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.

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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?

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

Travel NursesStaff Nurses
Hourly Rates$64.58$39.05
Weekly Pay$2,324.92$1,561.92
Annual Salary$111,596$81,220

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.

Why Do Travel Nurses Make So Much?

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.

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Is Travel Nursing Worth It?

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.

Travel nurses report higher satisfaction and less workplace stress in their jobs than permanent staff nurses.

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.

Get A Travel Nurse Pay Breakdown

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.

Pay Package OfferPay per Week (36 hrs)Hourly rates
$400 M&IE Weekly$400$11.11
$3,200 Housing Stipend Monthly$800$22.22
$750 Travel Reimbursement One-time$57.69$1.60
$30 Base Rate Hourly$1,080$30
Total Gross Pay (Pre-Taxes)$2,337.69$64.94

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.

Weekly Income per OfferTaxable?
$400 M&IE (Meals & Incidental Expenses)N
$800 Housing StipendN
$57.69 Travel ReimbursementN
$1,080 Hourly Base RateY
$2,337.69 Total$1,080 Taxed

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.

Last 12 months 
Map Chart: Top Paying Travel Nursing States

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.

Highest Paying States for Travel Nurses

Last 12 months 
State Average Weekly Pay Weekly Pay St. Deviation# Jobs Observed
New Jersey$2,498.63$606.2249,039
Alaska$2,489.00$542.1215,934
California$2,488.05$643.44172,700
New York$2,479.04$592.65100,975
North Dakota$2,460.51$489.2818,996
Massachusetts$2,440.00$574.2276,271
Wisconsin$2,369.90$468.8854,744
Nevada$2,352.50$521.2810,126
District Of Columbia$2,337.79$540.578,800
Arizona$2,336.69$492.7944,371
Washington$2,318.68$510.8072,952
Delaware$2,308.46$663.125,216
Connecticut$2,306.81$521.7725,842
West Virginia$2,304.86$448.8621,364
Hawaii$2,304.31$500.3720,390
Illinois$2,304.25$467.2362,527
Ohio$2,293.56$438.4169,211
Wyoming$2,288.64$527.026,568
Minnesota$2,284.77$619.1426,654
Rhode Island$2,274.16$558.318,351
Nebraska$2,262.72$531.3219,498
Maine$2,260.55$510.4525,144
Colorado$2,250.85$498.0740,222
Kentucky$2,249.95$433.1231,107
Pennsylvania$2,244.04$629.6878,167
Oregon$2,229.00$534.9354,677
New Hampshire$2,206.08$530.2430,693
Indiana$2,200.28$372.7455,286
Maryland$2,185.01$504.5343,937
Utah$2,183.46$400.667,546
Virginia$2,182.29$439.3571,404
Vermont$2,182.23$542.2718,749
South Dakota$2,181.48$472.8314,903
Idaho$2,166.69$424.6916,468
Iowa$2,162.94$490.0841,885
Michigan$2,131.53$440.4944,645
New Mexico$2,119.85$471.9332,821
Montana$2,112.91$441.0319,456
Missouri$2,103.43$390.3147,748
Kansas$2,100.42$382.1025,025
Arkansas$2,073.48$441.4117,119
Tennessee$2,071.07$376.7341,074
Louisiana$2,054.71$423.7120,743
Texas$2,053.40$417.92103,774
North Carolina$2,053.15$386.8679,979
Mississippi$2,052.09$360.947,654
Oklahoma$2,030.76$401.9225,671
Georgia$2,021.75$403.7058,575
Florida$1,965.44$402.7054,786
South Carolina$1,962.17$371.5636,689
Alabama$1,904.20$367.7217,455
Table: Travel Nurse States by Highest Paying. Standard deviation explanation.

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)

  1. California Consistently has the best pay and the most jobs by a long shot. Both inside and outside of the pandemic.
  2. New Jersey Solid opportunities for both pay and job availability.
  3. Washington D.C. Great income, but fewer job openings.
  4. Alaska Decent pay and lots of jobs, despite reputation for low rates. Current rates lower than pre-covid19.
  5. 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:

  1. California Holds 9 of our top 10 spots for highest-paying metro areas
  2. East Coast New York City-Newark, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC
  3. Pacific Northwest Seattle-Tacoma, Portland
  4. Midwest St Louis, Chicago
  5. 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.

