travel nurse companies that provide housing

Travel Nurse Housing

Your go-to travel nurse housing resource

Searching for housing?

You've got options.

Whether you want furnished housing provided for you or a housing stipend to find your own place instead, the choice is yours! You may find that Aya-offered housing is best for one assignment while the housing stipend works better for another. It’s okay to switch between housing options from assignment to assignment.

CHOOSE AYA HOUSING AND WE’LL FIND YOU THE PERFECT PLACE.

If you’d rather have one less thing to worry about, this is the option for you. You’ll get a nice place to live without having to lift a finger yourself. You may even live near other traveling nurses – and everyone knows that travel nurses are the best company!

TAKE THE HOUSING STIPEND INSTEAD AND DO IT YOURSELF.

Some travel nurses are experts at finding housing online. Some prefer living in an RV so they can bring their housing with them wherever they go. Others may want to choose a location that is between work and somewhere else they want to be, like the beach, ski slopes or the big city.

If you enjoy house or apartment hunting or already have your housing set before you begin an assignment, choosing the housing stipend may be your best bet.

Traveling with a pet? No problem!

Just let your recruiter know so our housing team can ensure you and your furry friends find the perfect spot. Read more about Aya travelers who bring their pets along on their assignments.

Want to rent your place?

Do you have a furnished rental you’d like to list for travelers? Complete our form to submit your property now.

Privacy Overview

Private Housing

If you choose to elect housing and transportation provided by medical solutions, our expert housing and travel team is here to serve your needs. they know that caring for others all day can be stressful, so they go above and beyond to provide you with comfortable, low-stress accommodations during your assignment., with medical solutions, your housing is always:.

• Paid by the company
• Fully furnished
• Utilities Included - such as gas and/or electric, water, sewer, and trash - with set-up covered by Medical Solutions
• 32" flat-screen television and DVD player

Your housing options can also be customized according to your special needs such as:

• Pet friendly
• Floor level
• Washer/dryer
• Traveling with a family
• And more -- just be sure to talk to your recruiter upfront about any additional needs or preferences!

What does pet-friendly housing mean?

We know that our clinicians and their pets come as a package deal, so we proudly offer pet-friendly housing options. When you take our company-provided housing, we’ll help you find pet-friendly housing for your cats and/or dogs. Some properties or vendors may not allow or have restrictions for certain pets; in these cases, our team will do everything they can to find alternatives for you. We also cover refundable pet deposit costs upfront for you.

Paid Transportation

When Medical Solutions is your co-pilot, all your travel needs will be covered:

• Leased intermediate-size rental car, with LDW insurance coverage and unlimited mileage included
• Flights to and/or from your assignment

Taking a Housing or Travel Stipend Instead?

If you prefer to arrange your own housing and/or travel accommodations, you’re eligible for a housing stipend. Luckily, our housing and travel team is still a valuable resource for you, and we are always happy to help share recommendations or answer questions. Plus, as a current Medical Solutions traveler, you have access to our company discounts — including hotel and lodging deals such as:

• Avis & Budget Car Rental
• Hertz Car Rental
• Enterprise & National Car Rental
• Southwest Airlines
• Delta Airlines
• Hilton Hotels
• HotelEngine.com

Have housing you would like us to consider? Submit your information here so we can get it saved in our system!

What do clinicians say about our housing.

“We got to the apartment late last night, but had no trouble getting in and settled. We were impressed that the apartment was so large and fully furnished — much better than my last company. It felt like home as soon as we walked in the door!”

Jenna, Medical Solutions traveler

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Travel and Housing with Freedom

Free housing and travel for travel nurses, because we specialize in rapid response assignments, which can start in as little as 10 days from the initial request, it’s important that we help our travel nurses get to their destination and settle in., we take care of everything so that you start your next travel job in the best state of mind..

Travel and Housing Covered Travel with peace of mind knowing transportation to and from your assignment is booked and covered, as is your new home away from home. We offer carefully selected private housing for your stay, or a housing stipend if you prefer to choose your own. And if you have any travel preferences—from aisle seats to direct flights—we will work to meet them.

Travel with Family & Pets One way to feel more at home away from home is to bring your loved ones with you. We know there’s no better emotional support system, so we do what we can to facilitate the travel of your loved ones. We will coordinate with you to select private housing that works, book flights together, even manage deposits.

If you would like tips on how to make the actual traveling easier and your housing feel more like home, check out our travel nursing resources .

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HOW DOES TRAVEL NURSE HOUSING WORK?

The biggest concern for most nurses and allied health professionals considering travel jobs: "where am i going to live" our dedicated travel & housing team is here to support you every step of the way. they work tirelessly to ensure you have the best accommodations. our travel & housing faqs explain what housing options are available, who pays for it, and how the accommodations are arranged. find the answers to these questions and more in our faqs..

How Does Travel Nurse Housing Work?

The biggest concern for most nurses considering travel jobs: Where am I going to live? The Travel Nurse Academy explains what travel nurse housing options are, who pays for it, and how the accommodations are arranged. Find the answers to these questions and more in our FAQs. ‍

We have a different approach to Travel & Housing. While we love setting up company provided housing, we also want our nurses to enjoy the perks of the tax-free housing per diem – it is a huge financial advantage of traveling.

We realize finding short-term housing can be tricky, and we want to help in a way that fits your needs! Our dedicated Travel & Housing team is available to provide housing recommendations, set up housing, give exclusive hotel and rental car discounts, answer questions, and more. We believe you have more important things to worry about than housing, including improving lives at the hospital. Below are all the ways our team can help you feel confident about your housing situation regardless if you took company provided housing or the housing stipend.

Company Provided Housing

Sit back and allow our team to put all the work into booking housing! We will provide fully furnished accommodations for the entire length of your assignment – you only need to bring your clothes and any personal belongings.

Why take company provided housing?

• Saves you time in researching and setting up housing.
• Simplest way to take a travel contract – you can focus more of your efforts on patient care.
• Eliminates upfront costs for housing.

Per Diem Assistance Program

Where most companies limit Travel & Housing assistance to company provided housing, we extend help to all our nurses, including those taking the tax-free per diem. Our team will provide housing research, discounts, answer questions, and provide advice no matter where your assignment is.

Why utilize the Per Diem Assistance Program?

• Allows you to take full advantage of the financial benefit of the per diem without the burden of finding housing alone.
• Saves you time researching housing.
• Resource for questions you may have about the area, housing set up, etc.
• Access to exclusive discounts on many hotels around the country.

Temporary Company Provided Hotel

Do you want to take advantage of the per diem, but need company provided housing the first few weeks while you get settled in? Not a problem! We can provide housing at a local hotel while you find your preferred housing to utilize the stipend on for the remainder of your assignment.

Why take a temporary company provided hotel?

• Eliminates immediate upfront housing costs until you find something else further into your assignment.
• Allows you to get acclimated with the area and affords you the ability to physically visit housing before committing.

Company Provided Rental Cars and Flights

Need of a way of traveling to your assignment or around your location for the duration of the assignment? Our Travel & Housing Specialists are happy to book a round trip flight to get you to and from your assignment. A rental car can be provided for all or part of an assignment if ground transportation is needed while on assignment.

Why take company provided cars or flights?

• Hassle-free way of traveling to and from an assignment – our team will set everything up!
• Eliminates high upfront cost of purchasing means of transportation prior to assignment.
• Our car rentals are insured and covered for any potential damage – you don’t need to provide your own coverage.

How Much do Travel Nurses Get Paid for Housing?

