Salary of a Traveling Nurse
According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, recent data shows that the average annual salary for an RN in the United States is $75,510, well above the average salary for all occupations in the U.S.. Annual salaries are influenced by various factors, including location, experience, advanced education, and specialization. Nurses who work in hospitals and outpatient centers tend to earn more than those who work in other settings such as physicians offices. Good news for travelers, since the vast majority of travel positions are in acute care settings. Compensation for travelers tracks along with changes in pay for staff nurses overall, but there are differences.
Do Travelers Earn More?
In general, yes. Hospitals hire travelers because they are in need of skilled clinicians, and they are willing to pay accordingly. The more skills and certifications you can offer, the more likely you are to earn higher pay. Similarly, the more willing you are to work in a location that is experiencing a hiring challenge, the more pay you are likely to earn. Note, locations like Florida and Hawaii are so sunny and alluring, that healthcare staff are always willing to head in that direction. However, northern Alaska in the winter? Make sure you ask your recruiter to get you the best possible compensation package. You deserve it! By the way, don't write off locations like this. Our travelers tell us that these assignments are often rewarding on many levels: a patient population that is truly appreciative of their work, a chance to strengthen a resume and build critical thinking skills -- a team-building experience like no other. And sometimes, an unspoiled location that is a life-changing experience.
Comparing traveler compensation to staff compensation is a little like comparing apples to oranges. While traveler's hourly pay can differ from that of a staff nurse, remember, that’s before travel nursing benefits kick in. Once your free private housing (or stipend), health insurance, referral bonuses, travel and licensure reimbursements or other stipends are taken into account , a travel nurse salary looks very different. And let's not forget the tax-free compensation that you may qualify for when you are traveling.
A Prosperous Travel Nursing Salary in All 50 U.S. States
The beauty of working with a top-rated travel nursing agency is the rare opportunity it presents to take as many as four different travel nurse jobs per year, or in one long-term assignment you’ve fallen in love with. And what’s not to love? Over 70% of our hospital clients at 50 States Staffing include A-list healthcare facilities, many of whom top the list of America’s best hospitals in U.S. News & World Report. Our agency’s rewarding R.N. jobs are available in virtually every specialty—and located in both urban hotspots and charming locales nationwide. Travel nurses who join our team will have a chance to work with a company that lives up to its name, literally—staffing both registered nurses and therapists in hospitals, clinics, and outpatient centers from coast to coast.
At 50 States Staffing, our VIP customer care works diligently to match your clinical talents with the best nursing jobs possible, and to ease your transition into the travel nurse lifestyle without a single bump in the road.