Last 12 months 
Travel Nursing Specialty Average Weekly Pay Weekly Pay St. Deviation# Jobs Observed
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA / CRNA)$6,144.41$1,269.90190
Cardiovascular/Cardiothoracic Surgery (NP / CV/CT Surg)$5,614.43$1,208.634
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (RN / CRNA)$5,217.44$921.6098
Physicist (Non-Healthcare / Phys)$5,052.42$1,339.25121
Cardiovascular / Cardiothoracic Surgery (PA / CV / CT Surg)$4,385.18$1,101.579
Psychiatry - Mental Health (NP / Psych)$4,219.78$1,087.664
Urgent Care (NP / Urgent Care)$4,168.59$1,305.967
Acute Care (NP / ACNP)$3,860.41$629.136
Emergency Medicine (PA / ED)$3,804.50$1,341.498
Pediatric Hospitalist (NP / Peds Hospitalist)$3,760.50$396.163
Family Nurse Practitioner (NP / FNP)$3,686.20$1,247.4290
Neonatology (NP / Neonatology)$3,667.48$598.445
Assistant Nurse Manager (RN / Asst RN Mgr)$3,639.47$1,027.86104
Adult Medicine (NP / Adult Med)$3,128.42$959.0514
Pediatric Cardiovascular Operating Room (RN / Peds CVOR)$3,125.10$830.87228
Pediatric Hematology - Oncology (RN / Peds Heme/Onc)$3,094.66$633.94232
Critical Care Flight / Transport Nurse (RN / Flight / Transport)$3,019.42$1,004.7299
Dosimetrist (Allied / Dosimetrist)$2,981.80$755.59108
Pediatric Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (RN / Peds CVICU)$2,921.78$721.17848
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (RN / PICU)$2,921.26$768.1316,017
Registered Nurse First Assistant (RN / RNFA)$2,903.05$756.183,894
Cardiovascular Operating Room (RN / CVOR)$2,838.71$545.6623,015
Pediatric Operating Room (RN / Peds OR)$2,809.17$667.552,320
Public Health (RN / Pub Hlth)$2,793.47$539.77126
Hematology (RN / Heme)$2,770.63$673.8574
Cardiac Progressive Care Unit (RN / CPCU)$2,770.53$351.475
Nurse Educator (RN / Education)$2,767.89$566.89605
Electrophysiology Lab (RN / EP Lab)$2,743.02$504.382,435
Assistant Director of Nursing (RN / Asst. DON)$2,725.01$861.78182
Administrative (RN / Admin)$2,723.08$798.30221
Pediatric Post Anesthesia Care Unit (RN / Peds PACU)$2,721.14$499.53350
Cardiac Cath Lab (RN / Cath Lab)$2,703.45$496.3944,730
Pediatric Progressive Care Unit (RN / Peds PCU)$2,698.32$622.82806
House Supervisor (Supervisor / House Sup)$2,681.78$698.673,204
Interventional Radiology (RN / IR)$2,672.83$485.0412,851
Pediatric Emergency Department (RN / Peds ED)$2,667.09$613.394,104
Radiology (RN / Radiology)$2,660.56$563.483,631
Hematology / Oncology (RN / Heme / Onc)$2,651.15$566.53556
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (RN / NICU)$2,638.61$622.2913,550
Infection Control (RN / Infection)$2,638.05$623.95667
Audiologist (Allied / Aud)$2,634.69$634.8675
Nurse Manager (RN / RN Mgr)$2,628.90$765.504,371
Pediatrics (RN / Peds)$2,621.23$656.0814,956
Doctor of Pharmacy (Allied / PharmD)$2,610.60$534.561,962
Operating Room (RN / OR)$2,596.69$551.2096,266
Lactation (RN / Lactation)$2,575.78$512.6837
Pathology Assistant (Allied / Path Asst)$2,567.63$614.71549
Pediatric Oncology (RN / Peds Onc)$2,547.72$400.3181
Perioperative (RN / Peri-op)$2,534.54$695.972,357
Director of Nursing (RN / DON)$2,530.61$801.361,167
Pain Management (RN / Pain Mgt)$2,525.27$535.3953
Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit (RN / CTICU)$2,522.82$532.59247
Therapeutic Apheresis (RN / Apheresis)$2,517.87$564.2996
Special Procedures (RN / Special Procedures)$2,497.20$470.05301
Electrophysiology Lab Technician (Allied / EP Lab Tech)$2,496.21$438.342,315
Bone Marrow Transplant (RN / BMT)$2,493.58$557.512,056
Labor & Delivery (RN / L&D)$2,491.68$536.8849,322
Burn Intensive Care Unit (RN / BICU)$2,482.37$591.01789
Surgical Oncology (RN / Surg Onc)$2,477.86$460.07649
Cardiovascular Cath Lab Technologist (Allied / Cardiac Cath Lab Tech)$2,474.85$422.1237,266
Special Procedures Technologist (Allied / Special Procedures Tech)$2,471.65$420.071,648
Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (RN / CVICU)$2,471.46$498.1118,503
Interventional Radiology Technologist (Allied / IR Tech)$2,466.25$426.1418,813
Obstetric Ultrasound - Sonographer (Allied / OB/GYN US)$2,457.43$407.1519
Utilization Review (RN / UR)$2,452.11$527.29425
Cardiac Stepdown Unit (RN / CSDU)$2,435.86$395.34778