Travel nurses who choose not to use the company-provided housing will receive a tax-free stipend to pay for their travel nurse housing, utilities, and furniture. The amount of the stipend is dependent on the length and location of the contract. Short-term contracts may pay more or less depending on the needs of the hospital as well as the time of the year. Hospital census and markets can fluctuate, which can also be a factor in determining how much a facility is willing to pay for travel nurses . The cost of living within a large city may be more expensive than in a rural area. Utilities and rent may be more costly in a downtown area versus living on the perimeter of a large city or small rural areas. It is essential to discuss travel nurse housing options and the stipend with our agency housing department so you can find the best fit for you.

How Much Do Traveling Nurses Pay for Housing?

Travel nurses pay different amounts for travel nurse housing based on many factors. As a travel nurse, one of the benefits of your contract may be a tax-free stipend for housing if you chose not to use the agency provided travel nurse housing. Some travel nurses may travel with their significant other, kids, or pets. These nurses may want a two-bedroom apartment versus a nurse traveling alone and only needing a one-bedroom apartment or condo. Assess your particular travel situation and consult with our agency housing department to find the best option for you and your travel needs.

4 Best Travel Nursing Places to Stay

One- or two-bedroom apartment- furnished vs. unfurnished Townhome- furnished vs unfurnished Long-Term Hotel- furnished Airbnb, VRBO house/apartment- furnished

Travel Nurse Agency Housing Department

Health Carousel Travel Nursing’s housing department will help the travel nurse taking the tax-free per diem by providing the travel nurse with housing research, discounts, answering questions, and advice no matter where the assignment is. Our housing department wants to help our nurses find the best option for them and their particular situation so the travel nurse can be successful and enjoy their assignment.

Staying with Friends or Family

Depending on the assignment, travel nurses may be able to stay with local friends or family. This arrangement would allow the travel nurse to take the tax-free stipend and save money while staying for a free or reduced cost with friends or family. The travel nurse would have the support system provided by those friends or family, which can be helpful in a new work and living environment. 

Things to Consider When Finding Your Own Travel Nurse Housing

If you are starting your first travel assignment, it might be wise to take agency-placed housing. Travel nursing is full of firsts: first time in a different hospital, first time traveling, and first time being away from friends and family, so taking the stress out of finding housing might make things a bit easier  However, some travel nurses like the freedom to find their own accommodations. Travel nursing is full of wonderful new opportunities and adventures just waiting for you to take advantage of them.

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9 Best Travel Nurse Companies of 2023

Are you ready to try travel nursing? Working with a travel nurse staffing agency can make it easier to find travel nursing jobs and to negotiate pay rates and benefits. An agency gives you a point of contact who can help you navigate job listings and compensation packages.

The sooner you find the right company, the faster you can start traveling.

Click here for today’s top travel nursing opportunities.

How To Find The Right Travel Nursing Company

When looking for the best travel nursing company to suit your needs, you first have to know what your needs are.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself when considering travel nursing companies:

• Are you going to need health insurance?
• How important is it that you contribute to your retirement?
• Do you prefer to find your own housing or do you want your company to find it for you?
• Where do you want to travel?
• How do you plan on getting there?
• Do you plan on working per diem as well?
• What kind of healthcare facilities are you hoping to work in?

What to Look for in Travel Nursing Agencies

When looking into travel nurse agencies you should first make sure that they provide the basics: free housing or a housing stipend, health and dental insurance, a retirement plan, travel reimbursement, 24-hour customer support, and a variety and abundance of travel nursing jobs all over the country.

Here are a few tips from my experience about the basics:

Travel Nurse Housing:

Do you want your agency to find housing for you, or do you want to take the housing stipend and search for housing yourself?

I personally found it much easier to have my agency set up my housing for me. This way I knew it was safe, furnished, close to where I was working, and paid for. If there were any problems, all I had to do was call my company and it would be handled.

Many people choose to find their own housing and take the housing stipend instead. There are pros and cons to this choice:

Pros To Choosing Housing Stipends

• Your housing stipend depends on the city you live in, but oftentimes, it is more than the rent you end up paying. This is a good way to make some extra tax-free cash.
• You can find exactly the type of housing you’re looking for at the price you’re willing to pay. You can rent just a room for yourself and pocket a lot of cash. Or rent an entire house if you’re bringing your family or pets along. If you’re traveling with fellow coworkers, you can find a bigger house to share that fits everyone.
• You can choose where you live. Maybe you’re going to Seattle and you’d rather live downtown and commute to work than vs. living next to the hospital in the suburbs.
• There are several websites and groups now to help you find housing
• Once you’ve done it once, you understand how to find housing and can repeat the process in the next location.

Cons To Choosing Housing Stipends

• It can be difficult to find short-term furnished housing.
• Many landlords require a deposit, so you have to front that money before you get your first paycheck.
• If you end up extending your contract, it’s not guaranteed that your landlord hasn’t rented out the place to someone else.
• If you have never been to that city before, it can also be tough to determine whether a neighborhood is safe or not.

Another thing to keep in mind, if you are traveling with a pet, it may make it difficult to find your own housing. Oftentimes, travel nurse agencies have housing already contracted that accepts pets.

There are pros and cons to using your a travel nurse agency’s contracted housing vs. finding your own housing. It just depends on how much time and effort you can put into the search and if you’re hoping to pocket any extra housing stipend cash.

Benefits for Travel Nurses:

• The majority of travel nurse companies offer health and dental insurance.
• Now that the Affordable Care Act is in place, it might be wise to research whether or not it would be more cost-effective for you to go with your agency’s healthcare plan or purchase one of your own through healthcare.org. The benefit of going through healthcare.org is that if you do plan on switching travel nurse agencies, you won’t have to change your insurance.
• Some smaller travel nurse companies will give you a healthcare stipend if you don’t take their health insurance so you can purchase your own.
• As far as retirement plans go, I decided to open up my own Roth IRA and not contribute to the 401K because I didn’t know how long I was going to be traveling.  With some companies you can contribute to your 401K from day 1 and with others you have to wait as long as 1 year.

Travel Nurse Reimbursements

When talking with your potential travel nurse agency, make sure you ask them what the reimbursement is for travel. “Travel” cost is considered the amount of money it takes you to get from your “tax home” to your travel assignment or from one assignment to the next. Often times this can be negotiated if there is a high need in one state that happens to be across the country.

I have found that the average reimbursement is $500.

They will pay you half on your first paycheck and the other half when you complete your assignment. You have the option of either driving or flying to your next destination. I personally drove to each of my assignments; I couldn’t imagine trying to fit all my belongings into suitcases and I love road trips.

Important Pay and Benefits Questions to Ask

Not all benefits or pay packages are created equal. It is important to find an agency that offers benefits, housing, and pay packages that are specific to your needs.

1. What destinations does your agency serve?

The whole point of travel nursing is to travel…right? So it is important to find a company that serves the city or cities you want to travel to. Some agencies claim they have contracts nationwide, however, that may not be the case.

If you know of a specific hospital that you would like to travel to because it looks good on your resume or a specific city you want to explore, then make sure your potential agency has a contract at that location. This is especially important if you want to travel to places such as Hawaii and Alaska.

Match with a travel company here.

2. How are your pay packages broken down?

Does the company tend to pay a higher base rate with lower non-taxable reimbursements or a lower base rate with higher non-taxable reimbursements?

Having a higher base rate may serve you better if you plan on taking company housing, plan on buying a house, or getting a loan in the near future. If you are someone who likes to find their own housing, then a higher housing stipend may be the way to go with a lower base rate.

