highest pay travel nurse

Top 10 Highest Paying Travel Nursing Specialties | 2023

The highest-paying travel nursing specialties depend on a variety of factors including location, demand, and urgency of needs.

Click here for available high-paying travel nurse opportunities!

For example, OR nurses are one of the highest-paid specialties; however, an OR travel nurse in Hawaii most likely will make drastically less than an OR travel nurse in New York. Fields that are more specialized can have the potential to earn a higher salary because there are fewer nurses in those fields.

Most travel nurse experts will explain that oftentimes the specialty, while important, is not as important as the location. While the following specialties are in demand and highly paid, the location and length of the contract typically do more to determine the pay rate .

Keep in mind, that travel pay will also reflect the local cost of living. Therefore, it is important to take this into consideration when looking at take-home pay.

Becker’s Hospital Review completed a survey of more than 18,000 travel nurse positions back in 2019 that identified the following travel nurse specialties as the top paying. Here’s what their average national salaries look like today!

Top 10 Highest Paying Travel Nursing Specialties

1. operating room (or) nurse: $3,041/week.

Operating room nurses can either function as circulating or scrub nurses during procedures. Typically, travel nurses assume the role of a circulating nurse; however, it depends on the setting.

OR nurses are highly skilled and the more experience with different body systems, the more desirable you will be.

2. Labor and delivery (L&D) nurse: $2,857/week

Labor and delivery nursing is consistently one of the highest-paid travel nursing specialties because of the overwhelming number of births in many hospitals.

In addition, labor and delivery nurses can often work in postpartum and newborn nurseries, which increases the demand for them, and subsequently, the pay rates.

3. Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurse: $2,836/week

NICU nurses work strictly with critically ill neonates and newborns. Because of the patient population and the skills required to provide medical care for them, there are positions available constantly. With fewer nurses to fill the roles, hospitals often offer premium pay to NICU nurses.

4. Post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) nurse: $2,830/week

PACU nurses care for patients after surgical procedures. These nurses must be well versed in the care of a variety of post-operative care.

5. Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurse: $2,807/week

Travel nurses who have a specialty in the ICU have the responsibility to look after patients who have experienced accidents, trauma, surgery, and organ failure. ICU nurses often have advanced training and certifications, which means increased pay packages.

Furthermore, ICU nurses can essentially work or float to most units in the hospital. This also increases demand.

Licensed and ready to travel? Find assignments in your specialty.

6. Emergency room (ER) nurse: $2,752/week

Since COVID-19, ER nurses have been in short supply. As a result, travel ER nurses can make excellent money in most locations throughout the country. Because of the fast-paced nature as well as the overall intensity of the ER, there is expected to be an ongoing shortage of ER nurses in the future.

7. Step-down unit nurse: $2,736/week

Step-down nurses specifically care for patients immediately after they leave the ICU. The patient-to-nurse ratio is lower than on a medical-surgical floor but slightly higher than in an ICU. Many of these patients are still sick but they no longer require the acute care they were receiving in the ICU. Oftentimes, these nurses have similar skills and nursing certifications to an ICU nurse, which means lots of demand and an appropriately high pay rate.

8. Pediatrics nurse: $2,731/week

Pediatric nurses can often work in a variety of settings and healthcare facilities, which makes them valuable and the result is high pay packages.

9. Telemetry nurse: $2,698/week

Similar to medical surgical nurses, telemetry nurses primarily focus on patients requiring advanced cardiac monitoring. Telemetry nurses often care for more critically ill patients than medical-surgical nurses. They monitor changes in condition, record and interpret vital data to assist with patient assessment, and are responsible for educating patients on home health care.

10. Medical-surgical nurse: $2,534/week

One of the most common travel nursing specialties, medical-surgical nurses are found throughout the hospital working with a variety of patients. Medical-surgical nurses provide patient care for a variety of medical conditions and often have heavier patient assignments than in an ICU setting.

*Salaries from Indeed

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The 8 Highest Paying Travel Nurse Jobs in 2024

Job seeker, job seeker featured, salary, travel nurse jobs, travel nursing jobs.

Higher earning potential is why many RNs chose to transition to travel nursing in the last few years. Other reasons you might consider making this transition yourself may include:  

• A change of work environment and an opportunity to learn new hospital cultures. 
• The ability to travel to and explore new places. 
• Job security, with options nationwide. 
• Broadened experience and skills. 

No matter your reason, a travel nurse salary can be extremely lucrative. However, it’s important to keep in mind that not  all  assignments and locations pay more than perm positions.   

Factors like the city/state of your assignment, your specialty, and even the shift you’re willing to work have a significant influence on your paycheck as a travel nurse. Here are a few key factors healthcare travelers should consider when seeking out the highest-paying travel nurse jobs.  

Travel Nurse Specialties  

As with perm nursing jobs,  your specialty  plays a big role in how much you get paid. Your travel nursing goals should always be taken into account, however, if you’re set on increasing your travel nurse salary, consider one of the following higher-paying specialties.   