Float Pool (RN / Float)$2,434.68$495.621,162
Echo-Vascular Technician (Allied / Echo/Vasc Tech)$2,433.71$398.573,908
Radiotherapist (Allied / Radiotherapy)$2,418.36$483.413,205
Psychologist (Allied / CP)$2,415.94$739.71165
Echocardiograph Technologist (Allied / Echo Technologist)$2,414.08$431.909,750
Nurse Navigator (RN / RN Navigator)$2,412.50$218.1516
Vascular Access Nurse (RN / PICC RN)$2,408.41$355.02220
Post Anesthesia Care Unit (RN / PACU)$2,407.56$478.0017,655
Neurology Intensive Care Unit (RN / Neuro ICU)$2,405.25$428.633,959
Infusion Therapy (RN / Infusion)$2,404.10$486.672,697
Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (School Services / School)$2,399.99$207.8928
Vaccinations (RN / Vax)$2,394.90$0.004
Wound Care (RN / Wound)$2,387.58$475.951,804
Cardiology (RN / Cardio)$2,386.46$467.681,848
Nurse Practitioner (NP / NP)$2,386.46$999.0540
Computed Tomography Technologist (Allied / CT Tech)$2,369.91$383.83100,016
Coronary Care Unit (RN / CCU)$2,368.53$404.416,867
Surgical Intensive Care Unit (RN / SICU)$2,366.60$504.801,608
Urology (RN / Urology)$2,364.82$422.84127
Multi-Modality Technologist (Allied / Multi-Modality Technologist)$2,363.76$423.851,189
Emergency Department (RN / ED)$2,363.49$456.45119,313
Transplant (RN / Transplant)$2,363.34$473.46568
OB/GYN (RN / OB/GYN)$2,361.87$482.772,900
Echocardiograph Technician (Allied / Echo Tech)$2,358.22$374.5910,304
Admissions (RN / ADM)$2,355.29$454.9671
Case Management (RN / CM)$2,347.85$476.5713,077
Intensive Care Unit (RN / ICU)$2,346.15$433.0887,466
MRI Technologist (Allied / MRI Technologist)$2,341.49$369.0518,847
Neurology Progressive Care Unit (RN / Neuro PCU)$2,341.15$372.24691
Oncology (RN / Onc)$2,336.76$461.5129,155
Endoscopy (RN / Endo)$2,329.81$444.5510,270
Postpartum (RN / PP)$2,329.38$525.815,171
Vascular Technologist (Allied / RVT)$2,328.45$382.172,835
Antepartum (Allied / Ante)$2,326.85$1,109.86260
Medical Surgical Telemetry (RN / Med Surg Tele)$2,322.55$388.6463,403
Ultrasound Technologist (Allied / US Technologist)$2,322.20$403.9431,802
Diagnostic Radiologist (Allied / Radiologist)$2,316.57$419.91449
Ambulatory Care (RN / Amb)$2,312.16$502.652,931
Nuclear Medicine Technologist (Allied / CNMT)$2,308.16$358.166,107
Direct Observation Unit (RN / DOU)$2,306.41$381.741,948
Same Day Surgery (RN / SDS)$2,305.52$413.2466
Step Down Unit (RN / SDU)$2,304.10$363.6519,072
Trauma Intensive Care Unit (RN / TICU)$2,302.74$436.77646
Perfusionist (Allied / Perf)$2,301.49$952.131,134
Cytotechnologist (Allied / Cyto)$2,286.61$502.74740
Progressive Care Unit (RN / PCU)$2,285.87$398.9773,620
Postoperative (RN / Post-op)$2,281.12$395.3327
Gastrointestinal Lab (RN / GI Lab)$2,279.13$405.602,423
MRI Technician (Allied / MRI Tech)$2,276.17$315.538,095
Ultrasound-Sonography Technician (Allied / US/Sono Tech)$2,273.47$337.319,622
Telemetry (RN / Tele)$2,257.95$401.3199,881
Stroke / Neuro (RN / Stroke / Neuro)$2,257.43$418.65152
Patient Care Coordinator (RN / PCC)$2,255.50$712.3759
Acute Care (RN / Acute)$2,249.77$540.884,225
Neurology (RN / Neuro)$2,241.44$402.975,543
Mammography Tech (Allied / Mammo Tech)$2,238.02$401.505,386
CVOR Technologist (Allied / CVOR Tech)$2,237.08$389.6611,559
Radiology Technologist (Allied / X-Ray Technologist)$2,235.55$405.6146,380
Urgent Care (RN / Urgent Care)$2,234.16$557.07393
Psychiatric - Mental Health Technician (Allied / Psych Tech)$2,227.97$1,570.00159
Outpatient Clinic (Allied / Outpatient)$2,216.34$219.1447
Orthopedic Neurology (RN / Ortho / Neuro)$2,213.90$301.46335
Medical Surgical (RN / Med Surg)$2,209.23$405.22195,499
Nephrology (RN / Neph)$2,197.53$317.15237
Outpatient Clinic (RN / Outpatient)$2,196.66$504.124,765
Orthopedic (RN / Ortho)$2,196.47$378.489,457
Dialysis (RN / Dialysis)$2,191.97$389.318,448
Nurse Resident (RN / RN Resident)$2,191.20$434.606
Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialist (RN / CDI)$2,187.22$607.3820
Psychiatric - Mental Health (RN / Psych)$2,179.26$395.8926,379
Certified Surgical First Assistant (Allied / CSFA)$2,174.65$442.242,178
Clinical Nurse Coordinator (RN / CNC)$2,173.45$367.481,739
X-Ray Technician (Allied / X-Ray Tech)$2,168.66$397.1422,119
