The healthcare system said it’s part of a $764 million investment across all of Advocate Health, which Atrium is part of.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The minimum starting rate for Atrium Health employees is about to be increased.
On Thursday, the healthcare system announced its minimum hourly rate will go up to $18.50 per hour on Jan. 12, 2025. Atrium’s announcement said the starting rate increase is part of a $764 million investment in compensation programs across all of Advocate Health, which Atrium is a part of and is the third-largest nonprofit health system in the United States. The investment is also up more than 35% from the prior year.
“Our teammates are our greatest asset and most valuable resource,” said Nakesha Lopez, chief people and culture officer at Advocate Health. “It’s their commitment and expertise that make Atrium Health a trusted and preferred health care provider in the region. By investing in them, we not only honor their contributions, but also ensure we attract and retain top talent to sustain the excellent care for which we are known.”
The starting rate increase is for employees in both North Carolina and South Carolina. Atrium Health notes it has raised its minimum wage each year since 2012. It also means employees will earn well more than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.
“Compensation is just one of the many ways we invest in, reward and recognize our devoted teammates. By prioritizing our investment in them, we can continue to foster a positive work environment that values our teammates’ long-term growth and development while also setting new standards for excellence in health care delivery,” Lopez added.
Atrium also said it will continue to invest in employees’ career growth, offering market-competitive pay and annual merit increases, as well as incentive plan compensation and premium payments for shift workers and on-call workers.
Thursday’s announcement comes as healthcare systems in the Carolinas continue to face a shortage of nurses, with data from Nursecast predicting a shortage of more than $12,000 nurses in North Carolina by 2033. The issue has prompted healthcare systems and partners to seek solutions to the issue, from making the field more accessible for people seeking a career change to enhancing training tools, even offering sign-on bonuses.
