How Much Do Travel Nurses Make?

Learn how much the average travel nurse makes in different states, how it compares to staff nursing salaries, and which specialties pay the most.

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How Much Do Travel Nurses Make?

How Much Do Travel Nurses Make?

Travel nurses typically make between $81,000 and $128,000 a year and have an average annual income of $105,021.  If we dig even deeper into the data from Zip Recruiter, we see that in the United States in 2023, travel nurses earn, on average: 

  • $50.49 per hour
  • $2,391 per week 
  • $105,021 per year

What you can make as a traveler varies by nursing specialty, location, demand, and more. Travel nurse pay typically consists of an hourly rate in addition to stipends and reimbursements for housing and living expenses. These stipends can be tax-free, adding to higher take-home pay due to lower taxation.  

With all of the factors affecting travel nurse pay- it is super important to stay up-to-date on the latest information. Pay is important. Whether you are new to the traveling world or a travel nurse veteran, it can be complicated.  

As a travel nurse, you are valuable. You bring unmatched flexibility, skill, and knowledge- and meet an essential need in today’s healthcare climate. Patients continue to receive high-quality care despite regional staffing challenges, and healthcare systems experiencing staffing crises keep functioning- because of travel nurses. 

At Trusted, we are transparent about our pay policies and work hard to ensure our travelers are always paid what they are worth. We want you to be aware of and empowered by the value you bring to patients and healthcare systems. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about travel nurse pay! 

‍How Much Do Travel Nurses Make a Year? 

According to Zip Recruiter, the average annual travel nurse pay clocks in at: 

  • $105,021 per year
  • New York, along with other states that have a higher cost of living, tend to have the highest travel nurse salaries, averaging at $128,000 per year. 
  • Other states with lower costs of living, such as Arkansas, typically clock in with an average travel nurse salary of $81,000 per year. 

Factors like how many contracts, how many weeks are worked, and how much time off you take affect your annual pay. Travel nurses are not salaried employees- travel nurses get paid an hourly wage, plus stipends and reimbursements, which vary from contract to contract.  Your specialty and location are also important factors. 

How much a travel nurse works in a year is totally up to you! Flexibility is one of the greatest benefits of being a travel nurse. While taking little time off between contracts will undoubtedly lead to more annual pay, many travelers enjoy extended periods of not working. No matter what your decision is, your Nurse Advocate at Trusted will support you. At Trusted, you will never be rushed into beginning another contract once you have finished one. Let us know what you want and when you want it, and we will help you find it! 

How Much Do Travel Nurses Make an Hour?

How much a travel nurse earns per hour varies by location, specialty, and demand. According to Zip Recruiter, the hourly average pay for travel nurses is: 

  • $50.49 per hour
  • States with a higher cost of living can have average pay rates of $61.67 per hour or more.
  • States with a lower cost of living lean toward an average pay of $39.04 per hour.

Keep reading to discover how location, specialty, and need impact travel nurse pay. We’ll take a closer look at these factors later in this post. First, we want to review travel nurse pay at Trusted and ways you can maximize your take-home pay.

How Much Do Travel Nurses Make Working with Trusted Health? 

We know that we’re providing a lot of data and numbers, and that is because we want to be fully transparent with your pay information. On that note, here’s more specific data to show you what travel nurses make when they work with Trusted! 

The following graphs reflect the average gross pay (taxable and non-taxable earnings) from nurses working contracts with Trusted thus far in 2023, organized by highest paying state and specialty. This is how traveling at Trusted Health compares: 

Top Five Highest-Paid States for Travel Nurses at Trusted Health

State
Average Gross Weekly
 Monthly
13-Week contract
Minnesota $2,996 $11,985 $38,948
Alaska $2,978 $11,914 $38,714
New Jersey $2,923 $11,692 $37,999
California $2,915 $11,660 $37,895
New York $2,800 $11,200 $36,400

‍

Top Five Highest-Paid Specialties for Travel Nurses with Trusted Health

Specialty
Average Gross Weekly
 Monthly
13-Week contract
RN First Assist
 $3,507 $14,029 $45,594
Pediatric Operating Room
 $3,393 $13,572 $44,109
Cardiovascular Operating Room
 $3,271 $13,086 $42,529
Interventional Radiology
 $3,163 $12,653 $41,123
Cardiac Cath Lab
 $3,144 $12,576 $40,872

‍

Want more details and information? Check out our Salary Guide.  