Radiology Technician (Allied / Rad Tech)$2,154.80$389.859,334
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Allied / LCSW)$2,150.84$380.833,263
School Psychologist, Certified (School Services / NCSP)$2,144.36$443.71131
Telehealth (RN / Telehealth)$2,132.73$454.5094
Corrections (RN / Corr)$2,124.54$443.431,697
Occupational Health (RN / Occ Health)$2,119.45$394.78182
Long Term Acute Care (RN / LTAC)$2,106.61$357.5713,121
Research / Clinical Research (RN / Research)$2,104.13$406.1052
Respiratory Therapist (Allied / RT)$2,102.72$452.5030,994
Home Health (RN / HH)$2,065.41$367.9732,178
Hospice (RN / Hospice)$2,060.65$318.147,963
Electroencephalogram Technician (Allied / EEG Tech)$2,030.80$404.43596
Polysomnographer (Allied / Sleep Tech)$2,007.73$389.832,545
Registered Dietician (Allied / RDCD)$2,002.70$312.61285
Medical Tech / Medical Laboratory Scientist / Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Allied / MT / MLS / CLS)$1,988.13$443.2127,050
Board Certified Behavioral Analyst (School Services / BCBA)$1,981.64$291.3620
Operating Room / Surgical Technician (Allied / OR / Surg Tech)$1,972.69$377.6488,439
Long Term Care (RN / LTC)$1,968.27$421.8321,953
American Sign Language Teacher (School Services / ASL Teacher)$1,953.66$325.3719
Special Education Teacher (School Services / Special Ed)$1,950.19$302.91289
Physical Therapy (Therapy / PT)$1,911.17$286.23101,873
Speech Language Pathologist Assistant (Allied / SLPA)$1,896.64$355.02295
Obstetric Technician (Allied / OB Tech)$1,891.84$387.77884
Speech Language Pathologist (Allied / SLP)$1,889.12$258.0424,658
Rehabilitation Therapy (Allied / Rehab Therapy)$1,888.76$419.291,815
Rehabilitation (RN / Rehab)$1,876.45$513.7319,860
Electroencephalogram Technologist (Allied / EEG Technologist)$1,876.43$380.68805
Histotechnician (Allied / HT)$1,871.49$360.471,346
Skilled Nursing Facility (RN / SNF)$1,861.54$465.9613,434
Occupational Therapy (Therapy / OT)$1,839.34$277.9634,663
Charge Nurse (RN / Charge)$1,826.59$407.67418
Endoscopy Technician (Allied / Endo Tech)$1,811.72$469.081,083
School Nurse (RN / School Nurse)$1,801.90$324.54162
Home Health (Allied / HH)$1,698.21$294.0110
Telemetry Monitor Technician (Allied / Tele / Monitor Tech)$1,671.29$692.38306
Emergency Department (LPN / LVN / ED)$1,614.29$454.99209
Psychiatric - Mental Health (LPN / LVN / Psych)$1,608.03$389.99529
Anesthesia Technician (Allied / Anesthesia Tech)$1,606.49$475.09408
Corrections (LPN / LVN / Corr)$1,553.79$325.88813
Home Health (LPN / LVN / HH)$1,553.67$224.483,425
Outpatient Clinic (LPN / LVN / Outpatient)$1,515.20$263.621,971
Telemetry (LPN / LVN / Tele)$1,488.92$328.37389
Electrocardiograph Technician (Allied / EKG Tech)$1,468.35$503.7578
Medical Surgical (LPN / LVN / Med Surg)$1,465.91$313.774,323
Long Term Care (LPN / LVN / LTC)$1,464.23$297.6825,079
Long Term Acute Care (LPN / LVN / LTAC)$1,460.25$234.183,142
Antepartum (RN / Antepartum)$1,444.29$608.32343
Skilled Nursing Facility (LPN / LVN / SNF)$1,426.65$287.76380
Paramedic (Allied / Paramedic)$1,417.80$309.54216
( / Rehab)$1,411.47$267.55152
Hospice (LPN / LVN / Hospice)$1,409.62$209.031,464
LPN / LVN (LPN / LVN / LPN / LVN)$1,400.72$300.0914,996
School Nurse (LPN / LVN / School Nurse)$1,360.47$338.2267
Emergency Department Technician (Allied / ED Tech)$1,359.51$390.55143
Dialysis Technician (Allied / Dialysis Tech)$1,336.21$189.58342
Sterile Processing Technician (Allied / SPT)$1,325.75$264.026,464
Home Health (CNA / HH)$1,323.56$554.8818
Occupational Therapy Assistant (Therapy / OTA)$1,316.45$199.298,546
Physical Therapy Assistant (Therapy / PTA)$1,311.59$214.6217,907
Pharmacy Technician (Allied / Pharm Tech)$1,305.64$292.10660
Patient Care Technician (Allied / PCT)$1,271.98$538.71159
Clerical (Non-Healthcare / Clerical)$1,261.79$795.558
Phlebotomy (Allied / Phlebotomist)$1,183.77$289.37259
Medical Surgical (CNA / Med Surg)$1,116.29$247.65288
Skilled Nursing Facility (Allied / SNF)$1,112.29$478.03694
Certified Medical Assistant (Allied / CMA)$1,067.83$336.42708
Long Term Care (CNA / LTC)$981.32$258.861,362
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA / CNA)$946.05$274.651,699
Table: Travel Nurse 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.

