travel rn pay per hour

How Much Do Travel Nurses Make?

Average Pay for Travel Nurses

Travel nursing pay explained, highest and lowest paying states for travel nurses.

• Highest Paying Travel Nurse Specialties
• Ways to Increase Pay

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Travel nursing offers a unique work experience with the opportunity to earn above-average hourly wages. These wages may even exceed those of other registered nurses (RNs) with the same education and credentials.

Travel nurses are typically employed by travel nursing agencies and work assignments across the country wherever nurses are needed. Because each assignment is different, the total annual income for travel nurses can vary significantly. Factors include the details of the pay package, where the assignment is located, and nursing specialty.

On this page you will find the most recent information about travel RN salaries, benefits, specialties, and the states with a high demand for travel nurses.

Fast Facts About Travel Nurses

• Travel nurses generally earn as much or more than staff nurses with the same experience and qualifications.
• Lodging reimbursement and tax advantages impact travel nursing salaries.
• The most in-demand travel nursing specialties include labor and delivery, emergency room, and medical-surgical/telemetry.

The average travel nurse salary varies greatly depending on the work assignment. Depending on travel location, these practitioners can earn between $3,000 and $7,000 per week, averaging a 36-hour work week. According to Vivian , a healthcare jobs marketplace, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), travel nurses earn jan average of $2,183 per week, while RNs earn a mean hourly wage of $42.80. However, aspiring travel nurses should note that living on the road leads to additional personal expenses, so the increase in pay accounts for living accommodations.

Max Weekly Pay

Average Total Weekly Pay

Source: Vivian , September 2023

Travel nurse pay differs from full-time nursing positions because agencies offer hourly rates for each assignment, meaning RNs can shop around and find opportunities with ideal pay. In contrast, RNs working full time at hospitals, physicians’ offices, and other facilities usually rely on raises or additional education to increase their earning potential.

Practitioners considering this role also need to explore what take-home pay looks like for travel nurses . Nursing agencies set their own conditions, so pay packages vary. For instance, organizations may offer an hourly base pay with additional stipends to cover housing or meals, while other companies may offer a higher hourly rate to account for additional expenses.

Travel nurse salaries vary by state and region. Locations in need of RNs typically offer more competitive wages. In fact, the popularity of a particular region can influence travel nurses’ earning potential. Less popular locations may pay more, while desirable locations may pay less. Likewise, states with a higher cost of living offer higher wages relative to living costs.

According to 2023 data from Vivian, the top-paying states for travel RNs included New Jersey , California, and Alaska. Practitioners also want to consider the highest-paying specialties to determine earning potential which may vary by state. The following section includes the top specialties in demand.

Highest Paying Travel Nurse Specialities

Typically, nursing specialties that lack licensed practitioners offer more pay than other specialties, which further increases earning potential for travel nurses. Higher acuity facilities also offer higher pay, as they need skilled practitioners who can meet their patients’ needs. Here are five in-demand specialties for travel nurses.

Labor and Delivery

Emergency room, medical-surgical/telemetry, critical care – intensive care unit, operating room registered nurse, 4 ways to increase pay as a travel nurse.

While travel nurse pay may exceed traditional full-time RN salaries, travel nurses can additionally increase their earning potential by considering factors like demand for specialties, understaffed or unpopular shifts, and locations in need of skilled RNs.

Travel nurses should examine the full benefits package to determine if jobs can provide sufficient take-home pay. For instance, regions with a high cost of living may impact how much practitioners actually earn if stipends do not cover all costs.

Frequently Asked Questions: Travel Nursing Salaries

How much does a traveling nurse make per year.

Travel nurse salaries vary significantly, especially since the outbreak of COVID-19. Factors that can influence earning potential include geographic location and specialty. However, travel RNs should anticipate working 46 weeks a year and earning about $2,183 on a weekly basis .

Do travel nurses get paid more?

Travel nurses typically earn more than full-time salaried RNs because they often take job assignments where there is a nursing shortage. Travel nurse agencies also pay practitioners by the hour and offer additional benefits, including housing and meal stipends.

Is travel nursing worth the money?

Travel nurses generally earn more than salaried RNs. However, practitioners should consider their lifestyle as well. For instance, an RN with a family may not feel the additional pay outweighs time at home, while another practitioner may find the pay suitable and enjoy the travel opportunities.

Do travel nurses get time off?

Travel nurses often do not receive time off since they work hourly and take temporary job assignments. While assignments vary, travel nurses should plan to work for 8-26 weeks at a time. Most travel nurses schedule time off between job assignments.

Learn More About Travel Nurses

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The Ultimate Travel Nurse Salary Guide: 4 Million+ Jobs Analyzed (February 2024)

We aggregated more than 4 million travel nursing salaries from the past 4+ years. Now we're revealing pay rates and job trends nationwide in our interactive pay explorer!

Average Pay (per week) $2,131.46 Based on 2,643,002 jobs analyzed across all travel nurse specialties , nationwide

Travel nursing by month (pay and count), best travel nursing agencies 🚀.

• Highest Paying
• Host Healthcare 50,000+ jobs $127.67 above average
• Epic Travel Staffing (formerly Emerald Health) 50,000+ jobs $76.53 above average
• Premier Healthcare Professionals 20,000+ jobs $63.76 above average
• Aureus Medical Group 50,000+ jobs $62.87 above average
• MedPro Healthcare Staffing 50,000+ jobs -$4.28 below average
• TotalMed 50,000+ jobs -$32.71 below average
• Triage Staffing 50,000+ jobs -$101.86 below average
• Job Availability
• Aequor Healthcare 50,000+ jobs -$109.95 below average

Top Locations Nationwide

• New York 50,000+ jobs $221.18 above average
• California 50,000+ jobs $220.11 above average
• Massachusetts 50,000+ jobs $195.40 above average
• Illinois 50,000+ jobs $62.93 above average
• Ohio 50,000+ jobs $38.89 above average
• Washington 50,000+ jobs $23.80 above average
• Virginia 50,000+ jobs -$31.78 below average
• Texas 50,000+ jobs -$163.44 below average
• Pay is standarized to 36 hour per week.
• For agency and metropolitan area ratings, results are compared against average for specialty and state. Nationwide average pay used if no state is selected. Top paying agencies and metro areas with less than the median job count for the category are excluded.
• View all footnotes

Want to see how your travel nurse salary stacks up in this unpredictable travel nurse job market?

How about making sure you're getting the higher compensation you should be in our challenging career?

You're in the right place to get all your questions answered about travel nurse pay.

Welcome to our  interactive pay explorer - with auto-updates every month!

Since September 2019 , we've been continuously tracking travel nurse pay packages.

View our full history of pay insights using the toggle in the right-hand corner of any of our graphs in this article.

More than four million jobs analyzed and four years later, we're proud to bring you objective overviews on the travel RN job market you can't find anywhere else.

Get the full scoop in this ultimate guide:

How Much Do Travel Nurses Make?

• What Is An Average Travel Nurse Salary?

Why Do Travel Nurses Make So Much?

Is travel nursing worth it, get a travel nurse pay breakdown.

• The Highest Paying States for Travel Nurses
• The Highest Paying Travel Nurse Specialties
• How to Find the Highest Paying Travel Nursing Jobs

How To Find The Best Paying Travel Nurse Agencies

Do travel nurses earn more money than full-time registered nurses? Overall, definitely!

Keep in mind: Travel nurses make higher salaries on average.

Your potential average annual income will depend on demand for your nursing specialty and where you work.

The averages you see below are measured across all specialties and locations nationwide for a general comparison.

Average Travel Nurse Salary vs Staff Nurse Salary

The average hourly pay for full-time staff RN's in the U.S. is $39.05, or $1,561.92 per week, according to the most recent 2022 US Bureau of Labor Statistics registered nurse occupational outlook .

The average hourly rate for travel nurses is $64.58, or $2,324.92 per week, according to our Ultimate Travel Nurse Salary Guide in September 2023.

The average hourly wage for a travel RN is $25.53 higher than staff nurse pay, and the average salary per week is $736 more .

Extrapolating to compare the average annual salary of a staff nurse vs travel rn pay, the difference is significant, with travel nurses' average annual salary reaching upwards to $30,000 more.

We calculated the average annual salary for travel nurses for only 48 weeks a year. Travel nurses need time off to organize and move to new assignments.

In short, high demand = higher compensation.

We're all aware many healthcare facilities nationwide are experiencing "nursing shortages". Registered nurses are retiring and/or leaving the bedside altogether, a trend sped up by the pandemic.

It's estimated that by 2025 the US will have a staffing gap of 200,000-450,000 nurses . In other words, 10-20% of direct-patient care nursing jobs will be unfilled.

With nursing skills like ours in high demand, we deserve higher pay. Not to mention the inherent stress we put up with in our challenging career.

Travel nurses earn more competitive wages by having the adaptable skills necessary to fill critical staffing needs and provide meaningful patient care in a pinch with minimal to no orientation.

These critical needs are often on less desirable shifts, so preparing yourself to work night shift would open up more travel nurse job possibilities.

Healthcare facilities entice nurses with more competitive wages due to the extra hardships we take on with the lack of job stability while searching for new jobs every 13 weeks. There's also the lack of a consistent job benefits package and the inconveniences of travel costs and time.

If you're looking to get more satisfaction in your nursing career, it could definitely be worth it.

It turns out it really is better to be a travel nurse than a staff nurse. A sweeping study analyzing feedback straight from our fellow nurses confirms it.

Nurses working in travel nurse jobs are more satisfied than permanent staff nurses in key areas:

• better job satisfaction
• less work-related stress
• feeling safer on the job
• more employer support
• higher compensation

Working in a travel nurse job isn't easy, but it could elevate your bedside nursing practice and give you more control in your nursing career.

You'll have to decide if the pros outweigh the cons for yourself. The standard contract is only 13 weeks, so I recommend every nurse give it a try.

Pro tip: You should definitely take the time to research what to expect before you commit to a travel nurse job.

Understanding how travel nurses' higher wages breakdown will help you compare pay offers and spot the jobs that are worth your relocation.

Travel nurses are typically hired as contracted temporary employees of travel nursing agencies, getting paid on a weekly basis to work in a variety of healthcare facilities.