• Oncology  Nurse  – Hospitals are consistently seeking travelers with hands-on experience caring for patients (both medical and surgical) with different varieties of cancer.   
• NICU  III Nurse  – NICU III travel nurses are always in high demand, as hospitals need people who can care for critically ill babies  and  support the needs of parents and family during this emotional time.   
• Pediatric Intensive Care Unit  (PICU) Nurse  – Qualifications for and experience working with young patients in the PICU of a children’s hospital will keep you in high demand, filling a need that hospitals consistently have.  
• Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit  (CVICU) Nurse  – If you have specific experience in cardiac and neuro ICUs, you’ll most definitely have an edge over other critical care nurses when it comes to getting placed on assignment.  
• Cardiovascular Operating Room  (CVOR) Nurse  – As a part of the cardiovascular surgical team, CVOR nurses tend to make more per hour because surgeries bring in a large portion of hospital revenue.  
• C ardiac Catheterization Lab  Nurse  – Hospitals struggle to find nurses with experience in procedural areas like the cath lab—making these jobs in higher demand, with more lucrative hourly rates.  
• Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist  (CRNA)  – CRNAs require more education than many other nurse specialties due to the added risk and accountability associated with anesthetics. Due to this requirement, CRNAs are often in short supply.

Highest Paying Travel Nurse Locations  

California – The most populous and geographically diverse state in the U.S., California is known for its vibrant culture and varied landscapes and climates.  

• Average Weekly Pay Range: $3,200 – $3,550  
• Average Monthly Pay Range: $12,800 – $14,200  
• Average Annual Pay Range: $166,400 – $184,600  

Alaska – The largest state in the U.S. is characterized by its extreme and diverse climate, with cold winters, long summer days, and vast wilderness expanses for outdoor lovers!  

• Average Weekly Pay Range: $2,600 – $2,875  
• Average Monthly Pay Range: $10,400 – $11,500  
• Average Annual Pay Range: $135,200 – $149,500    

Connecticut – This New England landmark is known for its subtropical summers, cold winters, charming coastal towns, and historical significance.   

• Average Weekly Pay Range: $2,375 – $2,750  
• Average Monthly Pay Range: $9,500 – $11,000  
• Average Annual Pay Range: $123,500 – $143,000  

New York – A bustling and iconic state, New York state is known for its cultural richness and diverse neighborhoods.   

• Average Weekly Pay Range: $2,100 – $2,745  
• Average Monthly Pay Range: $8,400 – $10,980  
• Average Annual Pay Range: $109,200 – $142,740  

Massachusetts – Massachusetts is a historic and intellectually vibrant state in the New England region, distinguished by prestigious universities and known for its gorgeous fall foliage as the weather cools for winter.   

• Average Weekly Pay Range: $2,400 – $2,740  
• Average Monthly Pay Range: $9,600 – $10,960  
• Average Annual Pay Range: $124,800 – $142,480  

Hawaii – Hawaii is a tropical paradise boasting a consistently mild climate with warm temperatures year-round.   

• Average Weekly Pay Range: $2,300 – $2,540  
• Average Monthly Pay Range: $9,200 – $10,160  
• Average Annual Pay Range: $119,600 – $132,080  

Washington – This rainy state comes along with vibrant urban areas, stunning natural beauty, and a diverse culture.   

• Average Weekly Pay Range: $2,290 – $2,500  
• Average Monthly Pay Range: $9,160 – $10,000  
• Average Annual Pay Range: $119,080 – $130,000  

New Jersey – Residents of New Jersey will boast about its suburban communities and bustling urban areas with a diverse landscape and climate.   

• Average Weekly Pay Range: $2,250 – $2,500  
• Average Monthly Pay Range: $9,000 – $10,000   
• Average Annual Pay Range: $117,000 – $130,000  

In addition to location, your hours may vary depending on your specific assignment and specialty, significantly influencing your wage*. For example, cities with a higher cost of living typically pay higher wages — but keep in mind that you do have to consider your other needs associated with that cost of living.   

It’s also common to see a trade-off between desirable locations and pay rates. For example, Hawaii is a highly desirable state for many travel nurses, so you may find pay rates there are inversely a bit lower. On the other hand, a less desirable location, like North Dakota in January, may inversely offer a higher pay rate.      

The big takeaway about the location of your travel nurse job is that your flexibility is key, and determining high-paying states for travel nurses is dependent on several factors beyond the base pay package . The more flexible you are regarding location, the more likely you are to go where current demand takes you—and that often means a higher paycheck.   

If you can be uber-flexible on location, it’s wise to maintain multiple state licenses and know your way around the  nurse licensure compact . That way, you can more swiftly apply for and accept high-demand jobs wherever they may be.  

* Estimated pay and benefits packages based on current job data. Bill rates can change frequently and without notice. Exact pay and benefits package may vary based on several factors, including, but not limited to, guaranteed hours, travel distance, demand, experience, eligibility, etc.

