The Highest-Paying States for Travel Nurses + 5 Ways to Increase Your Salary

This is a common question among nurses. Both nurses take care of the same patients and perform the same duties. But travel nurses uproot their lives (and sometimes families) to move to another state. Plus, they often duplicate expenses, paying rent/mortgage in two places simultaneously. They also do not get the benefits awarded to staff nurses, such as PTO, and may have to carry their own private insurance. Which is all the more reason for the common discussion of the highest-paying states for travel nurses.

According to Indeed.com, the current U.S. travel nurse salary is $127,380 annually, which is $54.59 per hour. When looking for the highest-paying travel nurse jobs, location matters. The following chart is a current ranking of the 50 states from highest to lowest pay that also compares travel nurse pay to staff pay. Other considerations that affect income include the cost of living, 401K and other retirement benefits, and the current staffing demands in that area.  

*Information sourced from Indeed.com and accurate as of 11/28/22.

And if you’re looking for a printable version, here are the top 10 highest paying states for travel nurses:

Travel nurses can continue taking advantage of the highest rates by choosing regions experiencing nursing shortages and working in higher-paying specialties.  

Populated Cities and States

Metropolitan cities tend to have higher paying wages. You’ll find that travel nurse jobs in California, travel nurse jobs in New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., and Las Vegas tend to maintain the highest rates. This goes hand in hand with demand and a higher cost of living.

Nursing Specialties

Medical-surgical units and long-term care facilities usually pay the least when it comes to travel nursing. To ensure a pay raise over the long term, specializing in a certain area like critical care, OR, emergency department, or cath lab can bring in more money.  

Crisis Assignment

Many states are still experiencing high COVID admissions and are paying higher wages to attract more nurses. RSV season hit especially hard this year, and NICU nurses are in high demand to care for pediatric patients. For nurses who are capable of helping in areas of natural disasters or hospitals experiencing severe nurse shortages, the pay will be higher.

Strike Nursing

Strikes occur when unions and the hospital cannot agree on pay rates, working conditions, and other benefits. In the meantime, patients still require care. Nurses are hired temporarily to fill staffing gaps until staff nurses return to their positions (usually 1-2 weeks max). Strike nursing is controversial in the travel nursing world. Some nurses feel the strike nurses are betraying their own. But the pay is extravagant and hard to pass up, with rates over $100 an hour.

Shift Differentials

Historically, night shifts pay more than day shifts. This is true for both travel and staff nursing positions. Night shift requires a complete alteration in sleep patterns and how and when you complete daily tasks.  

Management Positions

If you have experience as a nurse manager or supervisor and possess an advanced degree, you are well-prepared for a management position. These are not the usual positions travel nurses seek, but they are needed to fill gaps for reasons such as maternity leave or interim coverage until a permanent leader is found.  

There are steps you can take on your own to increase your skill set and qualifications to get the highest pay.

1. Compact Licensure

The Enhanced Nursing Licensure Compact (eNLC) currently includes 38 states. If you have a compact nursing license, you can work in any of these qualifying states without having to apply for a license. This can save time and money when looking for your next assignment.  

The following states are included in the eNLC:

• Alabama
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Colorado
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Idaho
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio - Joining 01/1/2023
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania - Awaiting implementation
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

Guam and the Virgin Islands are also awaiting implementation.

2. Locate Your Own Housing

There are two options for housing: agency-provided housing or a housing stipend. Opting for the housing stipend may take a little legwork on your end, but results in a more ideal living space and added money in your pocket.  

3. Gain Certifications

Many nursing roles require certifications to qualify for certain positions, such as stroke certification for telemetry nurses and ACLS for emergency or critical care nurses. Consider other credentials that can make you stand out as a superior candidate that may place you in higher-paying travel nursing roles. For example, an Oncology Certified Nurse (ONCC) may be able to land an in-demand job in a chemotherapy infusion center.

4. Work Overtime  

While not everyone’s favorite choice, overtime (OT) shifts often pay much higher rates. By law, this is 1.5 times the base pay. Some travel agencies and hospitals pay even more. These high hourly rates can rack up travel nurse pay.

5. Negotiate

In the end, you have to negotiate for what you deserve. Have a conversation with your recruiter to help place you in positions that meet your goals. Your base rate, OT pay, bonus pay, relocation pay, and other stipends can all be negotiated. You know what they say; unless you ask, the answer is always no.  

“Nurses with experience know their value and understand the demand for their skill set,”

noted Lora Sparkman, MHA, BSN, RN, Relias Partner in Clinical Solutions for Patient Safety & Quality.

“There is definitely opportunity for all nurses to negotiate their salary, and that is a real positive for the nursing profession.”  

As you navigate the evolving landscape of travel nursing, consider the diverse and rewarding opportunities available with Advantis Medical. We offer a range of positions in some of the highest-paying states for travel nurses. For those interested in Stepdown nursing, check out our Stepdown nursing position in Milwaukee, WI, which offers a challenging yet rewarding environment. If MedSurg-Tele is your specialty, explore opportunities like our MedSurg-Tele role in St. Louis, MO, where you can enhance your skills in a dynamic setting. For nurses looking to work in Progressive Care Units, our PCU position in Richmond, VA offers a great opportunity to work in a critical care environment. Additionally, if you're a Certified Surgical Technologist, consider our Certified Surg Tech role in Boston, MA, where you can join a team of professionals in one of the nation's top hospitals. These positions not only provide competitive pay but also the chance to work in diverse healthcare settings, furthering your professional development and experience in the field of travel nursing.

Advantis recruiters want you to find a travel assignment that fits your desired salary. Help us help you by signing up and filling out your AdvantisConnect profile entirely. This way, we can match you with a contract that checks all the boxes. For instance, if you're specialized in Stepdown, check out our St. Louis, MO Stepdown Travel Nurse Job for an opportunity that might be perfect for you.

Ready to embark on your travel nursing journey? You can browse exclusive, high-paying travel job openings from the #1 rated travel nurse agency today! Choose to work with one of our dedicated Pro Recruiters to receive white-glove service or express your interest in specific jobs directly on our individual job pages.