The most common travel nurse contracts offered are for hospital inpatient units in a healthcare facility. These contracts usually commit you to work:

• 12 hours/shift
• 3 shifts/week
• 36 hours/week
• 13 weeks total
• 468 work hours total per contract

Our  interactive pay explorer  above standardizes all travel nurse wage data around the average 36-hour weekly pay packages.

See A Pay Package Example

Here's an average travel nurse pay package offer for a Medical-Surgical Nurse working 36 hours/week:

• $400 M&IE (Meals & Incidental Expenses) - per Week
• $3,200 Housing Stipend - per Month
• $750 Travel Reimbursement - One Time payment
• $30 Base Rate - Hourly pay rate

It's confusing!  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Let's break this offer down to view your pay per week and per hour. Convert all parts of your travel nurse wages to a standardized hourly rate, then combine to calculate.

Your "M&IE" (meals & incidental expenses) payment is meant to cover your living expenses and daily (diem) meal costs on assignment.

Your housing stipend covers your temporary housing in your assignment location. Remember you should be maintaining housing in your permanent tax home, as well.

Many travel nursing offer travel reimbursements to help offset the higher cost of life on the road.

Be aware you may have more living expenses coming out of your travel nursing paycheck, based on what employment benefits package you accept:

• Taxes based on your permanent tax home rates
• Agency health insurance - health benefits can start at $20/week
• Agency 401k retirement plans

Ask your agency what other benefits they provide and how those affect your pay package.

Taxable vs Tax Free Pay

Following on from our pay example above, your travel nurse pay is made up of a taxable hourly wage and tax free income.

Notice that more than half of this pay package is tax free pay. Ka-ching!

Your tax free stipends, or "Per Diem" pay, are based on daily maximum rates set by the government.  Check  gsa.gov's Per Diem rates  for your next contract location.

Travel nurses are eligible for Per Diem tax free stipends when working away from your permanent tax home. When receiving tax free pay you MUST duplicate living/housing expenses, required per IRS rules.

This means paying fair market prices for both your accommodation at your travel nursing assignment, AND maintaining your own housing at your permanent tax home.

Many agencies also offer travel reimbursements to help you get money back you spent on travel expenses moving between assignments.

Pro tip: You can still "travel nurse" while living in your own housing at your permanent tax home. The difference is your income will be fully taxed, and you won't be eligible for the the tax free travel nursing pay.

Highest Paying States for Travel Nurses

Which states are really worth the higher cost license fees? Our map shows the highest paying states for travel nurses over the past 12 months.

To view the highest paying states averages since  September 2019 , use the toggle in the right-hand corner of any of our graphs.

These averages would include crisis rate market fluctuations.

Highest paying states for travel nurses. Standardized to 36/hour week contracts to compare data accurately.

For more specific travel nurse salary by state, see our table below with detailed pay trends and job availability.

We've included the  standard deviation . This shows you how 68% of pay offers spread above and below the average travel RN rates.  Picture a bell curve.

For example, 68% of California travel nurse salaries are $2,537.01 +/- $681.08 = pay range of $1,855.93 - $3,218.09.

The 'job count' column gives you a snapshot of each state's job availability.

Curious what the market looked like pre-COVID19?

Below is a compilation of the states that offered the higher pay from  September 2019 - March 2020 . Compare this list to our above map and table to see what difference crisis rates made.

Top 5 Highest Paying States for Travel Nurses (Pre - Covid19)

• California Consistently has the best pay and the most jobs by a long shot. Both inside and outside of the pandemic.
• New Jersey Solid opportunities for both pay and job availability.
• Washington D.C. Great income, but fewer job openings.
• Alaska Decent pay and lots of jobs, despite reputation for low rates. Current rates lower than pre-covid19.
• Connecticut Regularly pays above average with frequent job openings.

Highest Travel Nurse Salaries by Metropolitan Area

Not sure which areas of the country pay great for travel nurses?

We've got a summary here to get you started. Get even more location-specific data on high paying opportunities using our interactive pay explorer .

Top 5 Highest Travel Nurse Salaries by Metropolitan Area

Go after high pay AND lots of job openings in these locations:

• California Holds 9 of our top 10 spots for highest-paying metro areas
• East Coast New York City-Newark, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC
• Pacific Northwest Seattle-Tacoma, Portland
• Midwest St Louis, Chicago
• Arizona Phoenix, Tuscon

Pro Tip: Investing in a California license is worth your time and money if you're looking for LOTS of high-paying job options.

Highest Paying Travel Nurse Specialties

Feast your eyes on the largest travel nursing specialty comparison available including more than  130 specialties . Our interactive table shows nationwide pay averages including  standard deviation  for you to get an accurate overview of the highest paying specialties.

We removed specialties with very low job counts and supervisory roles. This keeps our data relevant to the travel nursing specialties with high pay AND regular job availability.

For a different view, we've got an interactive bubble chart displaying the highest paying travel nurse specialties by their job availability. Hover over the bubbles to identify the specialties.

Not all nursing specialties have a regular high need for travel nurses. For example, RN's in Electrophysiology Lab (EP Lab) regularly have higher pay offerings, but don't have the plentiful job options that ICU or L&D nurses have.

Pro tip: If you aspire to work consistently as a travel nurse, gain experience in a specialty with higher job availability.

I repeat: Higher demand = Higher compensation.

How To Find the Highest Paying Travel Nursing Jobs

How can you cut through the lowball offers to find and land the best paying travel nurse salaries? We started StellarNurse to help you.

After analyzing the market for 4+ years, here's our best advice:

• Use our interactive pay explorer to check pay trends, job availability and best agencies for your specialty
• Check out the newest & highest-paying travel nursing jobs to get an objective overview on your best current opportunities
• Message agencies anonymously on our StellarNurse jobs marketplace, focus on agencies that pay best and have lots of jobs for your specialty
• Keep current state licenses for the locations that have your specialty's best pay and highest job availability
• Breakdown pay packages to weekly or hourly income to accurately compare job offers
• Prioritize high pay - above personal convenience, best locations, nicest recruiter or agency loyalty
• Move fast for Crisis or Rapid Response rate offers

In a nutshell, stay flexible. The best offers are competitive and often need help fast. Be ready to adjust plans quickly, coordinate with a new agency or arrange travel to an unexpected location.

Bonus tip: If you like your agency, tell fellow travel nurses. Make an easy $500-$1,000. Every agency offers referral bonuses if a nurse you referred works with them too.

With more than 500 agencies posting travel nursing jobs daily it’s overwhelming to find which ones might be the best travel nurse companies for you.

After analyzing 4 million jobs over the past 4 years, we’ve organized our data to help you make informed decisions on which agencies to prioritize contacting first.

Find the best paying travel nurse agencies for your specialty and preferred locations. Use the filters to see which agencies have the most jobs available.

Refer back to our interactive pay explorer for in-depth pay trends on the best travel nursing agencies for your specialty and locations.

StellarNurse answers three important questions you should consider in your travel nurse agency choices.

Which travel nurse agencies have:

• The highest paying jobs for your specialty?
• The most jobs available for your locations?
• The benefits you’re looking for?

More questions you should consider when choosing a travel nurse agency are:

• What sets this agency apart?
• What agency resources are available if you have issues?
• How responsive is this agency?

Furthermore, find unbiased reviews to guide your choices.

Since I prefer to read reviews directly from my fellow nurses, here's where I look:

Bonus tip: You can message recruiters anonymously on the StellarNurse jobs marketplace totally risk-free. Get all your questions answered before giving up your contact info.

Our Data Sources

All our data is publicly available on the named travel nursing agency's website or Google jobs listings.

Methodology

We'll be publishing more technical details on our GitHub in the near future.

Dropping the Mic 🖐🎤

We can't wait to hear your success stories - Tell us how our travel nurse salary interactive pay explorer has helped you.

Did we miss any questions you have about finding how much travel nurses can make?

Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook so we can add your requests to future updates.

Share with your registered nurse friends so they can see their earning potential too!

Your days of being underpaid are over.

Bring evidence-based practice to your job search. Land the highest paying travel nursing jobs based on objective market overviews.

Travel Nurse Salary in United States

How much does a travel nurse make.

As of May 28, 2024, the average annual pay of Travel Nurse in the United States is $83,197. While Salary.com is seeing that Travel Nurse salary in the US can go up to $100,434 or down to $67,947, but most earn between $75,215 and $92,220. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills , and your experience levels . With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

View Travel Nurse Salary by Hour, Week, Month, Year

Salary.com provides you with accurate and diversified Travel Nurse salary data based on specialized databases to help you get a fairer salary. Click the switch button below to see more details about Travel Nurse hourly pay, weekly pay, monthly pay and so on.

• Paid Annually
• Paid Monthly
• Paid Semimonthly
• Paid Biweekly
• Paid Weekly
• Paid Hourly
• View Hourly Wages
• Select State
• Select City
• Choose Similar Job
• Pick Related Category
• View Cost of Living in Major Cities

Travel Nurse RN - Telemetry - $2,009 per week

Travel Nurse RN - Long Term Care - $1,976 per week

Travel Nurse RN - First Assist - COVID19 - $3,208 per week

Travel Nurse RN - Rehabilitation - $2,277 per week

View Travel Nurse Salary by Experience Levels

An entry-level Travel Nurse with no related experience makes about $80,142. With less than 2 years of experience, a mid-level Travel Nurse makes around $80,379. After 2-4 years, the Travel Nurse pay rises to about $83,418. Those senior Travel Nurse with 5-8 years of experience earn roughly $87,169, and those Travel Nurse having 8 years or more experience are expected to earn about $87,437 on average.

Best Paying States for Travel Nurse

The states and districts that pay Travel Nurse the highest salary are District of Columbia (around $92,599) , California (around $91,767) , New Jersey (around $91,184) , Alaska (around $90,602) , Massachusetts (around $90,519), Washington (around $89,687), Connecticut (around $89,354).

Highest Paying Cities for Travel Nurse

The metropolitan areas that pay the highest salary in the Travel Nurse profession are San Jose,CA, San Francisco,CA, Oakland,CA, New York,NY, Queens Village,NY, Paramus,NJ, Passaic,NJ, Bergenfield,NJ, Stamford,CT, and Huntington,NY.

Best-Paid Skills and Qualifications for Travel Nurse

What skills does a travel nurse need.

Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.

Planning: An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.

Nursing Process: The nursing process is a modified scientific method. Nursing practise was first described as a four-stage nursing process by Ida Jean Orlando in 1958.

