Travel Nurse Salary: Why Do Travel Nurses Get Paid More?
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A new coworker just signed a 13-week contract in your ICU, and you couldn’t be more thrilled to have more nurses joining your team. Then you discover their average travel nurse salary is $2,000 per week — a whopping $500 more than yours.
You know they relocated to take this position, but you’re performing the same exact job, so why the discrepancy in hourly rates and average annual salary? You wonder: Why are travel nurses paid so much? Who pays travel nurses? Is this a normal traveling nurse salary? (And maybe also: What’s the highest-paying state?)
If you’ve ever had those thoughts, you’re not alone. In some facilities, a travel nurse can make up to four times more than a staff nurse. You likely already know a few factors that lead to a travel nurse getting paid more, such as a shorter orientation, but does that justify such dramatic salary discrepancies?
What Is Travel Nursing?
The term “travel nurse” refers to a nurse who is hired for a temporary position at a facility that’s located away from their place of residence. Some agencies that work with travel nurses include American Traveler and ATC Healthcare Travelers. They’re usually looking for experienced nurses, as most travel nursing positions require a year or more of nursing experience in the hired specialty. Their contracts usually last 8–26 weeks.
Typical RN travel nurse requirements include:
- Possess active RN license
- Located at least 50 miles away
- 1–2 years of recent nursing experience in desired specialty
Why Facilities Hire Travel Nurses
Travel nurses fill an important gap in staffing and nursing coverage for weeks to months at a time. And they’re not just any nurse — they’re experienced, specialty-trained nurses. So even though they’re expensive, travelers are a short-term solution for facilities experiencing nursing shortages.
Travel Nurse Job Outlook
The job outlook for travel nurses remains strong, fueled by ongoing nursing shortages, an aging population, and persistent staffing gaps in underserved areas. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects higher-than-average job growth for CNAs, LPNs, RNs, and NPs across the nation. Travel nurses are especially in demand in rural and medically underserved regions, where hospitals and clinics may struggle to recruit and retain full-time staff.
The COVID-19 pandemic intensified reliance on travel nurses, and while demand has since stabilized, travel roles continue to offer flexibility, competitive pay, and the chance to serve communities with critical needs. Nurses willing to relocate, work in high-need specialties, or take assignments in rural areas are likely to find ample opportunities.
Take a look at the travel nursing agencies currently hiring to get a better idea:
Travel Nurse Salary 2026 Overview
What you make as a travel nurse depends on several factors, including location, specialty, experience, certifications, and more. If you’re looking to find a good-paying state for travel nurses, let’s review these factors below.
Licensure
How much do travel nurses make? The salary depends on your role. For example, the average RN travel nurse salary is about $101,000 per year, whereas the average LPN travel nurse salary is about $62,000. The typical traveling nurse practitioner salary is $130,000 per year, and the average annual travel nurse midwife salary is $140,000.
To get a clearer picture of salary ranges, you can explore available assignments for a variety of travel nursing roles:
- Travel NP jobs
- Travel RN jobs
- Travel LPN jobs
- Travel LVN jobs
- Travel CNA jobs
- Travel surgical tech jobs
- Travel CMA jobs
Specialty
The average annual registered nurse salary in the U.S. is $98,430, or $47.32 per hour, but this can vary according to the specialty you choose. Here are some common hourly traveling nurse salaries, based on specialty:
- ER travel nurse salary: ~$42 per hour
- ICU travel nurse salary: ~$61 per hour
- NICU travel nurse salary: ~$61 per hour
- Pediatric travel nurse salary: ~$37 per hour
Location
Geography is another contributing factor. While big paychecks are attractive, keep in mind the cost of living varies greatly throughout the country and affects travel nurse salary by state. In some cases, your dollar may go further in areas where the paychecks and stipends aren’t as big.
View nursing jobs in the states with the highest income for travel nurses:
You can also check out nursing jobs in the cities known for the highest travel nurse salary ranges:
Certifications
Specialty nursing certifications can give travel nurses a competitive edge and a higher paycheck. Certifications signal to staffing agencies and employers that you have specialized skills and are prepared to hit the ground running for short-term assignments. Some agencies even offer bonuses or reimbursement for nurses who maintain in-demand credentials.
Credentials like Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) are required for many contracts, but more advanced or niche certifications can set you apart.
See specialty nursing certifications below:
- Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN)
- Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN)
- Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN)
- Psychiatric Nurse Certification (PMH-BC)
- Ambulatory Care Nursing Certification (AMB-BC)
- Certified Nurse Operating Room (CNOR)
- Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN)
- Certified Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurse (CPHON)
Care Settings
How much do travel nurses make in different facility types? It’s true that work area is another major factor in your nursing income. Check out the annual salaries for RNs in different healthcare settings:
- Outpatient care centers: $107,650
- Scientific research and development services: $103,930
- Specialty hospitals: $103,500
- General medical and surgical hospitals: $101,060
- Skilled nursing facilities: $87,370
- Home health services: $89,940
7 Common Stressors Travel Nurses Face
Why do travel nurses make more than staff nurses? A travel nurse salary is more than the typical staff nurse because they face more risks, inconveniences, and additional stressors than staff nurses. That’s not to diminish the stress or high workload of staff nurses. In a similar way, staff nurses who work night shifts (usually) receive a pay differential for working an inconvenient shift that has negative health impacts.