Maximizing Your Take-Home Pay as a Travel Nurse

How much you make as a travel nurse is positively impacted by the tax benefits available for traveling professionals. Here are some of the key tax advantages of travel nursing that maximize your pay:

  • Non-Taxable Stipends: Travel nurses receive tax-free stipends to cover expenses like lodging, travel reimbursement, meals, and incidentals. A traveler will often receive both a housing stipend and a daily stipend, or “per diem.” Stipends are calculated based on government-set rates specific to the location of your assignment. Stipends are meant to benefit a traveler who is duplicating living expenses while working away from home. 

Since these stipends are not considered taxable income, they can significantly increase your overall earnings.  If you have questions about whether or not you qualify for tax-free stipends, be sure to read our guide on travel taxes and check-in with your tax advisor! 

  • Lower Taxable Rates: Travel nursing pay packages often combine taxable and non-taxable components. Typically, your hourly rate is taxable, and stipends are non-taxable. 

Since taxable rates for travel nurses tend to be lower than regular staff nursing rates, a smaller portion of your total salary is subject to taxation. This effectively reduces your tax liability and increases your take-home pay!

It's important to note that tax laws and regulations can be complex and subject to change. It is highly recommended to consult with a qualified tax professional or accountant specializing in travel nursing to ensure you understand and maximize your tax benefits per current regulations and your personal situation.

Factors Affecting Travel Nurse Pay

When choosing a travel nurse assignment, it's important to consider the factors that impact your pay package. We’ve mentioned specialty, location, and demand. Let’s take a closer look at how and why these factors affect your pay, plus a few more.  

1. Specialty 

Your nursing specialty is a key factor determining how much you can make as a travel nurse. The specialization and expertise required in certain areas of nursing often translate into higher compensation. Some specialties may also require travelers to take call, which also affects total pay. 

2. Location

How much travel nurses make varies across different states and cities. Just as pay varies across assignments, the cost of living does, too. Some of the highest-paying states and top-paying cities are often the most expensive to live in. When contemplating a contract, it is important to look at how much you will make there and how much you expect to spend there. 

Pay can differ from location to location based on local regulations. Stipends are calculated based on government-set rates specific to a location. A higher cost of living translates to a higher living and housing stipend for travel nurses. 

Overtime laws also vary from state to state. For example, in California, nurses often receive 1.5x their standard rate for any hours worked beyond eight in a day, with 2x their regular rate for hours above 12 in a day. In most other states, overtime pay doesn’t begin until 40 hours per week.

3. Facility Need

When the need or demand for travel nurses is high, facilities may offer premium pay rates to attract travel nurses and accommodate this high demand. This is why you will see different rates for the same travel nursing specialty at different facilities, even within the same city. Rates will fluctuate with supply and demand, and with a particular facility and unit’s level of need.  

Facility need will increase during public health crises. This occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic- when nursing shortages and the demand for nurses were at an all-time high, travel nurse pay was as well. 

Another example of this is during extreme staffing crises, such as strikes. When nurses at a facility are striking, that facility’s demand for nurses will be exceedingly high. Because of this, pay to cover striking facilities is also very high. However, strikes are often short-term in length and are unpredictable in nature. 

4. Shift Type

How much you make as a travel nurse can be affected by the shift you work.  The overall need on the shift available for you as a traveler will impact the rate offered to fill the role.  For example, a facility may have trouble fully staffing their less desired shifts, like night shifts or weekends, so they will likely offer higher pay rates to fill these staffing gaps. 

5. Choice of Agency 

As a travel nurse, one of the most critical choices that can affect how much you make is your choice of travel nurse agency. Travel nurse staffing agencies work to help match travel nurses with contracts, and some agencies have larger overhead expenses than others. Other agencies simply choose to keep more profit within the company- and these factors lead to reduced pay for their nurses. 

At Trusted, we are transparent with our pay practices, and many of our nurse advocates and staff have been travel nurses in the past. We know what it's like to be in your shoes- and you won’t find slimy, pushy recruiters or low-paying contracts here! You are our most valuable resource at Trusted, and we work hard to maximize your pay and make your travel nurse experience the best it can be.

Are You Ready to Explore High-Paying Travel Nursing Opportunities?