Long Term Care: Long-term care (LTC) is a variety of services which help meet both the medical and non-medical needs of people with a chronic illness or disability who cannot care for themselves for long periods. Long term care is focused on individualized and coordinated services that promote independence, maximize patients' quality of life, and meet patients' needs over a period of time. It is common for long-term care to provide custodial and non-skilled care, such as assisting with normal daily tasks like dressing, feeding, using the bathroom. Increasingly, long-term care involves providing a level of medical care that requires the expertise of skilled practitioners to address the multiple chronic conditions associated with older populations. Long-term care can be provided at home, in the community, in assisted living facilities or in nursing homes. Long-term care may be needed by people of any age, although it is a more common need for senior citizens.

View Travel Nurse Salary Trends

For those exploring the changing dynamics of Travel Nurse salaries, Salary.com offers detailed insights through our Job Trending in CA Labor Market analysis. Our research highlights a notable shift in Travel Nurse compensation over the past six years. For instance, the median salary has moved from $73,508 in 2023 to about $74,140 in 2024 ( for a comprehensive analysis of Travel Nurse salary trends, click here ). It's crucial to consider several elements, including geographical location, experience level, industry demand, and economic development, as they play a significant role in influencing salary variations.

Average Annual Salary of Travel Nurse Over Time

Travel nurse salary by year, view salaries of jobs related to travel nurse, what are people talking about travel nurse salaries.

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Find Travel Nurse Jobs Near You Now

Salary.com job board provides millions of Travel Nurse information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see Travel Nurse job openings or enter a new job title here.

Jobs Near You

Faqs regarding travel nurse, 1. what is the average salary of a travel nurse.

The average annual salary of Travel Nurse is $83,197. In case you are finding an easy salary calculator, the average hourly pay of Travel Nurse is $40; the average weekly pay of Travel Nurse is $1,600; the average monthly pay of Travel Nurse is $6,933.

2. What does a Travel Nurse do?

Travel Nurse provides professional nursing care to assigned patients. Records patient histories, performs various diagnostic tests, administers medications, and develops patient care plans in conjunction with other medical professionals. Being a Travel Nurse assists physicians during examinations and procedures, operating and monitoring medical equipment as necessary. Observes patients' progress and records observations in patient medical records. Additionally, Travel Nurse promotes patients' independence by teaching patients and families to understand conditions, medications, and self-care skills. May require a bachelor's degree in nursing. Requires a valid state Registered Nurse (RN) license. Typically reports to a manager or head of a unit/department. The Travel Nurse occasionally directed in several aspects of the work. Gaining exposure to some of the complex tasks within the job function. To be a Travel Nurse typically requires 2-4 years of related experience.

3. What’s typical Career Path for Travel Nurse?

A career path is a sequence of jobs that leads to your short- and long-term career goals. Some follow a linear career path within one field, while others change fields periodically to achieve career or personal goals.

For Travel Nurse, the first career path typically progresses to Head Nurse - CCU.

The second career path typically progresses to Maternity Services Director.

The third career path typically progresses to Head Nurse - Emergency Room.

Additionally, the fourth career path typically starts with a Head Nurse - Intensive Care Unit position, and then progresses to Head of Intensive Care Unit.

4. Where can a Travel Nurse earn the most?

A Travel Nurse's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Travel Nurse earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Travel Nurse is $104,413.

5. What is the highest pay for Travel Nurse?

The highest pay for Travel Nurse is $100,434.

6. What is the lowest pay for Travel Nurse?

The lowest pay for Travel Nurse is $67,947.

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What Is the Average Travel Nurse Salary & Pay?

Table of Contents

Travel nursing provides many benefits that permanent positions in healthcare facilities most likely cannot, including the flexibility to experience a new environment every few months, access to a recruiter that understands your needs and wants, and, in most cases, lucrative financial incentives.

Travel nurses are typically paid very well compared to their full-time, permanent peers. In many situations, hospitals desperately need travel nurses to fill open positions and care for their patients. If you are going to fill critical gaps in a healthcare facility’s staff and learn the ins and outs of a new work environment, you should be compensated well during your contract with the facility. Never be embarrassed or afraid to ask what a travel nurse makes—arming yourself with this information can help you get the most out of your next travel assignment . Land your dream job faster when you travel with us. Get submitted quickly to top local and national travel nurse jobs and be first in line for an interview. Get started today in On Demand .

WHAT IS A TRAVEL NURSE’s SALARY?

As with staff registered nurse salaries, a travel nurse’s salary can vary quite a bit depending on where you are in the country and what type of nursing you are going to do (medical-surgical vs. critical care, for example). According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , the median pay in 2021 for nurses was $37.31 an hour, or an annual salary of $77,600 per year; according to Indeed.com, the hourly rate for a travel nurse is $46.80 an hour. However, as a travel nurse, the best approach when comparing compensation packages is to focus on weekly net pay. This is the estimated net amount that will be deposited into your account for working the contracted weekly hours essentially, your actual take-home pay. See all of our open travel nurse jobs available.

HOW IS WEEKLY NET PAY CALCULATED?

To calculate net pay , subtract the estimated weekly taxes from the weekly taxable wage and add the remainder to the total weekly tax-free stipends to calculate the weekly net pay for a contract. For an even more detailed breakdown on calculating take-home pay, reach out to a Health Carousel Travel Nursing recruiter.

WAIT, SO DO TRAVEL NURSES REALLY MAKE MORE THAN STAFF NURSES DO?

Simply put, yes. The average travel nurse makes more than a staff registered nurse doing the exact same job. Sometimes a travel nurse can actually earn a lot more than the staff nurse can. Think about it this way: To attract travel nurses, hospitals need to pay an attractive hourly rate. So, the travel nurse salary is already higher, just as an hourly rate

Then add in a housing stipend. The staff nurse has to pay to rent or a mortgage; the hospital usually pays for the travel nurse’s living expenses. Some programs offer pretty decent reimbursements for travel, too. You may need to submit travel receipts, but if it is a flat rate, any amount you don’t spend on travel goes right into your pocket.

Does your contract offer a sign-on bonus? Does your contract offer a completion bonus? Can you earn overtime? Can you get bonus pay for holiday shifts? When you think about everything that goes into a travel nursing salary, they add up all of these pools of money that aren’t usually offered to staff nurses.

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How Much Money Does a Travel Nurse Make?

According to ZipRecruiter , the national average pay for travel nurses is currently $57 per hour. However, travel nursing pay varies depending on a variety of factors. Remember, travel nurses typically work in areas with nursing shortages and where nurses are in high demand. Pay varies per season as well. For example, if you take a travel assignment in Colorado during the summer it will most likely pay more than taking a contract in the winter. This is because many travel nurses prefer to take travel assignments during the winter in Colorado to participate in snow sports.

Travel nurse pay and compensation packages look different depending on the healthcare staffing agency or travel nursing agency. Healthcare staffing agencies’ pay varies because it depends on their contract with the healthcare facility. Travel nurses are also paid different hourly amounts based on their specialty and years of experience. Interested in becoming a travel nurse based off this information? We can help you land your ideal job faster when you travel with us. See our available local and national travel nurse jobs .

Let’s review the average hourly, monthly, and annual salary for traveling nurses below.

The average hourly rate for travel nurses in the United States (U.S.) ranges from $46.80 to $57. You can make more or less than this depending on the state, specialty, hours worked, etc.

Travel nursing agencies pay travel nurses an average of $7,732 monthly . This monthly salary most likely does not account for an entire travel nurse’s pay package. After you include benefits such as free housing or housing and meal stipends, you will most likely make more money.

According to Indeed , the average annual salary for travel nurses is $109,200. As you can see, the average travel nurse salary varies greatly depending on the reporting entity. Therefore, it’s  safe to say that your annual salary will be greater than $100,000. 

Remuneration for Different Types of Travel Nurses

Just like registered nurses, travel nurses have the opportunity to work in various specialties. Before becoming a travel nurse, most travel nurse agencies like you to have at least two years of experience in your nursing specialty. Below is a table of common travel nursing specialties and the average hourly pay.

Specialty & Average Weekly Pay Range

Operating Room Nurse: $3,000 - $3,700

Emergency Room Nurse: $2,500 - $3,500

Critical Care Nurse (CCU/ICU): $2,600 - $3,600

Pediatric Nurse: $1,900 - $3,000

NICU Nurse : $2,600 - $3,000

Labor and Delivery Nurse: $2,700 - $3,500

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA): $700 - $1,900

*Data from Leaderstat and ZipRecruiter

Travel Nurse Salary by State

Travel nursing salaries also vary by state. You can compare the average state hourly and annual salary in the table below.

State, Average Hourly Rate & Average Annual Salary

Alabama: $44.52 & $103,892

Alaska: $47.41 & $110,619

Arizona: $46.88 & $109,386

Arkansas: $43.54 & $101,595

California: $50.77 & $118,464

Colorado: $48.69 & $113,610

Connecticut: $48.69 & $113,602

Delaware: $46.21 & $107,823

Florida: $45.06 & $105,132

Georgia: $46.04 & $107,425

Hawaii: $45.91 & $107,130

Idaho: $43.19 & $100,769

Illinois: $47.92 & $111,815

Indiana: $44.45 & $103,709

Iowa: $45.09 & $105,212

Kansas: $44.11 & $102,933

Kentucky: $43.54 & $101,591

Louisiana: $44.36 & $103,507

Maine: $45.24 & $105,551

Maryland: $48.84 & $113,966

Massachusetts: $50.33 & $117,447

Michigan: $45.62 & $106,437

Minnesota: $47.33 & $110,435

Mississippi: $42.46 & $99,070

Missouri: $46.23 & $107,881

Montana: $43.13 & $100,647

Nebraska: $44.63 & $104,144

Nevada: $46.22 & $107,837

New Hampshire: $45.48 & $106,115

New Jersey: $48.99 & $114,311

New Mexico: $45.24 & $105,550

New York: $50.15 & $117,026

North Carolina: $45.81 & $106,885

North Dakota: $45.27 & $105,636

Ohio: $45.14 & $105,327

Oklahoma: $43.52 & $101,541

Oregon: $47.39 & $110,574

Pennsylvania: $46.46 & $108,406

Rhode Island: $46.63 & $108,806

South Carolina: $44.53 & $103,910

South Dakota: $43.80 & $102,199

Tennessee: $44.99 & $104,969

Texas: $46.81 & $109,214

Utah: $45.01 & $105,018

Vermont: $44.55 & $103,950

Virginia: $48.14 & $113,322

Washington: $49.72 & $116,002

West Virginia: $43.48 & $101,461

Wisconsin: $45.38 & $105,885

Wyoming: $44.27 & $103,301

*Data taken from Indeed

Travel Nurse Salary by City

A travel nurse’s salary not only depends on the state but also depends on the city. Larger cities usually offer higher pay than smaller cities. Though this does depend on the nursing shortage and demand at the time. Sometimes rural cities provide higher rates due to critical staff shortages or since they have fewer nursing schools to recruit from. Below, we’ve outlined travel nurse pay for some of the most popular cities in the U.S.