Last 12 months 
Chart: Travel Nurse Specialties Bubble Chart

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.

How To Find The Best Paying Travel Nurse Agencies

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.

Last 12 months 
Agency Average Weekly Pay Weekly Pay St. Deviation# Jobs Observed
CoreMedical Group$2,038.95$487.2891,901
MedPro Healthcare Staffing$2,215.62$448.7886,831
Aequor Healthcare$2,137.69$488.0181,690
Host Healthcare$2,371.96$501.6680,295
Aureus Medical Group$2,330.52$588.6374,203
Epic Travel Staffing (formerly Emerald Health)$2,272.92$477.9968,041
Ventura MedStaff$1,998.71$413.1959,777
TotalMed$2,232.36$523.7551,116
Healthcare Staffing - IDR, Inc$2,158.45$481.5543,429
OneStaff Medical$2,004.39$522.3739,450
ADEX Medical Staffing$2,343.36$449.4139,409
Access Healthcare Staffing$2,375.60$538.6237,454
Stability Healthcare$2,270.48$496.5433,785
Ardor Health Solutions$2,131.27$519.4330,338
LanceSoft$2,525.61$488.7629,752
Go Healthcare$2,184.82$454.6528,136
Medical Solutions$2,374.34$616.5727,675
Amare Medical Network$2,032.26$642.5727,259
CrossMed$2,171.66$420.3726,854
LeaderStat$2,130.54$528.1326,761
Marvel Medical Staffing$2,095.41$421.2126,510
Cross Country Healthcare$2,332.38$587.4326,170
RNnetwork$2,225.27$796.8126,137
Nurse First Travel Agency$2,258.48$448.5825,596
GLC On-The-Go$2,012.64$586.7624,141
Focus Staff$2,230.15$402.7024,103
Nomad Health$2,350.09$443.4323,682
Healthcare Support$2,178.83$474.0822,878
Coast Medical Service$2,391.70$491.7521,345
KPG Healthcare$2,257.90$486.3821,233
Jackson Nurse Professionals$2,189.23$440.9521,217
PRN Healthcare$2,147.08$505.0318,365
TactStaff$2,472.29$465.3218,313
Jackson Therapy Partners$1,760.25$377.6917,992
Anders Group$2,168.33$458.7217,361
trustaff$2,355.62$523.5516,998
Uniti Med$2,113.84$522.5516,586
Destination Travelcare$2,280.83$505.8915,896
Triage Staffing$2,174.17$502.6515,895
TRS Healthcare$2,270.60$518.4915,892
MedUS Healthcare$2,184.97$441.4115,733
ADN Healthcare$2,180.81$418.7115,070
Atlas MedStaff$2,290.33$547.3914,875
3D Medical Staffing$2,331.93$486.3114,631
Synergy Medical Staffing$2,148.34$504.4514,132
Genie Healthcare$2,249.37$553.4314,021
HealthTrust Workforce Solutions$2,101.78$407.5913,920
Planet Healthcare$2,216.09$424.2613,035
Magnet Medical$2,316.26$445.6813,028
Nationwide Therapy Group$1,899.62$599.8913,009
Assured Nursing$2,170.18$463.9512,628
Phaxis$2,162.53$357.2412,429
CareTeam Solutions$2,212.43$509.0112,346
Premier Healthcare Professionals$2,263.64$479.6312,129
Skyline Med Staff$2,175.05$543.0611,983
Lead Health$2,622.54$645.3710,532
Springboard Healthcare$2,415.78$432.9410,387
American Mobile Healthcare (AMN)$2,167.20$598.2010,356
Advantis Medical Staffing$2,256.69$473.2310,115
Next Move, Inc.$2,165.60$490.4910,001
GHR Travel Nursing$2,567.04$506.519,982
AHS Staffing$2,159.88$437.499,857
Sharp Medical Staffinglife$2,413.56$536.369,617
Vital Workforce Solutions$2,257.27$445.629,439
GetMed Staffing, Inc.$2,199.78$475.019,369
IntellaPro Staffing$2,173.08$514.039,243
LRS Healthcare$2,641.49$612.788,870
Premier Medical Staffing$2,254.03$428.508,543
