but are you going to have two residences?) And nothing is cheap that far up North.

Food prices are insanely high in rural Canada, where Ketchup costs $14 and Sunny D costs $29

One grocery store in the region, for example, charges USD $13.59 for ketchup. (The prices shown on the shelves are in Canadian dollars.)

$85/hr x 40 hr week x 12 weeks = $40,800
$55/hr x 40 hr week x 20 weeks = $44,000
 
awval999 said:
Is it $85/hr salary, meaning they are going to be paying you for the 2 months off?

If it's not paid vacation/leave then absolutely not, because you really are just making the same as you are now (yes more time off, but are you going to have two residences?) And nothing is cheap that far up North

One grocery store in the region, for example, charges USD $13.59 for ketchup. (The prices shown on the shelves are in Canadian dollars.)

$85/hr x 40 hr week x 12 weeks = $40,800
$55/hr x 40 hr week x 20 weeks = $44,000
Click to expand...

It is 85 dollars an hour when I’m there working. The guy offering the job is saying I’d technically get paid More because I’d incorporate myself and pay less taxes. And he is paying for my living expenses and flight to go there other than Internet and groceries. But I know what you are saying 85 dollars an hour still seems low to me.....
 
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zzzopiclone9 said:
So what do you think in your opinion would be a competitive wage ?
Click to expand...

Go to Google Maps and look at Iqaluit. It's literally in the middle of nowhere next to nothing and frozen. There is no realistic amount of money that is going to make it worthwhile.

But you asked, so how about the following:
Two weeks on, two weeks off, company provided housing, company provided flights back and forth from Toronto (or wherever you live) every two weeks. Salary: $250k CAD (~$191K USD).

You need enough to sacrifice half of your life. And yet be better off than just working full time where ever you currently are.
 
PharBeyondDriven said:
For reference, $85 CAD is about $65 USD.

$65/hour is A terrible wage when you're going to have sky-high prices on food/gas/electricity/heating.
Click to expand...

Canadian pharmacists make much less than their US counterparts. OP, have you looked for jobs in Alberta? I've heard by Canadian standards they pay well and they are not in BFE cities (Edmonton, Calgary).
 
zzzopiclone9 said:
I'm 29 year old male and yes single right now. Yeah the super nice thing is that the 2 months off after working 3 months straight. Like how much would you want an hour if you worked up north (nunavut), if you don't know where that is google search quickly its way up north ahaha lol.
Click to expand...
I don’t know what your goals are. I think you first need to have a solid plan on what you are planning to do during your 2 months off. Go live in Asia for 2 months at a time is not something you can just pick up your bag and go. If you don’t have a plan, then you will be bored out of your mind once you get there. If you want to move there one day, maybe even start to look for internships to see if you would like it.

I think you can also try to neigotiate with your boss to pay for your internet and at least a stipend for food.
 
zzzopiclone9 said:
Yeah I agree with you life is all about pushing the envelope and putting yourself in a uncomfortable situation. How much would you want an hour working up north in an isolated community?
Click to expand...

Only you can determine what offer you will accept. I have done my shares of adventures. My current job pays well, relaxing environment and slowed paced. However, I am in the process trying to take on another adventure, and like you money and position will be the factors.

As strategy, after cost of living adjustment, I will ask 20% more than your current pay so you can set up your salary for your next gig. You have to decide if counteroffer is satisfactory.


Sent from my iPad using SDN mobile
 
ornithoptor said:
Only you can determine what offer you will accept. I have done my shares of adventures. My current job pays well, relaxing environment and slowed paced. However, I am in the process trying to take on another adventure, and like you money and position will be the factors.

As strategy, after cost of living adjustment, I will ask 20% more than your current pay so you can set up your salary for your next gig. You have to decide if counteroffer is satisfactory.


Sent from my iPad using
Click to expand...

Yeah I agree....right now I don't believe 85 dollars an hour is not high enough
 
wucool33 said:
I don’t know what your goals are. I think you first need to have a solid plan on what you are planning to do during your 2 months off. Go live in Asia for 2 months at a time is not something you can just pick up your bag and go. If you don’t have a plan, then you will be bored out of your mind once you get there. If you want to move there one day, maybe even start to look for internships to see if you would like it.

I think you can also try to neigotiate with your boss to pay for your internet and at least a stipend for food.
Click to expand...

I agree with you, I definitely need a plan if I plan to live in asia for 2 months
 
Digsbe said:
Canadian pharmacists make much less than their US counterparts. OP, have you looked for jobs in Alberta? I've heard by Canadian standards they pay well and they are not in BFE cities (Edmonton, Calgary).
Click to expand...