City & Average Hourly Rate

New York City, NY: $54.25

Sacremento, CA: $50.02

Los Angeles, CA: $51.38

Washington, DC: $54.22

Boston, MA: $53.53

*Data pulled from Indeed

Factors that Influence Travel Nurses' Salary

Several factors can influence travel nurses’ salaries. These include nursing specialty, state averages, and the healthcare facility. Some healthcare facilities limit the number of travel nurses they will hire or put a cap on their pay.  Also, when you take an assignment, your willingness to float to other units may influence your salary. Travel nurses need to be flexible and if you want your hours, then you may need to float to another unit. This is especially important if you get put on call or your shift gets canceled.

What other Benefits Do Travel Nurses Enjoy? 

Travel nurse pay packages are not just based on hourly wages and receiving higher pay than staff nurses. Pay packages offer many other benefits of being a travel nurse as well. Many travel nursing agencies offer free housing to their travel nurses or a weekly housing stipend. If you take the housing stipend and your rent is less than your housing stipend, then you will potentially earn and save more money. Travel nurses’ pay packages often offer retirement savings plans and heavily discounted or sometimes free medical and dental insurance. 

Many travel nursing jobs also offer nursing licensure, continuing education, and travel reimbursements. Make sure to ask about guaranteed hours, pay, and potential for overtime. Since travel nurses often get canceled before staff registered nurses if the census is low, guaranteed hours will protect you from losing your money on your paycheck. As many areas around the country are experiencing nursing shortages, healthcare facilities and agencies are offering sign-on and completion bonuses as well. Remember, review your pay package as a whole instead of just looking at your hourly wage. Did you know we offer travel nurse benefits that support your health, wealth, career and life?

How to Increase Your Salary as a Travel Nurse?

Let’s review some ways to increase your salary and earning potential as a travel nurse. First, if you work in a specialty area that has a certification, then study for and obtain your certification. For example, if you work in the critical care unit, obtain your Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) certification. Or if you work in the operating room, then obtain your Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR) certification. Certifications let potential employers know that you’re competent, committed, and have the technical skills in your nursing specialty. 

Another way to increase your salary is to take crisis pay contracts and take assignments in high demand areas. Many times these contracts are short-term, but they pay a higher hourly rate. Also, before signing your contract, ask about guaranteed hours and overtime. Many healthcare facilities offer overtime hours, but only if available. Ask for guaranteed overtime hours (greater than 40 hours) in your nursing contract as a potential way to increase your salary.

Are you ready to make more as a travel nurse?

If you have questions about travel nurse salaries reach out to an experienced recruiter at Health Carousel Travel Nursing today. Partner with them to enable rapid speed to top orders.

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Top 10 Highest-Paying States for Travel Nurses

Travel nurse jobs, travel nursing.

Navigating the healthcare landscape to find the best financial opportunities is key for many nurses. When it comes to finding the right travel nurse job to increase your earnings, certain states offer more lucrative compensation than others. We’ve compiled a list of the 10 highest-paying states for nurses to consider when looking for that next travel nurse assignment.

What States Pay Nurses the Most?

According to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics , the average annual salary for an RN in the U.S. is $94,480, and the average hourly wage is $45.42. Like many other industries, the state or area you work in can significantly impact how much you earn as a travel nurse. Below is a list of the top 10 states nurses get paid the most.

• Average Annual Salary for an RN: $137,690
• Average Hourly Wage: $66.20

California remains the highest-paying state for nurses, a testament to its expansive healthcare sector and higher living costs. Cities like San Francisco, San Jose, and Los Angeles are hotspots for nursing professionals, offering competitive pay despite the steep cost of living. The diverse healthcare settings, expansive beaches, and variety of California travel nurse jobs make the Golden State an appealing choice for nurses looking for both financial and career fulfillment.

• Average Annual Salary for an RN: $119,710
• Average Hourly Wage: $57.55

Known for its breathtaking landscapes, Hawaii also stands out as a highly rewarding state for nurses, especially regarding pay. Given its unique healthcare demands and remote position, nurses are in high demand. While living costs, particularly in Honolulu, are high, the allure of taking a Hawaii travel nurse job and residing in such a breathtaking location is a significant attraction. Hawaii’s commitment to health and wellbeing further increases job satisfaction levels among nurses.

• Average Annual Salary for an RN: $113,440
• Average Hourly Wage: $54.54

Oregon stands out for its attractive nurse salaries due to its solid healthcare framework and on-the-rise population. Cities like Portland, Medford, and Bend are ripe with job opportunities featuring appealing perks. The state’s dedication to community health and progressive policies ensures a continuing need for skilled nurses, adding to the charm of taking an Oregon travel nurse job and enjoying the state’s natural beauty and cultural vibrancy.

• Average Annual Salary for an RN: $111,030
• Average Hourly Wage: $53.38

Known for its commitment to improving communities and robust healthcare system, Washington continues to rank among the highest-paying states for nurses.  Seattle, in particular, offers high salaries, exceptional benefits, and access to premier healthcare facilities such as the University of Washington Medical Center. The state’s focus on public health initiatives provides a supportive backdrop for healthcare workers, while its breathtaking landscapes and vibrant culture make it a great place for nurses to snag a Washington travel nurse job .

• Average Annual Salary for an RN: $109,210
• Average Hourly Wage: $52.51

The unique challenges and remote settings in Alaska elevate nursing roles, making it one of the highest-paying RN states. The average nurse salary in Alaska mirrors the demanding nature of the work, which includes working in more rural and scattered populations. Despite its complex and varied weather, the adventure and opportunity to impact patient lives draw many to take a travel nurse job in Alaska .

Massachusetts

• Average Annual Salary for an RN: $108,850
• Average Hourly Wage: $52.33

Home to leading hospitals and medical schools like Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, there’s a reason Massachusetts offers top compensation and is considered one of the highest-paying states for nurses. Boston is especially rich in opportunities for advanced practice nurses and nurse practitioners. The state’s investment in healthcare innovation and education means you can grow professionally while enjoying East Coast eats when you take a travel nurse job in Massachusetts .

• Average Annual Salary for an RN: $106,620
• Average Hourly Wage: $51.26

New York, especially New York City, opens up opportunities and top salaries for nurses. Its diverse populace and globally acclaimed medical facilities, such as New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Mount Sinai, and Montefiore Medical Center foster a dynamic nursing environment. Although living costs are high, the blend of professional growth and lifestyle offerings is unmatched if you’re considering travel nurse jobs in New York .

 New Jersey

• Average Annual Salary for an RN: $101,960
• Average Hourly Wage: $49.02

With competitive salaries and close to key metropolitan areas like New York City and Philadelphia, New Jersey offers robust employment options in healthcare. The state’s living costs are balanced by high wages and attractive benefits, making it a favorable setting for those looking for travel nurse jobs in New Jersey . Not to mention, the cultural diversity and beautiful shorelines along the Jersey Shore add to its appeal.

Connecticut

• Average Annual Salary for an RN: $101,840
• Average Hourly Wage : $48.96

Connecticut’s emphasis on high-quality healthcare and the presence of renowned healthcare institutions ensure that nursing professionals are well-compensated. Cities like Hartford and New Haven boast excellent medical facilities and schools, presenting numerous career paths. Plus, the area offers a quintessential New England lifestyle with the advantage of being near major cities like New York and Boston, which means a Connecticut travel nurse job should definitely be on your list.

• Average Annual Salary for an RN: $97,700
• Average Hourly Wage : $46.97

Finally, Nevada’s fast-growing healthcare sector brings forth plentiful opportunities for nurses, backed by competitive compensation packages. Its vibrant cities and evolving medical landscape, especially in Las Vegas and Reno, make it a noteworthy state for nurses aiming for high earnings and diverse work experiences. Not to mention, the area boasts significant natural attractions like the Sierra Nevada mountains, perfect for any adventurer who is considering Nevada for a travel nurse job .

Factors Influencing Travel Nursing Salaries

Now, it’s also important to remember that not all travel assignments in the above states will pay more than the average salary for a perm position. There are a variety of factors that can influence your earnings:

• Specialty : Your pay rate can vary significantly based on your specialty, as some fields involve certain certifications, education, and skills that might be in more demand.
• Education : Higher levels of education often lead to better-paying assignments, as advanced degrees and certifications can make you more valuable to employers.
• Shifts: The timing and duration of your shifts can impact your earnings, with night shifts, weekends, and holidays typically offering higher pay rates.
• Type of Assignment (EX. Crisis or Strike): Assignments involving crisis situations or strikes often attract higher pay due to their urgent and challenging nature.
• Demand : High demand for certain skills or roles in specific locations can increase compensation, with employers willing to pay more to fill critical positions quickly.

While compensation is an important factor, nurses should also consider the cost of living, work environment, and personal lifestyle preferences when choosing where to work. States like Alaska, Hawaii, and New York offer not only high wages but also unique living experiences that can enhance both personal and professional fulfillment. If you want to add one of these high-paying travel nurse states to your bucket list, apply today , and our recruiters will help you get started.

Learn more:

• Highest Paying Travel Nurse Specialties
• What is the Best Nursing Specialty to Travel
• Best Travel Nurse Agency: Finding Your Perfect Fit
• Travel Nursing
• What is the Average Salary for a Travel Nurse
• How Much is a Travel Nurse Salary
• What is a Travel Nurse Salary
• Which States Have a Nursing Shortage
• What States Need RNs the Most
• High-Demand Nursing Specialties
• Where Do Travel Nurses Find Housing
• How Do Travel Nurses Find Housing
• Do Travel Nurses Get Free Housing
• What are the Benefits of Travel Nursing
• Do Travel Nurses Get Retirement Benefits
• Do Travel Nurses Get Bonuses

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What is the best nursing specialty to travel, highest paying travel nurse specialties in 2024, deals for days: year-round discounts for healthcare professionals.