Junxion Med Staffing$2,226.38$445.998,498
Travel Nurses Inc.$2,119.70$494.028,042
Wellspring Nurse Source$2,374.87$371.967,956
Health Specialists, Inc.$2,204.47$351.597,694
SkyBridge Healthcare$1,983.41$468.927,424
American Traveler$2,276.46$442.117,297
Vocaday$2,313.83$627.947,231
Health Carousel - Allied Travel$2,074.25$414.237,122
Pioneer Healthcare$1,920.29$652.217,059
Supplemental Health Care$2,157.24$524.287,049
NuWest Group$2,501.12$548.936,969
FlexCare Medical Staffing$2,297.68$515.656,882
Accountable Healthcare Staffing$2,388.17$542.656,512
Ethos Medical Staffing$2,214.71$497.855,988
Vibra Travels$2,393.03$461.735,422
Ink - A Healthcare Staffing Co.$2,323.71$546.095,246
Nurses First Solutions$2,260.78$512.505,118
Prime Time Healthcare$2,382.02$484.475,066
Mynela Staffing$2,289.30$554.984,672
TLC Travel Staff$2,157.99$460.454,484
Gifted Healthcare$2,446.87$568.824,478
ARM Staffing$2,281.88$483.324,246
Solomon Page$2,346.46$428.414,199
Travel Nurse Across America$2,231.95$443.774,172
Quality Clinicians$2,446.88$785.334,061
Nightingale Nurses$2,474.60$478.004,054
RKA Recruiting$2,503.02$441.204,050
GQR Healthcare$2,612.80$789.784,000
Source Medical Staffing$2,488.87$506.303,854
Guardian HealthStaff, LLC.$2,252.11$422.263,808
Arrow Healthcare Staffing and Recruiting$2,043.67$455.353,755
Club Staffing (AMN)$1,952.28$303.853,534
Titan Medical Group$2,401.79$442.193,312
Excel Medical Staffing$2,026.13$532.623,286
Prime HealthCare Staffing$2,256.87$491.253,235
Nurse 2 Nurse Staffing$2,323.39$526.183,046
Republic Health Resources$2,149.54$542.712,918
Ascend National Healthcare Staffing$2,444.11$551.132,899
Voyage Healthcare$2,251.01$523.802,869
ALOIS Healthcare$2,081.70$551.042,794
Centra Healthcare$1,752.06$447.152,790
Malone Healthcare Solutions$2,514.21$457.812,699
NURSES Etc. STAFFING$2,189.21$589.092,632
Corratel Healthcare$3,062.00$754.122,596
Critical Connection, inc$1,935.85$244.862,427
Catapult Healthcare$2,446.03$451.342,366
The Judge Group$2,605.34$470.942,366
Summit Medical Staffing$2,479.51$469.002,282
MedWave Healthcare Staffing$2,448.78$593.992,274
Plains Medical Staffing$2,409.90$470.492,207
Galaxy Healthcare$2,175.88$383.782,196
Medmetry$2,376.85$656.921,997
HumanEdge$2,202.49$507.821,894
GrapeTree Medical Staffing$1,740.20$530.001,792
KingFish Healthcare$2,385.44$556.871,782
Health Advocates Network$2,279.72$405.111,737
Allyon$2,323.18$656.431,717
FlexUp Direct$2,216.35$582.131,684
RCM Healthcare Services$1,977.47$546.371,563
Spire Workforce Solutions$2,419.29$511.861,552
Zack Group$2,208.78$384.471,536
Nurses 24/7$2,293.14$664.361,535
Impresiv Health$2,161.91$405.211,528
Triage Consulting Group$2,217.42$420.621,453
SambaCare$2,287.74$515.011,423
Bluebird Staffing$2,194.74$300.991,406
Convergence Medical Staffing$2,081.59$424.531,402
Providence Health Care Staffing$1,988.62$524.041,367
Explore Tek$2,552.78$524.431,346
Remede Consulting Group, Inc.$2,108.67$421.541,312
Firstat Medical Staffing$2,292.30$549.771,310
Reliable Nurse Staffing$2,325.53$352.961,309
TinkBird Healthcare Staffing$2,548.84$541.971,273