Sign up with Trusted today to discover exciting travel nursing opportunities and take advantage of the highest-paying jobs and tax benefits available. We offer a seamless platform to connect travel nurses with top-notch assignments tailored to their preferences and career goals, and we make this process transparent, easy, and enjoyable.  

If you value flexibility and varied experiences, travel nursing can be the key to maximizing your income. Trusted knows the value, skill, and experience that travel nurses bring to the table- and we work hard to ensure our travel nurses are paid what they are worth. Whether you're seeking higher pay, exciting experiences, or the chance to explore new locations, Trusted has got you covered!

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How Much Do Travel Nurses Make?

Learn how much the average travel nurse makes in different states, how it compares to staff nursing salaries, and which specialties pay the most.
← Back to Travel Nursing 101

How Much Does a Travel Nurse Make?

In the realm of nursing careers, travel nurse salaries vary based on specialty, location, and level of demand. Overall, travel nurses tend to earn more than their staff nurse counterparts.  This is particularly true in larger cities and during periods of heightened demand, such as pandemics. 

The data shows that staff registered nurses earn an average of $42.80 per hour (approximately $89,010 per year). However, travel nurses can earn around $50 per hour (on average $105,021 per year). Notably, travel nursing pay packages often include a mix of taxable and non-taxable income in the form of stipends and reimbursements, resulting in a higher take-home pay due to lower taxation.

‍Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics & ZipRecruiter

‍

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Maximizing Take-Home Pay with Tax-Free Compensation

As a travel nurse, you can enjoy tax benefits that can positively impact your take-home pay. Here are some key tax advantages associated with travel nursing:

  • Non-Taxable Stipends: Travel nurses receive tax-free stipends to cover expenses like lodging, meals, and incidentals. These stipends, often referred to as "per diems," are calculated based on government-set rates specific to the location of your assignment and are meant to accommodate a traveler who is duplicating expenses while working away from home. Since these stipends are not considered taxable income, they can significantly increase your overall earnings.  If you have questions about whether or not you qualify for stipends, be sure to check in with your tax advisor! 
  • Lower Taxable Rates: Travel nursing pay packages often consist of a combination of taxable and non-taxable components. Since taxable rates for travel nurses tend to be lower than regular staff nursing rates, a smaller portion of your total salary is subject to taxation. This effectively reduces your tax liability and increases your take-home pay!

It's important to note that tax laws and regulations can be complex and subject to change. It is highly recommended to consult with a qualified tax professional or accountant who specializes in travel nursing to ensure you understand and maximize your tax benefits in accordance with current regulations and your personal situation.

Factors Affecting Travel Nurse Pay

When choosing a travel nursing assignment, it’s important to consider other factors that can impact your pay package. Most clinical nurses are hourly employees. That means the amount of money you make is directly tied to how many hours you work (this can be a good or bad thing depending on how you look at it). To understand travel nurse pay comprehensively, consider these key factors that come into play:

1. Shift Type

The choice of shift you choose to work can impact your earnings.  The need on the shift available for you to fill as a traveler will impact the rate offered to fill the role.  For example, a facility may have trouble fully staffing their less desired shifts, like night shifts or weekends, so they will likely offer higher pay rates to fill these staffing gaps. 

2. Employment Classification

Different classifications, such as staff, part-time, per diem, or travel nurse, come with varying compensation levels. While staff nurses may enjoy more consistent employee benefits, opting for per diem or travel nursing assignments can result in higher hourly compensation and enhanced flexibility. If you value flexibility and varied experience, opting for a travel nursing position can be key to maximizing your income.

3. Facility Need

Facilities may offer varying pay rates to attract professionals or accommodate short-term demand.  This is why you often see differing rates for the same travel nurse specialty at different facilities, even in the same city.  Rates do fluctuate with supply and demand as well as a particular facility and unit’s level of need. 

4. Specialty 

Nurse specialty plays a role in determining the pay of travel nurses. The level of specialization and expertise required in certain nursing specialties often translates into higher compensation.  You can find more information on specialty-based compensation within our Nursing Specialties Guide. Based on the trends that we’ve seen in Trusted travel nurse jobs over the past 2 years, these have been the top 5 highest paying specialties: 

  1. Pediatric Vascular Access
  2. Pediatric ICU 
  3. Operating Room 
  4. NICU
  5. Labor & Delivery 

5. Location

Travel nursing pay differs across states and cities. The set stipend limits discussed above vary by city, as do laws pertaining to when overtime rates apply. For example, in California, staff nurses often receive 1.5x their standard rate for any hours worked beyond eight in a day, with 2x their regular rate for hours past 12 in a day. In many other states, overtime pay doesn’t begin until 40 hours in a week.