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Travel Nurse Salary in The United States

The average Travel Nurse Salary in The United States is $86,500 per year . Salaries range from $65,000 to $113,600 . The average Travel Nurse Hourly Wage is $46.00 per hour . Hourly wages range from $25.00 to $60.40 . Salaries and wages depend on multiple factors including geographic location, experience, seniority, industry, education etc.

What is the Average Annual Salary of Travel Nurse in The United States ?

What is the average hourly wage of travel nurse in the united states , where do travel nurses earn more in the united states , other salaries, create a resume and cover letter in minutes with professional templates.

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How Much Do Travel Nurses Make An Hour By State – 2024

Are you a registered nurse who hates to be tied down? Do you enjoy seeing new places and meeting new people? If so, have you considered travel nursing? Maybe you thought of becoming a travel nurse but do not know if you can afford it. You may ask, “How much do travel nurses make an hour?” Travel nursing is an excellent option for experienced registered nurses. With options to choose where they want to work and when and to earn an excellent income, many nurses are opting for the travel nurse life. In this article, I will share information with you about how much travel nurses make an hour by state in 2024 and tell you a few ways to help maximize your earning potential if you choose to become a travel nurse.

ON AVERAGE, HOW MUCH DO TRAVEL NURSES MAKE AN HOUR IN THE U.S.?

On average in the u.s., compared to regular nurses how much more do travel nurses make an hour, on average, how much do travel nurses make an hour by state, 1. how much do alabama travel nurses make an hour: ($43.43), 2. how much do alaska travel nurses make an hour: ($67.05), 3. how much do arizona travel nurses make an hour: ($56.30), 4. how much do arkansas travel nurses make an hour: ($43.18), 5. how much do california travel nurses make an hour: ($86.54), 6. how much do colorado travel nurses make an hour: ($56.20), 7. how much do connecticut travel nurses make an hour: ($61.18), 8. how much do delaware travel nurses make an hour: ($55.18), 9. how much do florida travel nurses make an hour: ($51.87), 10. how much do georgia travel nurses make an hour: ($55.28), 11. how much do hawaii travel nurses make an hour: ($73.48), 12. how much do idaho travel nurses make an hour: ($51.02), 13. how much do illinois travel nurses make an hour: ($53.36), 14. how much do indiana travel nurses make an hour: ($49.05), 15. how much do iowa travel nurses make an hour: ($45.02), 16. how much do kansas travel nurses make an hour: ($46.72), 17. how much do kentucky travel nurses make an hour: ($50.38), 18. how much do louisiana travel nurses make an hour: ($49.27), 19. how much do maine travel nurses make an hour: ($50.24), 20. how much do maryland travel nurses make an hour: ($57.11), 21. how much do massachusetts travel nurses make an hour: ($67.60), 22. how much do michigan travel nurses make an hour: ($52.35), 23. how much do minnesota travel nurses make an hour: ($57.67), 24. how much do mississippi travel nurses make an hour: ($44.09), 25. how much do missouri travel nurses make an hour: ($46.64), 26. how much do montana travel nurses make an hour: ($50.85), 27. how much do nebraska travel nurses make an hour: ($47.71), 28. how much do nevada travel nurses make an hour: ($62.50), 29. how much do new hampshire travel nurses make an hour: ($54.14), 30. how much do new jersey travel nurses make an hour: ($62.74), 31. how much do new mexico travel nurses make an hour: ($55.54), 32. how much do new york travel nurses make an hour: ($64.99), 33. how much do north carolina travel nurses make an hour: ($50.25), 34. how much do north dakota travel nurses make an hour: ($48.68), 35. how much do ohio travel nurses make an hour: ($50.91), 36. how much do oklahoma travel nurses make an hour: ($49.92), 37. how much do oregon travel nurses make an hour: ($69.19), 38. how much do pennsylvania travel nurses make an hour: ($52.33), 39. how much do rhode island travel nurses make an hour: ($57.27), 40. how much do south carolina travel nurses make an hour: ($48.24), 41. how much do south dakota travel nurses make an hour: ($41.86), 42. how much do tennessee travel nurses make an hour: ($47.04), 43. how much do texas travel nurses make an hour: ($54.73), 44. how much do utah travel nurses make an hour: ($49.59), 45. how much do vermont travel nurses make an hour: ($51.91), 46. how much do virginia travel nurses make an hour: ($53.13), 47. how much do washington travel nurses make an hour: ($65.99), 48. how much do west virginia travel nurses make an hour: ($46.88), 49. how much do wisconsin travel nurses make an hour: ($52.57), 50. how much do wyoming travel nurses make an hour: ($52.58), in what sates do travel nurses make the highest average salary per hour, in what states do travel nurses make the lowest average salary per hour, bonus 5 ways travel nurses can maximize their salary per hour, way #1: be flexible, way #2: make sure you are licensed in multiple states., way #3: find a good recruiter, way #4: work with several travel nurse agencies, way #5: find housing for yourself, my final thoughts, frequently asked questions answered by our expert, 1. in which state do travel nurses make the highest average salary per hour, 2. in which state do travel nurses make the lowest average salary per hour, 3. in which northeastern state do travel nurses make the highest average salary per hour, 4. in which northeastern state do travel nurses make the lowest average salary per hour, 5. in which midwestern state do travel nurses make the highest average salary per hour, 6. in which midwestern state do travel nurses make the lowest average salary per hour, 7. in which southeastern state do travel nurses make the highest average salary per hour, 8. in which southeastern state do registered nurses make the lowest average salary per hour, 9. in which southwestern state do travel nurses make the highest average salary per hour, 10. in which southwestern state do travel nurses make the lowest average salary per hour, 11. in which western state do travel nurses make the highest average salary per hour, 12. in which western state do travel nurses make the lowest average salary per hour.

How to Make the Most Money as a Travel Nurse

What is a travel nurse.

• How to Become
• Travel Nurse Salary
• Salary by State
• Travel Nurse vs Staff Nurse Salary
• Salary Factors
• Making the Most Money
• Highest Paying Assignments

A  travel nurse is a registered nurse (RN) who works in short-term roles at hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities worldwide. Daily  travel nurse duties are often similar to traditional RN roles, but their flexibility allows them to fill gaps in areas with nursing shortages. As a result, the average travel nurse's salary can be quite high!

>> Click here to see available high-paying travel nurse opportunities!

During the COVID-19 pandemic, travel nurses were seeing some of the highest pay packages ever because of the overwhelming need for nurses, especially in hot spots like New York, Florida, and California. While pay packages might not be as high as they were a few years ago, there is still significant money to be made for those interested in pursuing travel nursing.

But, there are still a number of factors you need to consider when it comes to your travel nurse salary. Here's what you need to know to navigate pay as a travel nurse.

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How to Become a Travel Nurse 

Travel nurses do need a few requirements before being considered, including being a registered nurse with a license in good standing, and typically 2 years of nursing experience. They don't need any additional certifications or credentials other than the ones they need for their specific specialty. 

While a BSN is not required to become a travel nurse, it will open more opportunities to nurses such as Magnet hospitals and Level 1 trauma centers. Without a BSN, your options might be more limited. 

How Much Money Do Travel Nurses Make? 

Under normal circumstances, many travel nurses have the potential to earn over $3,000 per week. Travel nurses can bring in over  $50 per hour, plus company-paid housing accommodations. Making it entirely possible for travel nurses to make well over $100K per year.

Travel Nurse Salary by State

Source:  Ziprecruiter

>> Show Me Online Nursing Programs  

How Does Travel Nurse Pay Differ From Staff Nurse Pay? 

Staff nurses  in a hospital are usually paid a set salary based on education and experience. They typically receive incremental pay increases at various time frames. Staff nurses can also see pay increases with overall cost of living increases.

Travel nurse pay is totally different and can be a bit of a gray area. Typical pay packages are composed of various components, including hourly pay, non-taxed travel nurse housing stipends, non-taxed per diems, travel reimbursements, and more. It’s important to speak to your recruiter about specific pay package breakdowns. 

>> Related: Top 10 Six-Figure Nursing Jobs

What Factors Impact Your Pay as a Travel Nurse?

There are a number of factors that can influence how much you can expect to make as a travel nurse. These include:

Location -  The specific location of the assignment most heavily influences travel nurse pay. Simply put, pay rates often reflect the cost of living in the area and also regional trends.

Which states pay the most for travel nurses?  Historically speaking, the highest-paying states for travel nurses include California, Texas, Massachusetts, Washington, and New York.

Southern states  tend to have lower living costs and, in turn, lower travel nurse pay.

Areas that are considered “destination locations”  (like, Hawaii and Florida) may pay lower. Though, with rapid-response assignments, this isn’t always the case.

Specialty -  The travel nurse’s specialty also impacts pay. Non-specialty nurses, such as the medical/surgical and psychiatric specialties, are typically paid a lower rate than specialized nurses. Furthermore, specialized nurses with highly sought-after skills  and credentials have the ability to earn more lucrative pay with seemingly endless opportunities. 

• Shift -  If you haven’t noticed, night shift assignments are more prevalent in the world of travel nursing. The good news is that many hospitals offer higher rates for their night shift assignments. If you want to make the most money, flexibility is key. A word of caution, if the night shift is not your thing, no amount of money is worth your safety, happiness, or license. If you provide better patient care during the day shift, stick to that. Your patients will thank you. 
• Practice level/Education - Travel RNs make more money than stationary RNs. But those who also pursue advanced practice nursing credentials stand to earn even more. For example, the average travel nurse practitioner's salary is around $131,543 per year but can go up to $218,000.

>> Show Me Online Nursing Programs

How To Make The Most Money As A Travel Nurse 

While the factors listed above do influence travel nurse pay, the following types of assignments almost always pay exceptionally well. Oftentimes, these types of assignments are not influenced by location, specialty or shift.

Everything else aside, if you’re looking to make the most money as a travel nurse, seek out these specific assignments: 

1. Rapid Response and “Crisis” Assignments

These assignments boast some of the highest rates in the travel nursing industry due to their urgent requirements. As the name suggests, these assignments require nurses to arrive at work fast -- usually within 2 weeks.

