Travel Nurses vs. Staff Nurses
| Role | Average U.S. Salary (2023) |
|---|---|
| Travel registered nurses | $118,400 |
| Staff registered nurses | $75,380 |
Sources: ZipRecruiter, ZipRecruiter
Alaina Ross, BSN, RN, a postanesthesia care unit travel nurse, says she typically makes 30 to 50 percent more as a traveler, including her housing stipend, than she did on staff. "You have much more use in negotiating pay as a traveler, and as such, it generally pays better."
Part of that higher number reflects missing benefits. Travelers usually do not get the health insurance, retirement matching, bonuses, raises, and union benefits a staff RN receives, so the pay has to make up the difference. Several factors then move the number up or down.
Factors That Affect Travel Nurse Pay
Location
Where you work matters. Ross's California contracts paid twice what her Texas contracts did. Staffing shortages and cost of living drive some states and cities higher, and state taxes affect your takehome. As of March 2023, ZipRecruiter listed New York, New Hampshire, and Arizona as the highest-paying states. The top five cities:
| City | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Santa Clara, CA | $145,890 |
| San Francisco, CA | $140,740 |
| Fremont, CA | $137,450 |
| Marysville, WA | $137,360 |
| San Jose, CA | $133,000 |
Source: ZipRecruiter
Nursing Specialty
Specialty drives pay too. As of March 2023, ZipRecruiter reported travelers in specialty roles earning $50,630 to $63,060 above the $118,400 travel-nurse average. The top five specialties:
| Specialty | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Operating Room Travel Nurse | $181,460 |
| Telemetry Travel Nurse | $173,940 |
| Medical-Surgical Travel Nurse | $169,480 |
| Operating Room Travel | $166,900 |
| Clinic Travel Nurse | $152,360 |
Source: ZipRecruiter
Living Arrangements
Taking the housing stipend instead of company-provided housing can raise your overall pay, especially if you find a cheap place to live. The stipend is the extra money the agency pays you to arrange your own housing, and anything you save below it stays in your pocket.
Four Ways to Boost Your Pay
Find a good recruiter. A good recruiter chases assignments that fit your needs. Tell them exactly what you want. As Ross puts it, give them your desired locations, contract lengths, and minimum pay, and see what they round up. To find strong recruiters, join travel nursing communities like The Gypsy Nurse and connect with other travelers on LinkedIn or Facebook for recommendations.
Choose high-demand assignments. States with severe shortages and remote or unpopular locations pay more. Ross says recruiters text her constantly with large offers for undesirable spots. Crisis assignments pay even more: as of March 2023, ZipRecruiter put the average crisis travel RN salary at $150,560 a year.
Be selective. You can decline any assignment that does not meet your pay expectations. Ross says travelers today hold a lot of power and can afford to be choosy. Work with several recruiters at once and pick from what they bring you.
Take the stipend and find cheaper housing. Ross recommends taking the housing stipend when offered, since it can make a big difference in net pay. For half her assignments she lived in an RV with her husband to cut housing costs. If you do not have an RV, rent a room, use extended-stay hotels, or book short-term rentals to save.
Making Extra Money Between Assignments
A side job between or alongside contracts adds income. You can find these on Indeed, LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter, and Glassdoor:
- Telenursing. Work remotely as a telephonic triage nurse, virtual coach, or case manager. Telehealth nurses averaged about $36 an hour as of March 2023.
- Private duty nursing. Work oneonone with patients in their homes on flexible shifts, also averaging about $36 an hour in March 2023.
- Health writing. Use your clinical knowledge to write articles for blogs, publications, and pharmaceutical companies, paid per word or per article.
- NCLEX prep writing. Build practice questions and study materials for nursing licensure exam companies.
- Nursing tutoring. Education companies hire nurses to support students preparing for the exam.
Maximizing travel pay comes down to knowing your worth, weighing your options, and negotiating for them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much more do travel nurses make than staff nurses? Travel pay typically runs well above staff pay. ZipRecruiter pegged the average travel RN at $118,400 versus $75,380 for staff RNs in March 2023, and nurses like Alaina Ross report 30 to 50 percent more as travelers including the housing stipend. For a federal baseline, the national median for all RNs was $93,600 in May 2024 (BLS).
Why does travel nursing pay more? Higher pay partly offsets missing benefits. Travelers usually do not get health insurance, retirement matching, raises, or union protections, so the rate has to make up the difference, and staffing shortages in high-need locations push offers higher.
Which states and specialties pay travel nurses the most? High-cost, high-shortage markets pay best; California cities led ZipRecruiter's 2023 list, and crisis assignments paid around $150,560. Operating room, telemetry, and medical-surgical specialties topped the specialty rankings.
Should I take the housing stipend or company housing? Taking the stipend and arranging cheaper housing (a room, extended-stay hotel, short-term rental, or even an RV) lets you keep whatever you save below the stipend amount, which often raises net pay.
Do travel nurses pay taxes on the housing stipend? Stipends are generally tax-free only if you maintain a qualifying tax home and meet IRS rules for duplicated expenses; otherwise they can be taxable. Confirm your situation with a tax professional familiar with travel nursing.
How do I find the highest-paying travel assignments? Work with strong recruiters (and several at once), tell them your target locations, contract lengths, and minimum pay, and stay selective. Travel communities like The Gypsy Nurse and other travelers are good sources for recruiter referrals.