3. What types of housing do you provide?

Most agencies offer a one-bedroom furnished apartment for your typical 13-week contract. This typically does not include dishes, linen, a washer and dryer, a T.V., or even a vacuum. If you don’t like lugging your belongings around with you all over the country or paying out of pocket to rent this stuff, then it may be wise to either ask if the agency provides any of these necessities at no cost or find your own housing.

If your contract is only eight weeks, then you could get stuck in an extended-stay hotel. I personally like to have nice housing, so I wanted a company that focused on providing comfortable and safe housing options. If you like to find your own housing then this may not apply to you.

4. What type of benefits do you offer?

Most agencies offer medical/dental benefits and a retirement package. If these benefits are important to you, then finding a company with good benefits is essential.

If you like to live on the edge with no health benefits and you brush and floss your teeth like a champ, then maybe you don’t care about benefits. If this is the case then you can ask the company if they are willing to pay you a higher base rate for not taking their benefits.

As far as retirement packages go, I found it easier to do my own Roth IRA on the side. This way, if I switched companies I didn’t have to worry about moving my money all over the place.

Click here to discover new high paying opportunities.

5. What types of extra work-related costs do you reimburse for?

Travel nurse companies can reimburse you for the following:

• Licensing fees
• CEU (Continuing Education) requirements
• Certifications
• Required immunizations

Some travel nurse agencies have a CEU database that is free for their employees. This helps cut costs in those states that require a certain number to maintain or acquire a new license.

These extra costs add up over time so it’s nice to know your agency is looking out for your pocketbook.

6. What are your missed and canceled shift policies?

A missed shift means you called in sick, and a canceled shift means they canceled you for low census. For the most part, the hospital determines how the travel nurse agency handles this, and it will be written in your contract.

This is important because in the travel nurse world if you don’t work, you don’t get paid. And in some cases, you may have to reimburse your agency for housing costs.

There may be a clause written in your contract that allows you to “miss” a certain amount of shifts without being penalized. There will also be a clause that states how many shifts the hospital can cancel you. Usually, it’s once a pay period, and your agency shouldn’t require you to reimburse them for housing costs.

There are even some agencies that offer 100% guaranteed shifts meaning no matter what you will not get canceled.

Find travel assignments in your specialty here.

Other Questions To Ask a Travel Nurse Agency:

• What is the travel reimbursement?
• How much will health insurance cost me?
• If I don’t take health insurance, do I get a healthcare stipend?
• When can I start contributing to my 401K?
• Are there bonuses for extending assignments?
• How often do I get paid?
• Does the company also contract per diem work?
• Do they offer paid time off?
• Are there any referral bonuses available?

9 Best Travel Nursing Agencies

Here is a list and highlights of a few travel nursing companies to consider.

All of these companies offer the basics such as housing, benefits, travel reimbursement, staffing in all 50 states, and 24-hour customer support.

Click here to find the right company for you!

Find the Best Travel Nurse Agency for You

There are a number of travel nursing companies to choose from.

Finding the best travel nursing company that fits your needs and a recruiter that has your best interests in mind are absolutely essential for an enjoyable travel nursing experience.

The right staffing agency for you is out there, now is the time to find them!

  Click here for today’s top travel nursing opportunities.

You may also like

9 Insider Tips From A Travel Nurse Staffing Agent

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Everything You Need to Know About the Travel Nurse Housing Stipend

The travel nurse housing stipend is one of the largest components of the  travel nursing pay  package. Unfortunately, the travel nurse housing stipend is also steeped in nuance and complexities. As a result, it can cause a lot of confusion. So, in this article, we cover everything you need to know about the travel nurse housing stipend so you can approach the issue with confidence.

Why The Confusion About Travel Nurse Housing Stipends?

Travel nurse housing stipends cause confusion for several reasons. First, we’re not used to dealing with them because they are not a part of normal pay packages.

Second, different agencies handle housing stipends in different ways. For example, some agencies quote stipends as a monthly value. Others quote them by the week. And still others quote them by the hour.

Similarly, some agencies offer higher stipends than others. Although, as we’ll see below, that doesn’t necessarily mean they pay more overall.

Find your next travel healthcare job on BluePipes!

Third, different people, whether they be recruiters or travel nurses, explain housing stipends in different ways. Moreover, the internet is awash with misinformation about travel nurse housing stipends.

Rest assured, you’re in the right place to get the real scoop. This article is written and reviewed by a team with over 50 years of combined experience in the travel healthcare industry.

Let’s begin with a definition.

What is a Housing Stipend?

Simply put, a housing stipend is a sum of money an agency provides to a travel nurse to cover the housing costs that the travel nurse incurs while working a travel assignment. People also refer to the housing stipend as a “housing reimbursement”.

Most travel nursing agencies offer a choice between company housing or the housing stipend . You do not get both.

If you take the company housing , then the agency takes care of everything related to housing. If you take the housing stipend, then you’ll be responsible for finding, securing and paying for the housing .

Discover the ultimate travel nursing pay calculator.

While this all sounds simple enough, all the nuances make it much more complex. Now, to fully understand the housing stipend, we have to understand its legal and regulatory underpinnings.

Where does the concept of a travel nurse housing stipend come from?

There are actually multiple regulatory regimes that agencies can defer to regarding how they pay tax-free reimbursements like the housing stipend. For example, the IRS publishes “Special Per Diem Rates” annually. Meanwhile, the federal General Services Administration also publishes an annual list of per diem rates.

The rules are slightly different for each of these regimes. This means that different travel nursing companies will have slightly different polices and approaches to tax-free money depending on the regime they defer to.

That said, most travel nursing companies defer to the General Services Administration’s rates and rules. Therefore, we will focus on that regime in this article.

The “General Services Administration” (GSA) is a branch of the US Federal Government whose mission is to “oversee the business of the US Federal Government.” Of course, this means the GSA has many responsibilities.

One of those responsibilities is to establish the “per diem rates” for federal employees. “Per diem rates” are “the maximum allowances that federal employees are reimbursed for expenses incurred while on official travel.”

The GSA defines three expense categories: housing, meals, and incidentals. The GSA recognizes that these expenses vary with the cost of living across the country. Therefore, the  GSA publishes different rates for different locations throughout the United States .

In case you’re interested, we’ve discussed the  Meals and Incidentals stipend  in a previous article. We’ve also discussed 6 things travel nurses ought to know about the GSA rates in another article.

Why are the GSA Per Diem Rates important if they only apply to federal employees? Well, the IRS allows private sector employers to use the same GSA per diem rates for their employees.

Travel Nurse Housing Stipend vs. Per Diem

Now, you might be wondering why the GSA calls it “Per Diem” and we’re referring to it as a “stipend.” “Per Diem” is a Latin term that means per day. And the GSA quotes the lodging rates as daily figures. For example, the current Per Diem lodging rate for Sacramento, CA is $145 per day.

By contrast, a “stipend” is a “fixed regular sum paid as a salary or allowance.” This definition is a better fit for the travel healthcare industry because most agencies pay their housing reimbursements in lump sums. They typically pay them weekly or biweekly. Moreover, agencies typically quote their housing reimbursements as a monthly figure.

Also, using the term stipend helps avoid confusion with the healthcare industry’s use of “per diem” as meaning daily or on-call staffing.

Where does the travel nurse housing stipend money come from?

When people hear that the housing stipend is related to the government in some way, they sometimes think it comes from the government. You’ll see this on social media sometimes. It’s not true.