Consolidated Medical Travel$2,937.37$536.801,265
Marshall Healthcare Staffing$2,451.84$596.931,262
Onyx Health Care Staffing$2,156.78$463.201,258
iDeal Personnel$2,441.16$524.701,211
Trusted Resource Associates (TRA)$2,325.03$472.931,199
Specialty Professional Services$1,900.05$492.221,196
MSSI$2,332.59$581.161,190
Thrive Staffing$1,749.65$431.091,185
Bestica$2,632.86$463.511,174
MedCall Staffing$2,241.44$316.061,162
CareStaff Partners$2,284.92$648.291,112
MedQ GLOBAL STAFFING$2,493.97$476.231,108
Oloop Technology Solutions$2,552.27$528.921,103
Refined Medical Staffing$2,346.23$501.971,083
White Glove Placement$2,491.23$492.931,049
QS Nurses$1,934.09$581.801,020
Alliance Healthcare Solutions$2,182.64$454.88997
Maxim Healthcare Services$2,616.67$614.34978
Trinity Health FirstChoice$2,335.51$394.69955
Reliable Source Talent$2,515.15$411.14910
Modern Healthcare Solutions$2,500.90$569.31900
Custom Healthcare Solutions$2,307.99$647.04895
Soliant Health$2,536.18$554.31890
Lifeline Healthcare Professionals$2,608.74$642.50874
Blu Medstaff$2,209.81$531.60848
Vero Travel Nursing$2,308.36$422.55833
Rock Medical Group$2,120.34$543.10832
AMN Healthcare Allied$1,845.37$326.28804
Northside Hospital Choice+Local$2,115.07$441.05782
Halcyon Nurse Staffing$2,218.22$432.09778
Med Travelers (AMN Allied)$1,968.39$381.49722
The Stepping Stones Group$1,959.64$388.18677
The Good Life MedStaff$2,488.36$535.72663
FocusPoint$2,576.96$444.01657
Advocate Health Staffing$2,677.16$507.48656
Health Reserves LLC$2,534.19$655.69650
Formation, Inc.$2,799.40$622.15640
Lifeline Medical Staffing$2,206.05$490.37634
Lahey Health$2,435.10$547.85632
Connected Health Care$2,534.20$626.57627
Cynet Health$2,263.33$283.37621
Professional Nursing Service$3,096.41$550.12621
Sunbelt Staffing$2,657.02$590.39580
Vighter$2,374.42$356.56571
AB Staffing Solutions$2,166.37$575.25559
TheraEX Staffing Services$2,340.98$675.43559
Treva Corporation$2,517.98$498.23553
Vivino Group$2,026.81$675.73547
Winston Staffing$2,668.20$565.86546
MAS Medical Staffing$2,234.69$389.19508
Adventure Nursing LLC$2,514.18$461.15473
American Medical Staffing$2,401.59$440.62432
Hire Up Healthcare$2,669.41$574.57430
Insight Global$2,700.24$604.12428
Kiwi Healthcare$2,366.61$448.18423
WalkerHealthcare$2,335.71$382.69403
eTeam Inc$2,592.10$497.84402
PRIDE Health$2,501.58$499.07384
MedicalPeople Staffing, LLC$2,886.02$548.00357
Cure Healthcare Staffing$2,567.39$339.41344
Innovate Healthcare Staffing$2,353.33$348.46338
NavAid Health$2,094.19$538.82332
City Mobile Group$2,163.70$238.54322
Innovent Global$2,344.62$525.73296
Seven Healthcare$2,578.99$597.52296
DT-Trak Consulting$2,623.53$374.78292
Journey Healthcare Solutions$2,581.02$456.20286
Fusion HCR$2,636.62$555.72278
Contemporary Healthcare Solutions$2,485.28$409.01270
Medical Talent$2,592.49$469.38267
Nurse Hustle$2,391.24$585.51263
Origin Travel Nurses$2,587.43$350.56260
Siemens Healthineers$2,410.28$606.26260
Cerebral Staffing$2,298.71$620.22255
Becker Health$2,878.47$641.18254
Phoenix MedStaff$2,750.22$555.06253
Novo Connections$2,031.56$715.43241