Highest Paying Travel Nurse Assignments  

Regardless of location and specialty, unexpected circumstances can also present financial opportunities for travel nurses. When you travel with  Medical Solutions , our expert team is always here to help you quickly acquire the licenses and certifications needed for rapid response, crisis, or  strike assignments. Plus, we offer  licensure and specialty certification reimbursement !    

• Crisis and Rapid Response Assignments   Hospitals and medical facilities are willing to pay travel nurses top dollar to fill roles when there’s an urgent need. If you have the flexibility to arrive quickly and stay as long as the need keeps you there — and if you’re open to traveling anywhere the need may take you — you can find yourself with assignments that are rewarding in pay  and  experience.     Crisis travel nurse jobs look fantastic on resumes, making these travelers even more appealing to employers, and increasing the likelihood of matching with high-demand roles in the future.   
• Strike Assignments   Strikes most often occur when a hospital and union cannot come to an agreement on a labor contract that’s up for renewal or when workers face unsafe conditions. Despite the reason for a strike, continuity of care is crucial for patients in affected facilities and travel nurses can make a good sum of money in  strike assignments  because of the urgent need.

Travel Nurse Qualifications  

Any travel nurse with the proper certifications and experience deserves a high-paying travel nursing job if that’s what they want. The basic requirements to become a travel nurse include:  

• Earning your ADN or BSN degree.
• Passing the NCLEX.
• 1-2 years of recent, in-hospital experience as a nurse. 
• Earning your appropriate licensure and certifications per location and chosen specialty.

Meeting these requirements will put you well on your way to accessing the highest paying travel nursing jobs.

To check out if Medical Solutions currently has any high-paying assignments for travel nurses or allied health professionals, contact your recruiter or call our 24-hour customer care line at 1.866.633.3548 . We’re always hard at work placing talented travel nurses and negotiating to get them the highest travel nurse pay possible.   

Original post created by Sarah Wengert Nov. 5, 2020.

• What is a Travel Nurse Salary
• How Much is a Travel Nurse Salary
• What is the Average Salary for a Travel Nurse

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How to become a travel nurse, what qualities do you need to be a travel nurse, what qualifications do travel nurses need.

25 Highest Paying States For Travel Nurses In 2023

Traveling around the country is a desirable possibility for nurses like me who want to make more money and shake up our professional life. Not only is there the potential for a higher salary, but there is also the excitement of visiting new places. Most nurses considering traveling look for the highest-paying states for travel nurses. After years of contemplation, I took a travel assignment in California because I needed to make money quickly while in graduate school and was relocating out west that year. Before I made a significant thirteen-week move across the country, I looked up “What are the highest paying states for travel nurses?” What I found after all my research surprised me! This article covers the 25 highest-paying states for travel nurses in 2023.

What is the Average Salary for Travel Nurses in the United States?

What are the highest-paying states for travel nurses, state #1: california, state #2: hawaii, state #3: oregon, state #4: massachusetts, state #5: alaska, state #6: washington, state #7: new york, state #8: new jersey, state #9: nevada, state #10: connecticut, state #11: minnesota, state #12: rhode island, state #13: maryland, state #14: arizona, state #15: colorado, state #16: new mexico, state #17: georgia, state #18: delaware, state #19: texas, state #20: new hampshire, state #21: illinois, state #22: virginia, state #23: wyoming, state #24: wisconsin, state #25: michigan, my final thoughts.

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

We aggregated more than 4 million travel nursing salaries from the past 5+ years. Now we're revealing pay rates and job trends nationwide in our interactive pay explorer!

Average Pay (per week) $2,104.95 Based on 2,519,766 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 $130.24 above average
• Epic Travel Staffing (formerly Emerald Health) 50,000+ jobs $76.93 above average
• Premier Healthcare Professionals 50,000+ jobs $74.61 above average
• Aureus Medical Group 50,000+ jobs $60.39 above average
• MedPro Healthcare Staffing 50,000+ jobs -$8.51 below average
• TotalMed 50,000+ jobs -$36.06 below average
• Triage Staffing 50,000+ jobs -$92.42 below average
• Job Availability
• Aequor Healthcare 50,000+ jobs -$102.95 below average

Top Locations Nationwide

• California 50,000+ jobs $229.88 above average
• New York 50,000+ jobs $212.86 above average
• Massachusetts 50,000+ jobs $196.79 above average
• Illinois 50,000+ jobs $82.92 above average
• Ohio 50,000+ jobs $32.81 above average
• Washington 50,000+ jobs $27.87 above average
• Pennsylvania 50,000+ jobs -$118.90 below average
• Texas 50,000+ jobs -$187.03 below average
• Pay is adjusted to a normalized 36 hours 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 $41.38, or $1,490 per week, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics registered nurse occupational outlook .

The average hourly rate for travel nurses is $58.50, or $2,100 per week, according to the StellarNurse Ultimate Travel Nurse Salary Explorer .

The average hourly wage for a travel RN is $17 higher than staff nurse pay, and the average salary per week is $610 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 potential reaching upwards to $15,000 more than staff nurses.

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

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.

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.