It depends if your living in Edmonton and Calgary, you might get betwen 45-55 dollars an hour as a staff.
 
Quick update wrote that guy an email told him 85 dollars an hour is not competitive considering the price of resources such as food and location. He hasn’t emailed me back lol prob won’t lol
 
I would love a job like this but for a US citizen. Do they even exist? I used to work remotely in cold climates before pharmacy, and it's something I'd want to go back to doing. Barrow, even though a lot of people on here tease about it, actually would be a cool place for me to live and work for a bit. I have a friend up there and she does pretty well, although she's a teacher at a local college and not in healthcare.
 
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WVUPharm2007 said:
So how is the Canadian job market right now, anyway? I assume Toronto is probably saturated...
Click to expand...

Yeah toronto is definitely saturated. Their are two pharmacy schools in Ontario, UofT and University of Waterloo. From what I hear the lowest was like 30ish dollars an hour lol. I would just quit and do something funner if I ever got paid that little
 
arresteddev said:
I would love a job like this but for a US citizen. Do they even exist? I used to work remotely in cold climates before pharmacy, and it's something I'd want to go back to doing. Barrow, even though a lot of people on here tease about it, actually would be a cool place for me to live and work for a bit. I have a friend up there and she does pretty well, although she's a teacher at a local college and not in healthcare.
Click to expand...

Yeah not to familiar with a US version of my question ahah. Since you would be interested in a position like this, what would you consider to be a competitive wage that would put you over the edge to work in an isolated/frozen area like nunavut lol just curious 😛
 
zzzopiclone9 said:
Yeah not to familiar with a US version of my question ahah. Since you would be interested in a position like this, what would you consider to be a competitive wage that would put you over the edge to work in an isolated/frozen area like nunavut lol just curious 😛
Click to expand...

I'd do it for 70USD/hr. Maybe even a bit less. That's mainly because I actually like working in challenging environments like that so it's not really a true burden for me. Plus...you can actually leave! I've worked in worse locations doing worse jobs for just $12.50/hr where it was physically impossible to get you out. Would I do that again? Probably not because it doesn't fairly compensate you for the frost bite you get from working outside at -90F for hours.
 
arresteddev said:
I'd do it for 70USD/hr. Maybe even a bit less. That's mainly because I actually like working in challenging environments like that so it's not really a true burden for me. Plus...you can actually leave! I've worked in worse locations doing worse jobs for just $12.50/hr where it was physically impossible to get you out. Would I do that again? Probably not because it doesn't fairly compensate you for the frost bite you get from working outside at -90F for hours.
Click to expand...

So 70 USD = 92 CAN approximately. I will put into perspective for you why I refused the 85 Can Dollar an hour. I work with a consultant pharmacist that I would consider to be a colleague and he contacts himself out to corporate or indepent pharmacies in northern ontario, so still in a rural area but definitely not ISOLATED. He charges 100 Canadian dollars an hour lol. I consulted him before I decided to refuse and he said that is not worth it at all. I guess for me I have to know the market and know my worth personally.
 
zzzopiclone9 said:
Hello everyone, I'm currently a pharmacist in Northern Ontario, Canada getting paid 55 $/hr. I get 3 weeks of vacation every year. I find that I am interested in travelling and and trying to touch base with my roots in Asia. I was offered a job up North (Nunavut) for 85$/hr and I can work for 3 months and take 2 months off, which allows me to travel after working for 3 months. I had a couple questions for any pharmacists out there:

1. 85$/hr seems low for travelling up north all the way to Nunavut. What do you guys think?
2. What do you think is the minimum you would work an hour if you were to go all the way up north in Nunavut?
3. What other job opportunities are their for pharmacists who want to have the option to travel for months a time and then go back to work?

Thank you
Click to expand...

This guy just emailed me back and asked me what I think should be a competitive wage working up in Iqaluit Nunavut. What should I say to this guy. I currently make 55 dollar an hour so I assume at least double right. I know a pharmacist getting paid 100 dollar an hour here doing contractual work and a pharmacist in town making 80 dollars an hour
 
zzzopiclone9 said:
This guy just emailed me back and asked me what I think should be a competitive wage working up in Iqaluit Nunavut. What should I say to this guy. I currently make 55 dollar an hour so I assume at least double right. I know a pharmacist getting paid 100 dollar an hour here doing contractual work and a pharmacist in town making 80 dollars an hour
Click to expand...

It depends, what kind of benefits would you be getting with the job. I guess you don't have to worry about healthcare in Canada, in the US, that is the #1 benefit people look for. But what about vacation time, retirement plans, etc? If the benefits are good, than the salary will be less, if the benefits are non-existent (like with contractual work), then the salary will be more.
 