Instead, the money for the housing stipend, like all components of the travel nursing pay package, comes out of the bill rate. The bill rate is the hourly rate that the hospital agrees to pay the agency for an hour of the travel nurse’s work.

Should I expect to get the maximum travel nurse stipend allowed by the GSA?

Another common misconception is that the government, or the hospital, somehow requires agencies to pay the GSA’s maximum housing stipend to travel nurses. Here again, this is not true.

Similarly, social media might tell you that you should expect to receive the GSA max or use it as a barometer for expectations. They say if you get less than the max or some arbitrary percentage of the max, then you’re getting ripped off. Here again, this is not true.

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First, the GSA rates are the maximum amounts that an employer can reimburse tax-free. So, employers aren’t required to pay the maximum. Instead, they are required to pay the maximum or less. To be exact, if the employer pays more than the maximum, then the excess is taxable.

Second, the GSA rates are based on short term stays that typically require the use of a hotel. By contrast, travel contracts typically last for 13 weeks and are rarely less than 8 weeks. As you know, hotels are much more expensive than apartments. Moreover, hotels typically offer large discounts for long term stays.

What Does the IRS Say?

This is important because according to IRS rules, agencies must have a “reasonable belief” that the traveler will incur the costs that the agency reimburses them for. Meanwhile, many, if not most, of the GSA housing rates are much higher than the reasonable expectation for the cost of a 3 month stay.

For example, the GSA lodging rate in San Diego, CA is $161 per day. That’s $4,830 per month. Agencies should expect that their employees would be able to secure adequate accommodations in San Diego for much less than that.

How Travel Nursing Agencies Determine The Housing Stipend

So, how do agencies determine the housing stipend? Different agencies determine their housing stipends in different ways. Primarily, they consider three factors:

• The bill rate
• The GSA Max
• IRS guidelines

The Bill Rate and the Housing Stipend

The bill rate is a major determining factor for the housing stipend and the entire pay package for that matter. Think of the bill rate like a pie of money that needs to cover every cost associated with a travel nursing assignment. The agency can slice this pie up in different ways , but they can’t increase the size of the pie.

The taxable hourly rate, the employer’s payroll taxes, the cost of benefits, the cost of credentialing, housing and, yes, the agency’s gross profit all come out of the bill rate. So, the larger the bill rate, the more the agency can allocate to housing or other items and vice versa.

It’s important to note that all these variables do, in a sense, have a hierarchy. For example, the agency must factor in a reasonable taxable hourly rate before they determine the housing stipend. Similarly, they must factor in the employer’s portion of payroll taxes before they determine the housing stipend.

That said, some agencies don’t follow all the rules. For example, an agency may offer really low taxable wages so they can offer higher stipends . They do this so that their “ net pay ” is higher and therefore more attractive.

Please see the articles below for more information on how travel nursing pay packages work:

• Sample Breakdown of a Travel Nursing Pay Package
• How to Compare Travel Nursing Pay Packages
• 12 Types of Travel Nursing Bill Rates
• Is It Okay to Take $10 Per Hour as an RN?

The GSA MAX and the Housing Stipend

Different companies approach the GSA maximums in different ways. Some agencies will provide the maximum amount when bill rates support it.

Other agencies will provide a set percentage of the maximum amount. For example, they might provide 60% of the max for all their contracts.

Still other agencies will provide more than the maximum amount when the bill rate supports it. This is against the rules and we recommend avoiding these agencies. Also, please note that amounts in excess of the maximums are taxable.

In any case, it’s important to remember the pie metaphor when you evaluate travel nursing pay. Just because one company is paying a higher housing stipend doesn’t mean they are paying more overall. That said, it’s true that you will net more money if you receive more non-taxable income all else being equal.

IRS Guidelines

Agencies also consider IRS guidelines when determining their housing stipends. For example, the agency is supposed to have a reasonable expectation that the traveler will incur a cost that matches what the agency reimburses.

What is the Average Travel Nurse Housing Stipend?

You’ll see travel nurse housing stipends as low as $700 per month and as high as $5,000 per month. Again, that’s partly because stipend maximums vary dramatically from region to region. Also, bill rates vary dramatically.

That said, housing stipends will almost always cover the cost of suitable housing in the area you are traveling to. In rare cases, the housing stipend is not enough to cover the cost of suitable housing.

Due to these variances, knowing the average travel nurse housing stipend across the entire nation will do you no good. Therefore, don’t fixate on the amount of the stipend. Instead, you must evaluate the entire pay package to know if the pay is good or not. You can use our free travel nursing pay calculator to evaluate and compare pay like a pro.

What Percentage of The GSA Max Should My Travel Nurse Housing Stipend Be?

Some people argue that the housing stipend should be at least a certain percentage of the GSA maximum. While we understand the logic, you should still consider the housing stipend in context of the entire pay package.

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For example, let’s say an agency offered you a pay package where the housing stipend was only 30% of the GSA Max. However, the taxable rate was $150 per hour and they offered a $10,000 signing bonus. You might be wise to accept that assignment despite the low housing stipend.

If you’re interested in discovering what percentage of the GSA Max a housing stipend is, then you can use our free travel nursing pay calculator which will run this calculation for you.

Do I Qualify For The Travel Nurse Housing Stipend?

In order to qualify for the non-taxable housing stipend, you must meet the following requirements:

• You have a legitimate tax-home
• You are traveling away from that tax home for work
• You are incurring an expense for housing.

We covered tax homes for travel nurses in our four-part series on this topic. Please review those articles for everything you need to know.

Traveling Away From Tax Home

The IRS states that you can accept tax-free stipends if “you need to sleep or rest to meet the demands of your work while away from home”. It does not set a specific distance.

Please note that there is no such thing as a “50 mile rule”. We say this because you will undoubtedly hear that you can accept tax-free reimbursements as long as the work site is 50 miles away from your home. This is not even remotely true. We covered this topic extensively in this article .

Can travel nurses take the housing stipend if they don’t pay for housing?

It is against the rules to take the housing stipend if you do not actually pay for housing. For example, if you have family or friends who live in the assignment’s area and you stay at their home for free, then you do not qualify for the housing stipend.

It’s quite simple. You must incur an expense for housing in order to qualify for the housing stipend.

Do I need to keep receipts for housing when I take the housing stipend?

Given that you must incur an expense to qualify for the housing stipend, it might seem obvious that you would need proof that you incurred the expense. However, you will find conflicting answers from tax professionals and other sources alike.

Our position is yes, you must be able to demonstrate that you incurred an expense for lodging. If you are staying at a hotel, then you can keep the receipts. If you are staying at an apartment, then you can keep the lease agreement. If you are using AirBnB, then you can print the invoices.

In any case, you must maintain proof that you incurred expenses for lodging.

Can I take the full housing stipend if I only incur expenses on certain days of the week?

Recall that the GSA quotes daily rates. However, travel nurses do not work everyday of the week. But, travel nurses typically are not able to return home in between shifts. It’s simply too far. Therefore, the vast majority of travel nurses must secure lodging for the entire duration of the assignment.

As a result, the agency has a reasonable expectation that the travel nurse will incur a lodging expense for every day of the assignment, not just the days they work. That’s why agencies are able to pay housing stipends for every day of the week and not just the days the travel nurse works.

But what if a travel nurse is close enough to home that they can return home in between shifts? As a result, they would only need to pay for lodging 2 to 4 days per week. Can the travel nurse take the full weekly housing stipend if they only incur expenses on certain days of the week?

The simple and safe answer is no. If you are receiving a stipend for the entire week, then you need to incur an expense for every day of the week.