Medmasa$2,277.72$535.99229
PS Companies$2,601.03$455.87228
Gale Healthcare Solutions$3,483.27$728.90224
MARS Solutions Group$2,391.86$591.08217
Mindlance Health$2,639.02$562.43211
Saratoga Medical Staffing$2,695.90$654.70199
CareNational$2,352.57$777.64195
Care Partners Staffing$2,116.22$373.79191
Wayward Medical$1,503.93$288.65191
Alliance Medical Staffing$1,915.26$456.38188
Raisso Inc.$2,677.66$564.47176
Leaders in Care$2,343.44$693.89173
MSG Staffing$2,525.35$667.57168
Reliant Staffing Solutions$2,478.14$305.48163
Elite365$2,568.82$544.01161
Southeast HEALTH$2,573.62$256.70161
CareerStaff Unlimited$3,059.28$2,630.84153
Platinum Healthcare Staffing$2,500.67$1,240.43152
Excite Health Partners$3,051.23$688.92145
Fiber Staffing$2,105.65$347.01144
Avani Healthcare Staffing$2,290.45$489.65140
Froedtert Health$2,330.09$451.11140
EGA Associates$2,165.97$616.98134
Delta Medical Staffing$2,298.36$329.17131
TruMED Healthcare Staffing$2,472.35$392.41123
Delta Healthcare Providers$2,106.26$254.82120
Solutions by Sanford$2,794.49$301.81118
PeopleFirst RN Staffing$2,064.37$215.94114
Beebe Healthcare$2,540.41$577.21113
Fastaff Travel Nursing$2,823.83$573.95113
First Class Nurses, Inc.$2,659.06$551.63113
GardaWorld Federal Services$2,012.52$516.27108
Millbrook$2,571.52$519.03107
Cambay Healthcare$2,349.26$352.17105
Loyal Source$2,238.72$469.26101
Peregrine Team$3,516.66$993.5789
Pluto Healthcare Staffing$2,560.49$454.0588
DirectShifts$3,569.65$1,170.1586
Scout Nurse Staffing$1,746.61$393.9181
Med Ninjas$2,445.90$762.5577
Actriv Healthcare$2,153.81$805.8874
RightPro Staffing$2,802.04$827.3869
Grady Works$1,948.07$260.2665
SojouRN$2,977.87$879.6364
WorkSquare$2,261.26$439.7956
TLC Nursing$2,333.51$550.1753
MNA Healthcare$1,400.96$501.1751
Open Door Personnel$2,158.69$554.3751
Favorite Healthcare Staffing$2,472.27$440.8947
Frontline Healthcare Staffing$2,371.30$459.7047
HealthCare Connections$2,524.20$486.2744
VitalSolution (formerly CardioSolution)$3,027.99$389.8943
CT Assist$2,924.65$755.4941
VitalHire$2,259.05$354.0939
Exquisite Staffing Solutions$2,495.09$525.7835
Trusted Health$1,539.31$663.8435
Medasource$2,366.92$221.8133
TrailBlazer Staffing Solutions$2,195.79$483.9730
Primrose Group$2,517.89$468.8129
Provenir Healthcare$2,907.86$841.8329
Medical Search$2,200.70$756.4123
Capstone Healthcare Staffing$2,385.21$247.1922
Aura Staffing Partners$1,787.65$208.0221
Greenstaff Medical$2,597.22$661.4919
Aya Healthcare$2,578.48$920.4717
National Staffing$3,035.76$1,494.9716
Fusion Medical Staffing$3,999.75$1,872.5115
APN Healthcare Solutions$2,558.96$654.4613
Prolink Staffing$3,476.94$1,076.309
ATC Healthcare$2,428.76$428.948
Nurse Now Staffing$2,416.17$967.778
Softpath System, LLC$2,735.66$556.967
Tallavera$2,940.04$752.397
Top Docs, Inc.$2,280.00$293.946
Ironside Human Resources$2,205.00$768.964
USA Health Staffing$2,158.25$387.244
Hamilton Staffing Solutions$1,937.05$558.033
Table: Top Travel Nursing Agencies with Pay Transparency

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.

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