Nurses working in these assignments may have limited options in terms of location. They are also typically shorter than the general 13-week assignment - if you're ready to go, you can get started right away  in areas that need you the most. 

Assignments range from 36 to 48 hours per week but are certainly more lucrative for the nurse working 48, particularly given overtime pay rates. 

Crisis Examples

• A crisis assignment is not always because of a natural or man-made disaster. However, in some cases they are. For example, one agency was able to send nurses within 48 hours to provide support to hospitals treating patients in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.  
• More often, though, facilities in need of rapid response solutions include those managing unexpected census spikes, unit openings, emergency responses, EMR upgrades, and more.
• However, some facilities may leverage flexible-length assignment options to manage patient care during short-term staff shortages.
• Crisis assignments might also occur if a large number of nurses on the unit are on maternity leave at the same time, or can occur if there is an outbreak on the unit (GI illness) and the hospital needs staff immediately.

This type of assignment may be appealing to hospitals because they do not require the 13-week commitment that many other travel companies require. This means that agencies offering these types of assignments have the ability to offer travelers a larger selection of shorter and higher-paying assignments. A great option especially if you’re looking for a position to better fit your lifestyle. 

So, what's the catch? 

As mentioned, rapid response assignments require a quick turnaround. Therefore, it is absolutely crucial for nurses to have their paperwork in order if they want to reap the benefits of top pay. Credentials, tests, licenses, and other documents should be submitted to the agency as quickly as possible. Frequently, there are a limited number of positions available for these types of assignments and some agencies will be first-come, first-serve.

What Travel Nurse Agencies Say About Rapid-Response Assignments

We reached out to travel nursing agencies for more information about their rapid-response assignments. They said that most agencies will occasionally help nurses acquire licenses and certifications, including paying for new state licenses for nurses who complete an assignment with the company there. 

Agencies also offer the option to cover housing costs if the nurse stays in one of their preferred hotels. Alternatively, many travel nursing agencies provide a housing stipend calculated to cover the cost of a nurse acquiring his or her own housing during the assignment. Lastly, they also cover the travel costs nurses incur at the start and end of an assignment. 

Hospital vs Agency Bonuses

Hospital bonuses  are paid separately from the bill rate, are usually offered as completion bonuses. This means they are not paid until after you complete your assignment. These bonuses usually range from  $250-$5000.

Agency bonuses  may be taken out of the bill rate and affect your overall pay. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially if you enjoy getting a large amount of money as a lump sum. 

How do you know the difference between hospital and agency bonuses? For starters, you can ask your recruiter where the bonus comes from -- hospital or agency? 

• Retention Bonus

Some agencies will pay nurses bonuses once they end up working with that agency for multiple assignments. This is commonly referred to as a retention bonus and each agency will have its own requirements. These bonuses usually range from $100-$2,000 or more. 

• Referral Bonus

A referral bonus is a fee the agency pays to travel nurses who refer other nurses to work for their agency. The funds often come out of a separate budget allocated to referral fees and should not affect the travel nurse’s pay package. 

Referral bonuses typically range from  $500-$4,000  per nurse referral. Some of the best agencies in the industry pay nurses lucrative referrals bonuses once their referral completes an assignment.

Strikes occur when a labor contract or bargaining agreement between a hospital and a union is up for renewal. When the two sides aren’t able to come up with an acceptable compromise, the union may strike. 

In such a case, patients still need care. Therefore, hospitals will usually hire travel nurses to fill the temporary need. Due to the urgency, travel nurses who work strikes make much more money than they do when working on typical travel nurse assignments. 

How to Find the Highest-Paying Travel Nurse Assignments

First of all, you can always  ask recruiters directly about their highest-paying assignments.  Let them know that money is a motivator and that you are not interested in assignments that pay less than a certain amount. The best travel nurse recruiters will be honest with you about pay while giving you their best pay packages from the beginning. 

We suggest working with agencies that are known to pay high rates and who specialize in rapid-response and strike nursing. Hospitals pay these agencies higher rates to urgently provide highly specialized staff on a short-term basis. Those high rates are passed along to their travel nurses. 

Top 11 Tips For Travel Nurses (From a Travel Nurse Recruiter!)

1. crisis contracts.

Crisis contracts were extremely popular during the pandemic. Travel nurses were able to garner premium pay and had the opportunity to make significant amounts in a short period of time. While these specific types of crisis contracts are not readily available, healthcare companies around the country still need to fill gaps, especially for short periods of time. 

2. Find Your Own Housing

We suggest taking a housing stipend and securing your own housing. This will give you the freedom to choose your price point. Agencies will often house nurses in pricier accommodations (they have a reputation to uphold.) Additionally, agencies sign corporate leases -- leases that come with a “corporate” price tag. Some agencies are able to offer free housing if you stay in one of their preferred hotels. Most other agencies do not cover this cost outright, though, they’ll help you set it up.

3. Be Flexible

If money is your motivation, flexibility is key. Sometimes the highest paying assignments pay higher because they are not the most ideal. They may be in a less-than-desirable location or on a hard-to-fill time shift, such as nights or variables. Though it’s not always the case, nights, variables and weekends may come with higher pay or shift differentials.

4. Work With Agencies Who are Known for Their High Pay and Transparency

Every agency is different and will structure its pay packages differently as well. Transparency is key. The most trustworthy agencies will publish their compensation packages publicly and will disclose take-home pay. This focus on transparency allows nurses to skip the negotiating or fact-finding step and rapidly decide if the position is right for them. 

Industry jargon and terms like “blended rates” get confusing. Negotiations can increase confusion and lead to mistrust between nurses and recruiters. That’s why working with agencies that do not allow for negotiations may prove to be the best agencies to work for. They likely give the nurse their best rate from the “get-go” and therefore actually have no room left for negotiations. If you’re able to negotiate with a recruiter, why weren’t they offering you their best rate from the beginning? Something to consider.

5. Make Sure Your Profile is Up-to-Date

Top-paying travel nursing assignments come with a timestamp -- they are in high demand and competition is fierce. Truth is, agencies can’t simply submit you for a job just because you want to be considered. They literally have to “sell” your skills to the hospital.

How do they do this?  Through your paperwork, commonly referred to as your “profile” -- resume, references, skills checklists, license, etc. Having organized paperwork that can quickly (and easily) be submitted to a new agency will increase your chances of landing high-paying assignments. The quicker you get your paperwork to your recruiter, the faster they can submit you to a top-paying job.

Side note,  many nurse managers hire travel nurses on a "first come, first serve" basis. Why? Because your agency has already vetted you, the hospital doesn’t need to do more research to determine if you’re qualified. The hospital needs your skills to fill a temporary staffing need. If you treat every high-paying job with extreme urgency your chances of landing the job will increase. We recommend keeping your paperwork up to date and storing it online on the cloud using something like Dropbox or Google Drive. This will make it easy to simply share your paperwork folder with your recruiter.

Another tip, if you don’t have a scanner, download a scanning app -- works like a charm and you don’t have to lug around a bulky machine. Many agencies are getting tech-savvy and developing mobile apps that allow nurses to directly upload documents to their profile with the company, where they can be stored and updated when the app notifies nurses of their expirations, etc.

6. Work With Multiple Agencies

The truth is, no agency will have assignments available in every location in the US. More truth, some hospitals pay each agency at a different rate and local agencies may have better relationships with the hospitals in their area. Bottom line, it’s a good idea to work with multiple agencies, this will increase your opportunities.

Word of advice -- if you work with multiple recruiters, don’t be shady. Be honest with them about each other. Don’t "pit" them against each other. And, by all means, keep in touch with them even if you don’t choose their assignment (this time). Chances are they’ll want to work with you again in the future. Who knows, you might even make a new friend!

7. Maintain Multiple State Licenses

Did you know that many hospitals will not even look at your professional profile if you are not licensed in their state? It’s true. You’ll increase your chances of continuously landing high-paying jobs by maintaining active licenses in multiple states.

For example, rates in northern states usually increase during the winter months -- so, a license in Massachusetts is a must! If you want to work in a certain state, you need to have a license. Period. Even better – have a compact nursing license? This will automatically set you up for success. 

If you don’t have a license in that state, and you want to travel there soon, apply now! Some states have quick licensure turnaround of just 48 hours. Other states, like California, can take up to 6 months to process licensure paperwork.  Some agencies do assist or reimburse for licensing fees.

8. Work Agency Per Diem and Pick Up Extra Shifts

Travel nurses who want to make even more money will often work local agencies’ per diem shifts. They’ll also volunteer to work extra shifts during their assignments.

9. Communicate With Your Recruiter

Recruiters are the connection between you and the highest-paying travel nursing assignments. It’s important to communicate with them about your compensation needs. Looking for a high-paying assignment? Ask. Need a sign-on or completion bonus? Ask. Can’t live happily with an income below a certain amount? Tell them. Remember, a closed mouth doesn’t get fed.

10. Ask for Sign-On, Completion, and Retention Bonuses

Some travel companies may offer bonuses. Bonuses are paid either on day #1 of your assignment, upon completion of the assignment, or when you work multiple assignments with your agency. Inquire about bonuses. 

11. Refer Your Friends to Agencies

In the travel nursing industry, referrals are golden. Nurses are much more likely to trust their friend’s opinion of an agency they’ve actually worked for than they are an advertisement or recruiter. This is why agencies pay nurses referral bonuses to refer their friends. Referral fees differ but some agencies pay as high as $4,000 per nurse referral! 

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Travel nurse faqs, what does a travel nurse do.

• A travel nurse is employed by a temporary staffing agency to work a contract with a healthcare facility for a short amount of time, usually around 13 weeks. 

What is the highest paid travel nurse? 

•  Any specialty area travel nurse, such as OR, ICU, MICU/SICU will have a higher earning potential. Additionally, APRNs such as a CRNA, will earn the highest wages. 

Is travel nursing worth the money?

• Travel nursing can be highly profitable, but you’ll want to consider all of the factors involved with the job, such as short-term contracts, inconsistent benefits and pay, new environments, and sometimes, high stress. 

What do you need to be a travel nurse? 

• In addition to being a Registered Nurse, typically, you need at least one year of experience on the floor to become a travel nurse. 

Is it hard to become a travel nurse? 

• Travel nursing can be competitive, but if you want to become a travel nurse, there are endless opportunities. You can increase your appeal by earning certifications in specialty areas. 