On a side note, we’ve heard that some agencies quote stipends “per shift”. For example, if the max lodging stipend is $100 per day, then the agency will split the $700 total across the number of shifts in the week. Next, the company claims that travel nurses only need to incur lodging expenses on the days they work. This sounds like a tax avoidance scheme. It’s definitely contrary to the spirit and intent of the reimbursement regime. We urge you to avoid these companies or seek tax advice if you choose to work with them.

Do you need to submit an expense report for the travel nurse housing stipend?

Here again, the internet has a lot of conflicting information about expense reports as they pertain to travel nurse housing stipends. We’ve even spoken to some Certified Public Accountants who say you must submit expense reports to the agency and others who say you do not.

Our position is that you should submit an expense report to your agency in order to ensure that you qualify for tax free stipends. The reason is that the IRS has provided an FAQ document about per diems . That FAQ clearly states that per diems are taxable to the employee if the employee does not submit an expense report to the employer. The expense report must include the following:

• The business purpose of the purpose of the trip
• The date and place of the trip
• The amount of the expense

As additional backup, this Investopedia article says the same thing .

The financial advantages of the housing stipend

Many travelers and recruiters tout the financial advantages of taking the housing stipend instead of company housing. And they’re right; in many cases, taking the stipend can be financially advantageous.

For example, if you are working with a company that offers a straight choice between a stipend and company provided housing, then you could pocket some extra cash if you’re able to find housing that costs less than the stipend.

There are other considerations and scenarios related to this particular topic. We covered them all in a previous article titled “ Should You Take Travel Nurse Agency Housing or Find Your Own? ” Please review that article for a deep dive on the financial advantages of the taking the travel nurse housing stipend.

Contract cancellation risk with the travel nurse housing stipend

As you know, financial advantages and gains typically come with financial risks. And there are a couple of financial risks with the lodging stipend.

If you sign a 3-month lease and your contract gets cancelled, then you could potentially lose a significant amount of money. Your name will be on the lease and you will be the responsible party.

If the agency provides the housing, then they’re the ones who are on the hook if the contract gets cancelled. They know this all too well. This is one reason that many agencies sell you so hard on the financial advantages of taking the stipend. They’d much rather that you shoulder the risk.

Some may argue that the employment contract typically assigns responsibility for costs to the traveler in cases where contracts are cancelled. However, this is only true in cases where the contract is cancelled with cause, meaning the contract is cancelled for some disciplinary or performance issue.

The original Universal Profile and Credential Management for travelers.

Unfortunately, hospitals cancel contracts for many other reasons, such as low census. Moreover, even when a contract is cancelled with cause, it’s often more trouble to collect from the nurse than it’s worth. Therefore, agencies often shoulder the costs associated with housing when they’re the ones providing it.

Avoiding the risks

That said, there are ways that you can avoid this risk. First, you can use Extended Stay and other hotels.

Second, you can look for month-to-month apartment leases. These are relatively rare, but they do exist. Similarly, you can ask property managers if they can include an early cancellation clause in their lease.

Third, you can utilize   housing options like vacation rental services , share rentals, and sublets. These options typically have more flexible terms and more reasonable prices.

Missed hours and cancelled shift risk

If you take the housing stipend, then you may be at greater risk of financial losses due to missed hours or cancelled shifts . Whether or not you face a greater risk depends on the company you work with. Again, different companies handle this in different ways.

You see, most companies include clauses in their contracts that issue penalties for missed hours and/or cancelled shifts. And remember, while it’s true that most  travel nursing contracts include a “guaranteed hours” clause , these clauses typically allow the hospital to cancel a certain number of shifts per 13 week contract. Moreover, guaranteed hours clauses never cover missed hours (ie calling in sick or scheduled time off).

These “penalties” exist to ensure the agency does not have to pay you if you do not work. As we mentioned above, agencies need to bill hospitals for a travel nurse’s time and they can’t bill if the nurse does not work.

To clarify, these “penalties” are designed to cover all the compensation variables except the taxable hourly rate. It’s not that the agency is going to take money from you that they have not paid you. Instead, they are going to claw back what they have already paid you or simply not pay it to you.

How it works

The missed-hours/cancelled shift penalties are typically equal to the value of all the stipends. The contract typically quotes them as an hourly value.

For example, if the lodging stipend, M&IE stipend and travel stipend have a combined value of $22 per hour, then the penalty for missed-hours would be $22 per hour.

How does this pertain to the stipend? If you take the stipend, then it’s much easier for the agency to simply withhold the prorated value of any missed-hours from your paycheck. They can just treat everything as an hourly payment. So, if you don’t work the hours, then you don’t get the payment.

It’s important to note that there are questions over the legality of this practice . The issue is that treating tax-free reimbursements this way may qualify as “wage recharacterization.” However, this doesn’t change the fact that many agencies engage in this practice. Therefore, it’s something travel nurses must consider when making their decision about the housing stipend.

By contrast, if the agency is paying for your housing, then they must actually garnish your wages to recoup the costs of housing. There are laws and legal issues that they may run afoul of when they garnish wages.

As a result, many agencies withhold stipend payments when you miss hours but don’t penalize you if you’re taking the company provided housing. Therefore, you wouldn’t lose money if you took the company housing and missed-hours, but you would lose money if you took the stipend and missed-hours.

Additional Information on Travel Nurse Housing

We hope you found this information useful! If you didn’t get all your questions answered here, then we have many additional articles on travel nurse housing that you will find useful. Here are 3 more in-depth articles on this topic:

• Should you take travel nurse agency housing or find your own?
• How to find your own travel nurse housing
• The Ultimate Guide to Travel Nurse Agency Housing

Related posts:

• Travel Nursing Pay – License and Certification Reimbursements Travel Nursing License and Certification Reimbursements License and certification reimbursements...
• Travel Nursing – Is It Worth It Without a Tax-home? Travel nursing agencies and their recruiters trumpet the benefits of...
• What Travel Nurses Ought to Know About Penalties for Missed Shifts and Cancelled Shifts Missed shifts and cancelled shifts are a regular occurrence in...

I have also see this happen to me before sucks. I’m a Surgical Tech and a sterile processing tech these companies are not at all concerned about treating us right. If you had a anything to say what would you have done to show your employees you care for them?

My assignment was delayed by a week by the hospital agency, and at no fault of mine. My company in turn is trying to charge me for a week in the apartment, saying the aren’t able to get any money from the hospital and they are out of “wiggle room” to make a profit. Am I to pay this money or find a lawyer? Seems like it should be between the hospital agency and my travel company. They are saying because they explained in the beginning the hospital was a “nightmare” I should be the one to pay. I have been with this travel company for 4 years and have met more issues lately. Seems like I’m the one who was out of work for a week that I shouldn’t get double deducted.

Thanks for the inquiry, Amber! I’m really sorry to hear about this situation. Unfortunately, it happens fairly often. Before weighing in I must say that I’m not a lawyer, so this is for informational purposes only. The practice itself is common in the travel nursing industry. However, that doesn’t mean it’s legal in all circumstances, or any circumstance for that matter. I’m not sure about the legality of the practice, and it’s tough to tell how a court or the labor relations board would rule in your particular case. The fact that you haven’t actually started the assignment yet might be a factor against you. However, my guess is that this shouldn’t matter. If the agency deducts the cost from your pay check, then you could file a complaint with the State’s labor relations board. It’s not a guaranteed victory, but it might be worth your time. If you do take action, we’d love to hear about it so we can help our readers be more informed about these issues.