1. Short Orientation
Most travel nurses receive one to two days of orientation to their unit and facility. Comparatively, a staff nurse typically receives a few weeks to months of orientation. This means the travel nurse is often learning the layout of the unit and how they operate as they also care for patients. This is one of the reasons travel nursing isn’t typically recommended for new grads.
2. Financial Insecurity
Although travel nurses are compensated at a higher rate than staff nurses, they do have more risks regarding job and income security. They are signing a contract to work for a predetermined number of weeks, whereas staff nurses are typically long-term employees.
While most travel nurse agencies have an agreement in their contracts that protects them from having a contract canceled at the last minute, there are instances where promised shifts or hours may be changed or dropped.
For example, if the census in a unit drops, the travel nurse may be called off because the priority would go to the staff nurse to work their agreed-upon hours. Also, the travel nurse is being paid more, so the facility is incentivized to call them off first. This instability can be a stressor to the travel nurse.
3. Relocation
Even for the travel nurses who love an adventure, moving can still be stressful and costly. There’s no getting around it, even if you’re able to find available housing. Some travel agencies provide a tax-free relocation stipend or travel reimbursement to offset the financial burden, but uprooting your life is a challenge for even the most relaxed person. Then, to have to turn around and do it again for your next assignment? It can take its toll.
4. Separation From Friends and Family
Although you have the option to move your family with you, it’s not always feasible as a travel nurse. Travel nurses may commute long distances for their shift, stay in a hotel for three or four nights away from family, or go away for the entire contract. As you can imagine, this long distance can be disruptive for both the traveling nurse and their family.
5. Learning New Policies and Procedures
Each facility has its own set of policies and procedures, and travel nurses have to become familiar with them in a limited amount of time. This can add to the stress of a short-staffed unit and a fast-paced work environment.
6. Working in Short-Staffed Units
If you’re a nurse, you can likely empathize with the stress of working short-staffed. We don’t have to explain it to you! Travel nurses are usually hired to supplement existing staff, so they typically work in units with inconsistent or short staffing, high turnover, and nursing burnout.
7. Always the Newbie
Because travel nurses frequently move from facility to facility, they have limited time to build rapport with their coworkers. As a result, many feel like they are constantly having to prove their competence to fellow nurses, physicians, and other members of the healthcare team. It can be lonely to work this way.
Travel Nurse Salary and Experience: FAQ
Why do travel nurses make so much?
It’s highly likely that if you talk to a travel nurse, they’ll tell you they aren’t paid enough. But why do they make more than staff nurses? It’s mostly to offset the inconvenience. They are working away from home and family, have limited scheduling/shift selection, and are almost always working in units that are short-staffed. Translation: They’re signing up for stressful positions, at a baseline.
Is travel nursing limited to RNs?
No — CNAs, LPNs, RNs, and APRNs can all take advantage of traveling positions.
Who pays travel nurses?
Travel nurses are typically hired by a travel nurse agency that also handles the payroll. The facility the nurse works for pays the agency, and then the agency pays the nurse.
Do staff nurses treat travel nurses poorly?
This largely depends on the unit culture. Some units welcome travel nurses with open arms, seeing them as a blessing. Other units may see the traveling nurse as an outsider and give them last-minute admissions and more difficult assignments since they are paid more.
Do travel nurses pay taxes?
Yes, travel nurses must pay taxes on their income. The way taxes are paid may vary depending on whether the traveling nurse is hired as a 1099 contractor or W2 employee. If they are a 1099 contractor, the nurse is responsible for withholding and filing their taxes quarterly. If they are a W2 employee, their agency will withhold their taxes from their paycheck, and the nurse will file their taxes annually.
Travel nursing vs. per diem nursing salaries: How do they compare?
Travel nursing typically offers higher overall compensation than per diem work, especially when factoring in tax-free stipends for housing, meals, and travel. Per diem nurses may have higher hourly rates and more schedule flexibility.
The key difference lies in commitment — travel nurses sign contracts for weeks or months, while per diem nurses pick up shifts as needed without a long-term obligation. And some nurses look for the best of both worlds with per diem travel nursing, where they can work in various locations with added schedule flexibility.
What are the benefits of travel nursing beyond the pay?
While pay is a big draw, travel nursing comes with other perks. You’ll gain diverse clinical experience, build your resume quickly, and explore new locations across the country. Travel nurses also develop adaptability and confidence, making them competitive for future roles. For many, it’s also a chance to avoid burnout by changing scenery and taking breaks between contracts.
Is Travel Nursing For You?
Though travel nursing has its challenges, a travel nurse salary might be sounding pretty attractive right about now. If it sounds like the right career step for you, we can help you find a good fit. Search for travel nursing jobs with IntelyCare and apply today.
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