How much money you make is only part of the equation; you also have to look at how much you can expect to spend at your travel destination. Just as travel nurse pay varies from assignment to assignment, so too does the cost of living. Often, some of the highest-paying states and top-paying cities are also the most expensive to live in. 

Top-Paying States for Travel Nurses:

‍So, where do travel nurses make the most money? We’ve listed out 5 states where travel nurse pay tends to be higher than average.  Keep in mind that travel nurse pay rates fluctuate frequently based on supply and demand and are impacted by many factors including start date, contract length, shifts per week, etc.  You’ll want to be sure to check out our Nurse Salary Explorer to compare pay between travel nurses and staff nurses in any location. 

Without further ado, here are the states with the highest average hourly pay for travel nurses! Don’t forget, these are only base rates- travelers receive tax-free stipends too! 

New York 

Average hourly rates of $61.67/hr

Experience the electric energy and endless possibilities of travel nursing in the vibrant state of New York. From the iconic streets of New York City to the scenic beauty of the Finger Lakes and Adirondack Mountains, New York also offers a diverse range of opportunities for adventure and career growth. As a travel nurse in New York, you can immerse yourself in world-class healthcare facilities, cultural landmarks, and a melting pot of diverse communities. Explore our available travel nursing jobs in New York today and embrace the excitement of the Empire State!

Arizona

Average hourly rates of $52.78/hr

Embrace the sunshine and desert beauty while embarking on an exciting travel nursing journey in Arizona. Known for its awe-inspiring landscapes, including the Grand Canyon and Sedona's red rocks, Arizona offers a unique and enriching experience for travel nurses. Immerse yourself in the rich Native American culture, enjoy outdoor adventures, and discover the bustling city life of Phoenix and Tucson. Browse our available travel nursing jobs in Arizona today!

Wyoming

Average hourly rates of $52.77/hr

Embrace the rugged beauty of the wild west and discover travel nursing opportunities in Wyoming. From the stunning landscapes of Yellowstone National Park to the vibrant energy of Jackson Hole, Wyoming offers a unique experience for adventurous travelers. With a wide range of healthcare facilities and a high demand for nursing professionals, Wyoming provides an ideal setting to enhance your career while immersing yourself in the beauty of the great outdoors. Explore our available travel nursing jobs in Wyoming and embark on an unforgettable journey.

Hawaii

Average hourly rates of $52.72/hr

Indulge in the tropical paradise of Hawaii and embark on a truly extraordinary travel nursing adventure. With its stunning beaches, lush landscapes, and vibrant culture, Hawaii offers a unique experience for travel nurses seeking both professional and personal fulfillment. From the bustling city life of Honolulu to the tranquil beauty of Kaui and the Big Island, Hawaii provides an enchanting backdrop for your nursing career. Explore our available travel nursing jobs in Hawaii today and let Trusted Health guide you towards an unforgettable experience in the Aloha State.

Tennessee 

Average hourly rates of $51.78/hr

Immerse yourself in the rich history, music, and southern charm of Tennessee. From the lively streets of Nashville, the Music City, to the scenic beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee offers a delightful blend of urban excitement and natural wonders. Experience top-notch healthcare facilities, indulge in mouthwatering cuisine, and embrace the warm hospitality of the Volunteer State. Check out our available travel nursing jobs in Tennessee!

Source: ZipRecruiter

Ready to Explore High-Paying Travel Nursing Opportunities?

Are you ready to discover exciting travel nursing opportunities and take advantage of the competitive salaries, tax benefits, and diverse nursing specialties? Trusted offers a seamless platform to connect travel nurses with top-notch assignments tailored to their preferences and career goals. Whether you're seeking higher compensation, unique experiences, or the chance to explore new locations, Trusted has got you covered!

Sign up with Trusted Health now and start your rewarding travel nursing adventure!


Travel Nursing Basics

What Does a Travel Nurse Do?
What Is a Travel Nurse?

Travel Nursing In Detail

How to Find Travel Nurse Housing
How to Find the Highest Paying Travel Nursing Jobs
How Much Do Travel Nurses Make?
What Are Travel Nursing Agencies?

Browse high paying travel nursing jobs

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