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The Best Traveling Nurse Services to Work for in 2024

The travel nursing agencies we recommend for your next short-term post

Traveling nurses often find working in different parts of the country, or even the world, exhilarating and fulfilling. Many agencies focus on matching registered nurses (RNs) with short-term working opportunities in a variety of healthcare specialties and settings across the United States and internationally. Healthcare facilities in the U.S. rely on travel nurses to meet the demand for nurses, which is expected to soar by 275,000 between 2020 and 2030.

"Being able to explore other healthcare systems and connect with other providers can help give a travel nurse new experiences and perspectives," says Rachel Norton , BSN, RN, a clinician support manager at Vivian Health , a national travel nurse hiring marketplace.  We reviewed more than 20 agencies and studied hundreds of reviews to create this list of the best travel nursing agencies. We considered factors such as company quality, customer service scores, company reputation, wage ranges, housing options, and benefits.

• Best Overall: Triage Staffing
• Best for Sick Pay: Aya Healthcare
• Best for Education: Travel Nurse Across America
• Best Customer Service: Axis Medical Staffing
• Best Track Record: FlexCare Medical Staffing
• Best Newcomer: Advantis Medical
• Best for Benefits: RN Network
• Best Recruiters: Host Healthcare
• Best for Recent Graduates: Fusion Medical Staff
• Best Job Board: TotalMed
• Our Top Picks

Triage Staffing

Aya Healthcare

Travel Nurse Across America

Axis Medical Staffing

FlexCare Medical Staffing

Advantis Medical

Host Healthcare

• Fusion Medical Staff
• See More (7)

Final Verdict

• Compare Providers
• Guide to Choosing

Best Overall : Triage Staffing

• Pay: Hourly wage paid weekly, overtime, bonuses, per diem
• Housing: Tax-free stipend or company-secured housing for 13 weeks
• Benefits: Health coverage, dental and vision coverage, life insurance, 401(k) with company match, vacation, education reimbursement
• Contracts nationwide: Yes

Triage Staffing tops our list because it provides a higher hourly wage and more frequent bonuses than its competitors. Additionally, the agency offers extensive perks, like tuition reimbursement and 401(k) on the first day.

Contracts available in all 50 states

Insurance available on first day

Paid by direct deposit each week

Dedicated support team available 24/7

Reports of poor weekend support for billing issues

Must have 2 years experience for most positions

Triage Staffing , founded in 2006, is considered by industry professionals as one of the most well-rounded travel nurse agencies among the companies listed here and in general. The company was recognized in 2023 by Inc. Magazine and Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA).

The company, which currently has about 1,500 employees, is based in Omaha, Nebraska, and has an impressive rating on Glassdoor .

Triage Staffing specializes in helping nurses and healthcare professionals find 13-week assignments across the U.S. The company strives for transparency and "to build relationships deeper than simple business transactions." Those who are hired are paid weekly (based on an hourly wage) via direct deposit.

The benefits package includes a wage, overtime, bonuses, per diems, and a housing stipend. Triage will also help its travel nurses find housing, if that's their preference. Health insurance is provided by Blue Cross Blue Shield, and those hired get dental insurance, vacation time, and a 401(k) plan.

Best for Sick Pay : Aya Healthcare

• Pay: Hourly wage, overtime, bonuses, per diem, stipends when called off
• Housing: Tax-free stipend or company-secured housing
• Benefits: Health, dental, and vision coverage; life insurance; 401(k) with company match; sick pay; wellness and fitness programs; employee assistance programs; tuition reimbursement; loan forgiveness options

Of the many benefits Aya Healthcare offers, one makes it stand out from other agencies: providing sick pay should you become ill during an assignment. You can rest assured knowing if you get sick, Aya will support you through recovery.

Benefits include sick pay (after 90 days)

Offers local and nationwide travel assignments

Requires only 1 year of experience

Insurance coverage for you and your dependents from day 1

Complaints about communication during recruitment

Large agency size might be challenging

401k eligibility begins after 4 consecutive months of work or 1 year after hiring

Aya Healthcare is one of the most talked-about travel nursing agencies around, literally. A 2017 independent study analyzed the frequency of top travel nursing companies mentioned by users on social media sites. The study concluded Aya Healthcare is the most frequently referenced in user comments.

Aya Healthcare is also one of the only travel nursing agencies that have sick pay, which begins accruing on the first day of an assignment. Nurses can earn one hour for every 30 hours worked, but it can't be used until after at least 90 days after their start date.

In addition to its rare sick pay policy, the company boasts comprehensive benefits. Travel nurses working for Aya Healthcare can start contributing to a company-matched 401k plan after four consecutive months of work for the agency, or one year after their hiring date. It also promises to cover or reimburse nurses for the cost of licensure and help them navigate and expedite the process in the states where they are assigned. Aya Healthcare offers discounts, wellness, and nutrition plans in addition to its medical, vision, and dental benefits, which are available to nurses (and their spouses and children) from their first day with the company.

Aya Healthcare has a strong online presence, including a blog and active social media accounts on nearly every contemporary platform. Its website proudly displays several company awards and accolades, including the Joint Commission's Golden Seal of Approval. The agency has placed thousands of travel nurses and allied workers nationwide and offers a program for  travel nursing from Canada .

Best for Education : Travel Nurse Across America

• Pay: Hourly wage paid weekly, overtime, bonuses, per diem (guaranteed)
• Benefits: Health, dental, and vision coverage; liability insurance; 401(k) with company match; sick pay; travel reimbursement; free continuing education; mental health resources; employee assistance program; chaplain assistance program

Travel Nurse Across America (TNAA) offers comprehensive benefits; however, its continuing education programs are what really sets the agency apart. Thanks to a partnership with Aspen University, the agency helps you earn your BSN with tuition reimbursement upon completion.

RN to BSN tuition reimbursement

RN specialty exam/recertification reimbursements

Insurance coverage available on first day

Offers free mental health resources

Per diem guarantee

Unable to see pay rates on the site

Large agency size might feel less supportive

Travel Nurse Across America (TNAA) had the highest average score when analyzing the top 10 travel nurse agency lists across several well-known sites.

Founded in 1999 in North Little Rock, Arkansas, this company was present on three "Top 10" lists in 2019, a notable feat that speaks to its history of satisfaction. According to BluePipes, TNAA was among the top 10 travel nursing agencies, one of the biggest (in terms of company size) on its 2022 list.  

TNAA uses a full-team approach to assist travelers, with specialty staff equipped to handle a variety of needs, including housing experts and clinical leadership, This agency also offers a wide array of benefits, such as low census pay, tuition reimbursement, and paid licensure fees prior to travel. Overtime is included in the payment for any extra hours worked and in every state, paid sick leave starts to accrue from day one.

TNAA also partnered with Aspen University, so individuals can get their Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 12 months. Upon completion, TNAA will even reimburse tuition expenses. It also offers reimbursements for recertification fees to certain eligible nurses.

Best Customer Service : Axis Medical Staffing

• Benefits: Health, dental, and vision coverage; 401(k) with company match; state license reimbursement; transportation stipends; continuing education

With around-the-clock support 365 days a year, Axis Medical Staffing has one of the best customer service reputations in the industry. It offers a wide array of benefits, including healthcare coverage and company-matched 401(k) plans.

Dedicated support team available 24/7/365

Wide variety of specialty contracts

Offers company matching 401(k) with immediate vesting

Can submit questions to real travel nurses

Provides quick email responses

Pays for housing and assists in securing it

Not transparent about pay rates

Doesn't include paid sick leave in benefits

User reviews for Axis remain the highest on this list. Formed in Seattle, Washington, in 2004, Axis provides several coveted benefits, including payment of paid personalized housing options (with pet deposit costs covered by the agency), as well as immediate vesting in its company-matched 401(k) plan.