How much money do travel nurses make? 

• The take-home pay for travel nurses can vary widely based on the area’s need, the nurse’s specialty and any certifications, and other factors, but most travel nurses make well over six figures. 

Why do hospitals hire travel nurses? 

• Hospitals and other healthcare facilities may hire travel nurses when they are lacking their own staff, when the patient census becomes too high for their current staffing, or when a medical crisis, like COVID-19, or an emergency occurs. 

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Travel Nursing Pay – Is It OK to Take $10 Per Hour as an RN?

As we discussed in the article on travel nursing pay packages , travel nursing agencies can split up the travel nursing pay package in many different ways. For example, some agencies structure their pay packages with lower taxable hourly rates and higher tax free reimbursements. Sometimes, you’ll find taxable base rates as low as $10 per hour. As a Registered Nurse, or any other highly trained healthcare professional, you’re probably thinking there is no possible way you’d work for $10 per hour.

But remember, you should be less concerned with the hourly rate and more concerned with the overall value of the entire pay package. That said, it’s widely accepted that paying taxable wages this low to employees who commonly make much more is unacceptable under IRS guidelines. However, you will find a lot of debate over this topic. The issue we’ll address here is whether or not it’s okay by IRS standards for travel nursing companies to pay rates as low as $10 per hour and what the potential consequences are.

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Let’s start with a quick example. One agency might be offering a base rate of $30 per hour plus the equivalent of $12 per hour in tax-free reimbursements. That’s a total value of $42 per hour.

Meanwhile, another agency might be offering a base rate of $10 per hour plus the equivalent of $35 per hour in tax-free reimbursements. That’s a total value of$45 per hour. Despite the lower “rate”, the second agency is clearly paying more money.

The debate over paying travel nurses low taxable wages and high stipends

According to the National Association of Travel Healthcare Organizations  (NATHO), a nonprofit association of travel healthcare organizations, agencies should offer a minimum base rate wage that is higher than $10 per hour for most workers. NATHO states that agencies must pay an hourly rate that is in line with fair market value for someone in the respective profession. That means the professional could reasonably expect to make the same taxable hourly rate offered by the agency if the professional were to accept a traditional permanent job. From this perspective, paying a travel nurse or physical therapist a base rate of $10 per hour isn’t going to cut it.

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Despite this advice from NATHO, many agencies offer to pay their travelers very low taxable rates. These agencies believe IRS regulations allow them to maximize the tax free stipends as long as they pay the traveler a base rate that is equal to or greater than the minimum wage.

Essentially, these agencies will start with a low taxable wage and then add the remainder of the bill rate to the travel nurse’s pay package as tax free stipends. If, by chance, the tax free stipends are maximized and there is still money left over, then the agency will add the remainder to the taxable wage. These agencies believe that they’re in the right as long as the nurse has verified they qualify to receive tax-free stipends. This verification typically comes in the form of a document that agencies have their travel nurses sign attesting that the travelers qualify for tax-free money.

Settling the Debate over Low Taxable Rates in Travel Nursing

Now we’re left reconciling these two divergent viewpoints. In considering this issue, Joseph Smith , an expert on taxes for traveling professionals, asserts that he’d rather travelers “work with companies that show better business consciences.” His reasons for saying this are the same reasons that settle the debate here. You see, providing such a low hourly rate along with huge stipends is a form of wage recharacterization, which is against IRS rules.

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In this case, the only way that someone in the nursing profession would accept a travel nursing job paying $10 per hour would be because the company was offering large tax free stipends as a part of the pay package. As a result, the IRS may claim that the company is recharacterizing the wage as a stipend and deem that the company is violating the rules.

Why do Travel Nursing Agencies pay Really Low Rates?

Why would agencies put themselves at risk this way? For the same reasons that any other tax violator takes such risks. They’re either unaware of the rules, or they’re seeking a financial advantage. Anyone can start an agency and one doesn’t have to be an expert in all of these issues to do so. So it’s plausible that some agencies are simply unaware of these rules.

Meanwhile, those that are aware of the wage recharacterization rules are violating them to gain a competitive edge. As mentioned in a previous blog post , lower taxable hourly rates result in lower payroll costs for the agency. The agency can pocket this money or offer it to the travel nurse as an incentive to get them to sign on with the agency. The agency can also highlight the higher net pay that will result due to the lower taxes that the traveler will incur. This is a major selling point for travel nursing companies. If a company can demonstrate that they’ll put more money in the pocket of a traveler, then they feel they have a competitive advantage.

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You’ll find that smaller travel nursing agencies are more apt to offer these low hourly wages. The biggest companies in the industry are publicly traded, and/or have investors, and boards of directors. As a result, these companies are highly scrutinized to ensure that they are operating legally in order to limit liability risks for all parties involved. The smaller companies most often do not have these responsibilities. As a result, smaller companies usually are not closely scrutinized in the same fashion as the larger companies. For example, large companies will almost always have auditors reviewing their books, while the smaller ones may not.

In any case, there is no denying that offering wages this low crosses the line into unethical business behavior and it certainly puts the agency in violation of IRS rules. But what about the travel nurse?

What are the risks of taking such a low taxable pay rate as a travel nurse?

In 2012, tax adviser Joseph Smith stated that it maybe okay for travel nurses to accept the low taxable rate in the FAQ section on his website traveltax.com. However, he did point out that you’d have a higher likelihood of being audited. At the same time, he also suggested that as long you have a solid tax home and properly accounted for your expenses, you should be fine.

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Remember, if you’re making a base rate of $10 per hour, you may be getting the equivalent of $40-$50 per hour in tax-free stipends. You’d want to be certain that you had records to justify those expenses, an issue we’ll cover in a future blog post ( here and here ). To be clear, if you are not able to justify accepting the tax-free money, then you maybe required to pay back taxes and penalties if you’re audited.

Affects of New Tax Law

It’s important to note  that tax law has changed since Joseph Smith wrote the articles cited above. It may no longer be possible to avoid paying back taxes and penalties if you’re audited in such a scenario. Under the new tax laws, many of the tax deductions pertinent to such a case are no longer allowed. For example, under the old law, travel nurses were able to deduct the expenses that were greater than the reimbursements they received from the company. This is no longer possible. Therefore, if a travel nurse was audited in such a case, they would not be able to make the deductions they once could in order to avoid the tax burden.

Chances of Getting Audited as a Travel Nurse

And remember, your chances of being audited are real, especially if you’re receiving a very low hourly wage coupled with high tax-free stipends. In fact, according to Joseph Smith’s October 2012 Newsletter , the IRS was auditing at least 12 agencies at that time. Wage recharacterization was one focus of the audit.

Discover why travel nurses are calling us their “secret weapon”.

Furthermore, Joseph Smith stated that one agency was considering reissuing W-2s going back 6 years for those who are not willing or able to provide the agency with receipts to justify the high tax-free stipends the agency provided. If this agency reissued the W2s and the difference between the reported income and the newly reported income was greater than 25%, then the travel nurses would have been responsible to pay the IRS additional taxes, penalties, and interest.

Example Scenario

This might be confusing for readers who are unfamiliar with these issues, so let’s look at an example for clarity’s sake. An agency offers a contract that pays $10 per hour as the taxable base rate plus the equivalent of $40 per hour in tax-free stipends. The traveler accepts the contract and completes it. Of course, both the agency and the nurse will be paying taxes on only the taxable base rate. In addition, the taxable base rate is all that will be reported on the W2. Finally, the traveler reports taxable income from the assignment exactly as stated on the W2 when they complete their taxes at the end of the year.

A couple of years later, the IRS decides to audit the agency and claims that paying the travel nurse $10 per hour appears to be a recharacterization of wages. As a result, the agency will be subject to penalties and additional taxes. The agency contacts the nurse and requests receipts and other pertinent documentation in an effort to justify the tax-free payments and avoid the costs. The nurse is unable to comply for one reason or another.

The agency then decides they must to reissue a new W2 to settle their case with the IRS. The new W2 increases the taxable base rate and decreases the tax-free stipends by equal amounts. Of course, this increases the reported income to the IRS. As a result, the agency will be responsible to pay their portion of the payroll taxes and any penalties. Moreover, the nurse will also be responsible for additional taxes and penalties as long is the difference between what was originally reported and the newly reported taxable income is greater than 25%.

What Does this Mean for Travel Nurses?

What does all this mean for travel nurses? First, you open yourself to increased risk of audit if you accept really low hourly wages and really high stipends. Second, this may have been okay in years prior to 2017 as long as you maintained an ironclad tax-home, maintained your status as a temporary employee , and kept excellent records to justify the tax-free payments. However, the chances are much greater that you’ll be required to pay taxes and penalties in such a case under the new tax laws.

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It’s important to note that we are not tax advisers, Certified Public Accountants, or Lawyers. We are not in any way providing any tax advice. All information regarding taxes is informational and intended as a jumping off point. You must seek the help of professional tax advisers to gain a clear understanding of your unique circumstances. We recommend the folks at traveltax.com.

Related posts:

• Travel Nursing Pay – Qualifying for Tax-Free Stipends and Tax Deductions: Part 2: Maintaining Temporary Status In our previous blog post we laid out the criteria under...
• Travel Nursing Pay – Qualifying for Tax-Free Stipends: Part 3: The 3 Factor Threshold Test Now that we have made the distinction between indefinite work...
• 6 Things Travel Nurses Should Know About GSA Rates Understandably, there is a lot of confusion about GSA rates...

Im employed as travel nurse with 26hrly and benefits of PTO, Health insurance, Life insurance, Short term disability, 401k, Reimbursement of cost related to relocation, CEU and licensing. Is this fair?

Jumping in a bit late but: first contract I accepted offered $19/hr base rate, which was less than the hourly rate at my previous job (I’m in the midwest, so about $27). I’m surprised this isn’t covered in more detail, but here is more of the legal basis for the per diem offered by staffing companies.

First: Ordinary business expenses are tax deductible, and the expenses you incur to have work are ordinary business expenses (this is why your mortgage isn’t a business expense but the small apartment you rent 500 miles away from home is).

Second: you are entitled to reduce your taxable income by the amount of those expenses. But to do so, you have to prove to the IRS that you should not have to pay income tax on those expenses.