BidingMyTime said:
It depends, what kind of benefits would you be getting with the job. I guess you don't have to worry about healthcare in Canada, in the US, that is the #1 benefit people look for. But what about vacation time, retirement plans, etc? If the benefits are good, than the salary will be less, if the benefits are non-existent (like with contractual work), then the salary will be more.
Click to expand...

To be honest it would be 3 months on and 2 months off situation. Where I would be working isolated for 3 months then 2 months off doing what I want. In all honesty, I would say a salary of 120 - 150 bucks an hour would possibly put me over the edge to try it. There would be no beenfits as I would be incorporated for my own company
 
zzzopiclone9 said:
To be honest it would be 3 months on and 2 months off situation. Where I would be working isolated for 3 months then 2 months off doing what I want. In all honesty, I would say a salary of 120 - 150 bucks an hour would possibly put me over the edge to try it. There would be no beenfits as I would be incorporated for my own company
Click to expand...

Sounds like you already have a number in mind... just tell him that. He doesn’t have any leverage since he obviously can’t get anyone else to go if he’s coming back to you.
 
Mambo#5 said:
That’s where that guy just got killed by a polar bear protecting his daughters while they went for a walk. Who wants to be somewhere where you’re hunted by polar bears?
Click to expand...

Some people of the regular milk drinking variety probably would
 
zzzopiclone9 said:
This guy just emailed me back and asked me what I think should be a competitive wage working up in Iqaluit Nunavut. What should I say to this guy. I currently make 55 dollar an hour so I assume at least double right. I know a pharmacist getting paid 100 dollar an hour here doing contractual work and a pharmacist in town making 80 dollars an hour
Click to expand...

Well, you obviously have the upper hand being that he's asking you what it'd take to get your interest. Give him a highball offer higher than what you'd reasonably take and see where it goes.
 
zzzopiclone9 said:
Yah no reply yet. this is my current email to him:

"
Thank you for replying back. I would have to look at the exact details of the costs associated with food and subsidizing cost via NNI Federal Program, but with some of the research I have done it seems that some of the prices are inflated (via Nunavut Bureau of Statistics). As I've previously mentioned I believe working in an isolated area very admirable and would be a great personal and professional experience. I agree that the ability to work for an independent pharmacy and having the opportunity to learn about business operations a very attractive opportunity. I also agree that covering airfare and housing is a great incentive on top of the current hourly wage. With that being said, living in a rural city in Northern Ontario - I've been able to compare the hourly wage offered at 85$/hr with some of the wages offered to colleagues working at independent stores or doing consultant work in my city. In relative comparison, I have a colleague working at independent store in Thunder Bay making close to 80$/hr as a staff pharmacist and a colleague doing contractual work (personal incorporation - working in northern Ontario communities) charging 100$/hr. When considering several factors such as isolation, cost of resource, convenience, the fact that income generated for 3 months and then 2 months off (no generating income), and relative comparison to other incorporated/staff pharmacists - I believe at the moment it is not competitive. I believe a competitive wage would be above what is stated earlier in consideration to the distance associated with being considerably further North from my city"

We will see what he says lol
Click to expand...

Jesus... this is the longest “bunch of nothing” I have ever read. He asked you for a number, give him a number! You wrote a book and it didn’t even contain anything remotely useful.
 
zzzopiclone9 said:
Yah no reply yet. this is my current email to him:

"
Thank you for replying back. I would have to look at the exact details of the costs associated with food and subsidizing cost via NNI Federal Program, but with some of the research I have done it seems that some of the prices are inflated (via Nunavut Bureau of Statistics). As I've previously mentioned I believe working in an isolated area very admirable and would be a great personal and professional experience. I agree that the ability to work for an independent pharmacy and having the opportunity to learn about business operations a very attractive opportunity. I also agree that covering airfare and housing is a great incentive on top of the current hourly wage. With that being said, living in a rural city in Northern Ontario - I've been able to compare the hourly wage offered at 85$/hr with some of the wages offered to colleagues working at independent stores or doing consultant work in my city. In relative comparison, I have a colleague working at independent store in Thunder Bay making close to 80$/hr as a staff pharmacist and a colleague doing contractual work (personal incorporation - working in northern Ontario communities) charging 100$/hr. When considering several factors such as isolation, cost of resource, convenience, the fact that income generated for 3 months and then 2 months off (no generating income), and relative comparison to other incorporated/staff pharmacists - I believe at the moment it is not competitive. I believe a competitive wage would be above what is stated earlier in consideration to the distance associated with being considerably further North from my city"

We will see what he says lol
Click to expand...

He's going to Google those numbers and find this thread. LOL
 
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