This agency regularly features a new  Traveler of the Month nurse on its blog. Additionally, the Axis website has a page dedicated to Ask an Axis Travel Nurse , which features an easy submission form where a nurse can answer all your questions.

This encouraging way of connecting can provide novice or even seasoned travelers with a trusted source in the form of a nursing peer who has traveled with this specific agency several times, instead of hosting an impersonal message board. Axis also offers a live chat feature that's easily accessible on the homepage. These features earned Axis the top spot on BluePipes Best Travel Nursing Companies list in 2022.

Axis promises reimbursements and benefits similar to other companies, but it is not immediately clear from the company's website whether it offers paid sick leave.

Best Track Record : FlexCare Medical Staffing

• Benefits: Health coverage, dental and vision coverage, 401(k) with company match, state license reimbursement, transportation stipends, meals and incidentals stipend, rental car, travel reimbursement, continuing education, license reimbursement

Boasting more than 50 industry awards, including BluePipes’s 2022 Best Travel Nursing Companies list, FlexCare Medical Staffing has a track record of exceeding expectations and fulfilling its promises to traveling nurses.

Award-winning, highly reputable agency

Single point of contact for all your needs

Outstanding benefits

Features a referral program

Have to make an account to view wages

BluePipes refers to FlexCare Medical Staffing as the "most decorated travel nursing agency of all time," with more than 1,727 reviews reported. This agency obtained a gold finish on Travel Nursing Central’s 2019 list of top travel nursing companies and has consistently placed since 2014. FlexCare has also been on the Highway Hypodermics list since 2011.

FlexCare’s website touts its  Premier Traveler Access program, offering prospective travel nurses the opportunity to unlock and view pay ranges for a wide variety of open jobs, in addition to personalized alerts via text and email. This agency explains its mission to support travelers by providing a single recruiter who is able to meet every need (termed “S1NGLEPOINT” on the website) and help simplify the entire process.

This one point of contact can advocate for the traveler, assist in searching for jobs and housing, provide a transparent and competitive salary rate, as well as ensure timely payment.

Best Newcomer : Advantis Medical

• Benefits: Health coverage, dental and vision coverage, 401(k) without company match, transportation stipends, partial license reimbursement

Advantis Medical has a nurse care team available to help you every step of the way—from setting up your profile and walking you through the onboarding process to helping you find your next assignment—making it an excellent choice for those just starting out.

Excellent reviews from its travel clinicians

Quick response times from trained care team

Has a great reputation in the industry

Site offers several communication methods

Site lacks information on benefits package

No company match for 401(k)

Founded in 2018 as a subsidiary of Advantis Global, Advantis Medical's user reviews are limited in number but are glowing regarding people's experiences with the company.

Advantis Medical recruits travel nurses and places them in top institutions across the United States. The agency offers client connections with hospitals, outpatient clinics, same-day ambulatory surgical centers, as well as skilled nursing facilities.

Advantis Medical’s specialization opportunities include placements in divisions like medical-surgical (M/S), emergency department (ED), intensive care unit (ICU), labor & delivery (L&D), and more. Its benefits include highly competitive compensation packages, direct deposit available from day one, assistance with housing options, health insurance (medical, dental, vision), and a 401(k) option.

The agency also has payment incentives for referrals. To make the process as seamless as possible, Advantis Medical has a one-minute application form which could not be any easier, especially for a traveling nurse who is always on the go.

Best for Benefits : RN Network

• Benefits: Health, dental, and vision coverage; life insurance; employee assistance program; Sanvello membership; Talkspace membership; Teladoc access; credentialing assistance; continuing education; traditional and Roth 401(k); travel reimbursement; loyalty program

RN Network provides a comprehensive benefits package that includes day-one health insurance and 401(k) options, plus additional perks like access to virtual therapy and medical care.

24/7 clinical support

Transparent about pay rate

Provides access to virtual therapy and medical care

Weekly pay via direct deposit

Completion, extension, and referral bonuses

No paid time off

Complaints of lower-paying contracts

Founded in 1998, RN Network has over two decades of experience in the travel nursing industry. Its experience shows in the company's user reviews, many of which highlight its great communication, support, and benefits.

The agency provides an impressive benefits package that includes day-one health insurance with a zero-premium option, as well as a 401(k) with company match, both traditional and Roth options. RN Network also offers access to Talkspace, Teladoc, and Sanvello's mental health app—ensuring its healthcare professionals have the mental health resources they need while on assignment.

Available contracts and pay rates are transparent on their user-friendly website, which can be a rarity in the industry. The company hires RNs, LPNs/LVNs, PCTs, and surgical techs for a variety of specialties throughout the country. Only one year of clinical experience is required, and the company offers a comprehensive onboarding program to help simplify the transition.

Best Recruiters : Host Healthcare

• Pay: Hourly wage paid weekly, plus overtime, bonuses, per diem, COVID quarantine pay
• Benefits: Health, dental, and vision coverage, life insurance; 401(k) with company match; travel reimbursement

Host Healthcare recruiters are some of the best in the business, according to clinician reviews. With exceptional customer service , the company strives to make the job hunt and placement process as smooth as possible for its candidates.

Excellent customer service

Straightforward job hunt and placement process

Offers a variety of housing options, including pet-friendly

24/7 support via multiple channels

COVID-19 quarantine pay available

Can’t view facility or pay without an account

Site lacks information on reimbursement offers

Founded in 2012, Host Healthcare is a travel healthcare staffing agency that works with some of the nation's top facilities. The company has earned multiple awards over the years, including being named one of the Top Travel Nursing Companies by BluePipes.

What sets Host Healthcare apart from other agencies are its recruiters, who are consistently praised by clinicians for their exceptional customer service. In reviews, nurses rave about their recruiters being responsive, receptive, and thorough in their onboarding and placement processes. The company also offers a variety of housing options, including pet-friendly ones, to ensure you have a comfortable place to call home while on assignment.

In addition to its comprehensive benefits package, which includes health insurance, dental, and vision coverage, Host Healthcare also offers a 401(k) with company match and COVID-19 quarantine pay. If your facility quarantines you due to possible COVID-19 exposure, the company will compensate you for the duration of your time off work.

One drawback is that the company requires users to sign up for an account before viewing facilities and estimated weekly pay . However, it hires across multiple specialties and licensure types, including nursing professionals, therapy professionals, and other allied health professionals.

Best for Recent Graduates : Fusion Medical Staff

• Pay: Hourly wage paid weekly, plus overtime, per diem, and bonuses
• Benefits: Health coverage, dental and vision coverage, life insurance, 401(k) with company match, short-term disability, travel and transportation per diem

Fusion Medical offers competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and transparent information about opportunities, and welcomes new graduates to sign up.

Transparent information for each job posting

Nationwide network

Attentive recruiters

Competitive pay and benefits

Open to new graduates

Per diem reimbursements may be less convenient for expenses like travel

Past complaints from LGBTQIA employees

Fusion Medical Staffing urges applicants to "choose your own adventure." With thousands of travel nursing positions across the U.S. available on its website, Fusion will definitely give you a lot to choose from.

Founded in 2009 in Omaha, Nebraska, Fusion doubled its size by 2016. The company racked up awards from Inc., People, and Staffing Industry Analysts for being among the best places to work and is rated 4.7 out of 5 on Indeed.com .