Third: receipts. They are the only evidence you have that you spent the money in the first place. Without proof you actually spent the money, you can’t prove you are entitled to deduct that money from your income.

At this point, we are done talking about reporting requirements for claiming deductions from the IRS. This is important, because you are *not* entitled to compensation from your employer for any business related expenses.

However, if your employer chooses to reimburse your for expenses incurred on their behalf, they have some hoops to jump through to avoid having to count those reimbursements as income to you. If they don’t jump through those hoops, every single dollar they reimburse you is income for you, and you have to have your receipts handy to make sure the IRS knows why you aren’t actually paying taxes on that money.

Now, here’s the part where it gets interesting, and why the way we people talk about travel nursing pay is completely wrong. Your agency is *paying* you to be a nurse in a hospital — this is your base rate expressed in dollars per hour. Your agency is also paying for your lodging and expenses so you can work the job. Put another way: that number on your paycheck is far more than you’re getting paid because your agency is paying your expenses to go somewhere and do it.

(For a more comprehensive (general) explanation: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p463.pdf . Chapter 6 details the tax treatment of per diems. The employer view of the situation is at https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p535.pdf

So, the IRS recognizes that it’s difficult for businesses (especially small businesses) to deal with the paperwork and hassle of having to process and account for the receipts of hundreds of transactions that happen on a daily basis when employees travel for business. This is why, instead of having to account for every expense, the IRS permits companies to reimburse employees for ordinary expenses on a per diem rate. So instead of providing your agency with every meal receipt, a detailed and comprehensive mileage log, and a copy of your lease, hotel reservations, and every grocery receipt you generate while on assignment (and having your agency reconcile all that information), your agency looks at the General Services Administration Per Diem tables for the area you are travelling to, takes some money off, and says “Here’s some money to help with your expenses” (technically, there are two tables: one for lodging, and one for meals and incidentals).

This is the GSA database of Per Diem rates: https://www.gsa.gov/travel/plan-book/per-diem-rates

So: all of this is about wage reassignment. You see, my first contract as a traveler paid me $19/hr (without benefits); the median nursing wage where I worked was $30/hr and the 10% percentile wage was $18/hr, (these are Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; I do not believe they include the monetized value of benefits). I could make an argument that wage reassignment did not occur since it was my first contract, and I had no travel nurse experience. Maybe. Maybe I was interested in staying somewhere unique and different. Maybe. I definitely needed the work.

Since the statute of limitations has not expired, all I can say is that I took a $19/hr — barely out of the 10% percentile for wages in the area I was working — but at least it had a very nice per diem for lodging, meals, and expenses.

By the way, the Bureau of Labor Statistics breaks down wages in nursing down to metropolitan area: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291141.htm (you have to download the spreadsheet to see percentiles. Have fun with that)

My previous job came with some fairly decent benefits, and paid more per hour. At $19/hr, my incentive to pick up overtime was nil. I picked up one OT day, saw what it did to my paycheck, and stopped trying to pick up more shifts because it was just too exhausting. My current contract (which is in my home city) is straight pay (between the 75% and 90% percentile, but I still don’t have benefits); my incentive to pick up overtime is much greater.

Which brings me to my point: how much is your time worth to you? Regardless of tax consequences, I have decided that I want to be paid for what my time is worth to me, and I have decided that I’m going to make sure that I get paid enough to want to work those hours and pick up that overtime. If that means reducing a per diem from $120 to $70 a day, then so be it. It’s not just about money, here. It’s about making sure your incentives line up with your goals. I figure that I am going to be working 36 hours a week regardless, I might as well make sure that I am getting paid for what my labor is worth.

Fair market wage in No.Cali is easily $60/hr taxable so how come agencies arent offering that? Each state & location have differing fair market values, all agencies are wage re characterizing when offering across the board rates as $20-22/hr . It just means 2 things: our industry needs a regulatory board to govern a standard & agencies are promoting lower taxable so that they get the tax advantage to write off the higher tax free per diems as an expense

That’s a good point. However, I’m not sure that the IRS goes to that level of granularity when making their determination. Based on the many cases they’ve tried and settled on this issue, they most likely look at national wages. I’m not saying that’s right, but it appears this is how they do it.

I’d like to see that October 2012 list mentioned of places being audited. I’ve turned down ridiculous rates before, so I know this is happening.

You just made a lot of agencies mad by posting this very useful information.

Haha! Thanks for the comment. We’re glad to hear the information is useful!! Our main goal is to make sure travelers get truthful and actionable information and services.

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How Much Do Travel Nurses Make In A Year? | Salary 2023

Travel nursing has been all the rage for the last few years. Travel nursing positions come with plenty of perks, such as high travel nurse salaries, incentives like sign-on bonuses, and the opportunity to work in glamorous places like Hawaii and Florida.

But, do travel nurses really make more money? The answer is yes…usually. However, the exact amount of money you can make as a travel nurse really depends on a variety of different factors.

Below is a breakdown of a travel nurse’s salary and why travel nurses tend to get paid more than nurses in traditional roles.

Find available, high-paying travel nurse opportunities.

Do Travel Nurses Make More Money?

In general, travel nurses have the opportunity to make more money than staff nurses for two main reasons:

1. High need = higher pay

Travel nurse staffing agencies work specifically with hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities that have a high demand for nurses, which means they are willing to pay more to reach adequate staffing levels or to cover a known leave of absence.

2. Additional monetary incentives.

Unlike regular staff nurses, travel nurses are paid a “total pay package” that includes an hourly base wage pay plus additional monetary incentives, like the following:

• Sign-on or referral bonuses
• Travel reimbursements
• Stipends for housing
• Food, mileage, or job-related expenses

Because these extra stipends are classified as reimbursements and not income, they’re non-taxable, so a travel nurse can bring home a higher total pay when compared to a staff nurse, who pays taxes on all of the income they bring home.

How Much Do Travel Nurses Make?

The average salary for travel nurses in 2023 was $126,384, according to Indeed.com . That is significantly higher than the average salary for staff nurses of $93,042 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

The exact salary you can expect to make as a travel nurse will vary widely based on where you choose to work, the type of nursing position it is, and the length of the contract.

For example, you may make more in a month as a travel nurse compared to a staff nurse, but if you only work one- or two-month-long assignments, your annual pay will be lower. However, if you take several assignments in a 12-month period, then you could make significantly more in one year than you could as a staff nurse.

Your total travel nursing pay package will look different than that of a staff nurse because it’s made up of your “base wage” pay — the hourly rate you earn for your nursing duties — and additional stipends, which are classified as non-taxable reimbursements and not considered income. As an example, a standard total travel nurse pay package could look something like this:

*Assumes $20 per hour at 40 hours per week, minus taxes

You should consult your own certified financial planner if you have concerns before you start travel nursing. It may help you evaluate if a travel nurse pay package is right for you based on your overall financial goals.

Find travel nursing assignments by speaking with a recruiter today!

Do Travel Nurses Get Benefits?

Some travel nurse staffing agencies also offer travel nurses additional benefits, such as retirement options and health, dental, vision, and life insurance. Keep in mind, retirement options that include a 401(k) may not be the most effective option if your taxable income is already low. It may make more sense to invest in a Roth IRA or other retirement account. But again, consult with your tax professional before making any major decisions.

Most travel nursing companies also require that you work a certain number of months before the 401(k) becomes available for travelers.

Why? One of the main benefits of a 401(k) is that it allows you to contribute your income before it’s taxed, but a large portion of most travel nurses’ total pay packages is non-taxable. Contributing to a 401(k) can decrease a travel nurse’s overall taxable income considerably and may lead to issues down the road — if they need to qualify for a home loan, for example.

Highest Paying Locations for Registered Nurses

Where you choose to work as a travel nurse also plays a large role in how much you will make. Certain cities and states offer higher pay because they have such a high demand for nurses, while other areas pay more based on the time of year.

For example, if you’re willing to travel to Alaska in the winter, you have the opportunity to make more money than if you worked in Hawaii in the winter months. Travel nurses who are willing to relocate to “less popular” areas throughout the year stand to increase the amount of overall pay they can make over the course of the entire year.

You could also seek out assignments in the highest-paying states and cities for travel nurses . For example, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics , the top 10 highest-paying cities for RNs (not specifically travel nurses) currently are:

Source: ZipRecruiter

The Top Highest Paying States for RNs in 2023 – based on all specialties

• District of Columbia

Source: BLS

Keep in mind that the Bureau of Labor Statistics data lists average salaries for RNs, so the potential for travel nurses specifically in those areas is even higher. However, you also have to consider the cost of living in those areas and if the stipends you’ll receive for housing, food, and other expenses will adequately cover those costs.

Read more: Best Cities for Travel Nurses

A Note on Nursing Specialties

Working a travel nursing assignment in a high-paying state or city is one way to increase your take-home salary. However, you can also increase your pay as a travel nurse by working in an in-demand specialty.

The average travel nurse’s salary does vary based on specialty. For example, travel nurses who work in the following in-demand specialties have the opportunity to make more pay (or negotiate for higher pay). Did you hear that? You can negotiate!

Some of those specialties include:

• Critical Care
• Labor and delivery
• Orthopedics

If you have experience in an in-demand area, you should highlight that on your travel nursing application, as well as bring it to the attention of the travel nurse recruiter to maximize your pay.

Additionally, you may be able to make even more money if you seek out specialty certification in your area on your own prior to signing with a travel nursing agency.

Having a nurse who is “ready to go” in a specialty area may be more lucrative to a staffing agency than a nurse who is simply willing to be trained, but not yet certified.

Travel Nursing Salary: Beyond a Paycheck

Travel nursing can be a profitable way to boost your savings and overall take-home pay. But the benefits don’t stop with just your paycheck. Travel nursing has so many other perks:

• Expand your resume
• Gain valuable hands-on nursing experience
• Learn skills on the job
• Increase your confidence
• Find hospitals or coworkers you may want to work with as a staff nurse in the future
• And ultimately, advance your career

As a travel nurse, you’ll have the opportunity to work in fields you may not have access to close to home or receive additional training to further your nursing skills as well. Also, because travel nursing is flexible and can accommodate both short and long-term positions, many nurses can try temporary nursing assignments whether they’re single, partnered, married, child-free, or have a family.

And, of course, travel nursing is a great way to experience other parts of the country to live in, see, and explore.

RNs can earn up to $2,300 per week as travel nurses. Speak to a recruiter today!

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