Assignments through Fusion Medical typically run 13 to 26 weeks and are available across a broad spectrum of nursing specialties. We particularly like how transparent the pay, terms, and benefits for each opportunity are on Fusion's website.

But what really makes the company stand out is its recruitment. Fusion offers 24/7 support and many of its travel nurses rave about their attentive recruiters. Fusion has a new graduate traveling medical job program recruiting nurses who have just finished training. Most travel nursing agencies require at least two years of experience, so Fusion may be a great choice if you're about to finish school and eager to see the country or aren't sure of where you want to call home yet.

Of note: Some LGBTQIA+ travelers and employees have complained of inclusivity issues and unsupportive leadership. In 2021, the company published a blog post about forming an oversight group dedicated to LGBTQIA+ inclusivity and support and alluded to its efforts to "grow" and "learn."

Best Job Board : TotalMed

• Pay: Hourly wage paid weekly, plus overtime, bonuses, and guaranteed hours
• Housing: Company-provided housing or stipend
• Benefits: Health insurance, dental and vision coverage, life insurance, 401(k) with company match, short-term disability up to 12 weeks plus up to 60% of monthly earnings

TotalMed is one of the biggest agencies in the business and has the job board to match. The company is known for making it easy for travel nurses to quickly find a new post in any state.

Large, well-connected agency with huge job board

Solid day-one benefits

Flexible housing options

Pay guaranteed

Generous short-term disability policy

Some nurses complain of long onboarding process

Pay is competitive, but perhaps not the highest of any agency

Focus on placing nurses in areas of urgent need

Few travel nursing agencies have a job board as full as TotalMed 's. The company leverages its wide network of partner hospital systems to offer nurses a plethora of assignments to choose from.

TotalMed prides itself on placing nurses and other medical workers in new postings quickly and prioritizes assigning workers to places urgently in need of additional staff. It offers a standard array of benefits, plus a pay guarantee and a generous short-term disability policy that covers up to 12 weeks of injury or illness with up to 60% of your pay.

Some travel nurses have complained of a protracted onboarding process, but once the initial paperwork is out of the way, most seem very happy with the company's efficiency and the quality of its recruiters. Its pay may not always be the highest of any agency, but travel nurses working with TotalMed still enjoy the benefit of payment guarantees and the confidence that a new job will almost always be available, and fast. TotalMed also goes a long way to smooth out the transition process by organizing and covering the cost of any licensing and certifications its travel nurses may need, as well as offering reimbursement for pesky costs like new scrubs.

Even though some agencies on our list require account registration to access pay rates, each one offers competitive benefits and wages. Triage Staffing is our choice for best overall travel nursing agency because of its positive reviews, superior customer service, and competitive wages. Day one 401(k) and tuition reimbursement are just a few ways it provides long-term support for travelers. 

Compare the Best Travel Nursing Agencies

Guide to choosing the best travel nursing agencies.

Travel nursing agencies are  staffing agencies  that place registered nurses and healthcare professionals in hospitals and clinics with short-term staffing needs. They often send individuals to national or international locations where there are nursing shortages.

Here are a few tips for choosing the best travel nursing agency to meet your needs.

Is a Travel Nursing Agency Right for You?

There are many advantages to working with a travel nursing agency in addition to the obvious benefit of being able to travel and explore new places. Some of the other advantages of working with a travel nursing agency include:

• Competitive pay: Travel nursing agencies offer competitive pay rates that are often higher than what you would make as a staff nurse and recruiters can help you find lucrative positions.
• Benefits : Health insurance, retirement plans, and other benefits are typically included in a travel nursing agency's compensation package.
• Housing: Travel nursing agencies often provide housing or help nurses find housing in their assignment location.
• Specialty assignments based on nursing field: Agencies can help place you in an assignment that matches your specialty, interests, and skills . Some facilities accept travelers into new specialties or a float pool that covers multiple units, as long as they have prior travel nursing experience. This is an added bonus for those who wish to explore new areas of nursing.
• Flexibility: Agencies offer a variety of assignment lengths and locations, so you can choose an assignment that fits your lifestyle.
• Perks and discounts : Free or reduced-cost continuing education courses, travel expenses, gym memberships, completion bonuses, and other perks are often available through travel nursing agencies.

How to Choose a Travel Nurse Agency

Consider the following when choosing a travel nursing agency:

• Average pay rates: Pay rate varies by agency, location, and assignment. Travel nurses often work with multiple agencies at the same time to find the best assignments and pay rates.
• Benefits package: Make sure the agency's benefits are comprehensive and meet your needs. Benefits may include health coverage , dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, 401K, vacation time, and education reimbursement.
• Housing options: Determine if the agency provides housing or assists with finding housing. Some nurses prefer to find their own housing, while others prefer the convenience of having the agency secure housing for them.
• Reputation: Check out online reviews and ratings to get an idea of the agency's reputation. Talking to other travel nurses who have worked with the agency is also a good way to get first-hand information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which travel nurses are most in demand.

Staffing agencies report that demand is high for critical care and medical-surgical nurses. Emergency room staff and labor and delivery staff are also in great demand.

Do Travel Nursing Agencies Pay for Housing?

Your agency will either have housing available for you or will reimburse you for your housing expenses. If you choose to secure your own housing, most agencies will give you a stipend to help offset the cost of rent and utilities. Talk with your agency recruiter about your housing options and what will work best for you.

How Long Are Travel Nursing Assignments?

Some travel nursing opportunities can be as short as eight weeks, while others can last for up to six months at a time. There are often options and offers to extend assignments, too.

What Experience Do You Need to Be Recruited by a Travel Nursing Agency?

Most agencies require new travelers to have recent experience as a nurse—meaning you can't become a travel nurse right out of nursing school. A year or two of experience is commonly required. A qualified nurse may also need more experience to work in the intensive care unit (ICU) or another specialty area.

Can Travel Nurses Choose Where They Work?

Yes, and that's generally a benefit of the job. Some agencies work to assign candidates throughout the United States, while others place travel nurses internationally. Before deciding to work with an agency, it makes sense to find out where they place travel nurses if you have a specific placement location in mind.

Methodology

We reviewed more than 20 agencies and studied hundreds of reviews from travel nurses around the country to identify the best travel nursing agencies. We then analyzed company quality and customer service scores across multiple sources to determine which companies are most reputable. Wages, housing options, and benefits were also a top priority. We reviewed the range of assignments, as well as the quantity and quality of each agency's listings in all 50 states.

VERYWELL Health / Design by Amelia Manley

U.S. Department of Labor. U.S. Department of Labor announces $80M funding opportunity to help train, expand, diversify nursing workforce, address shortage of nurses .

Healthcare Research & Analytics. Social listening: Evaluation of travel nurse companies: Analysis of travel nurse sentiment towards travel nurse companies .

BluePipes. Best Travel Nursing Companies 2022 .

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Work with us. get what you really want..

We do this work because we care. We ask questions, listen, and work hard for the best results. Just like you do.

With RNnetwork, you get:

Be the center of our universe. Your wants, needs, and concerns have our full attention and respect. You have to feel valued to have an outstanding travel nurse experience.

Recognition

We see you. You’re not like everyone else, and that’s a beautiful thing. From pay to personal preferences for communications, housing, and more, we build what’s best for you.

Support is a certainty. You feel it in our first meeting, and every step thereafter. From job search and credentialing to your assignment and return flight, we’re here for you. 

The best experience is easier than you think.

You work hard, so let’s talk about the simple things. There’s so much that makes travel nursing fun and rewarding. Here are three ways RNnetwork makes it even better — and easier.

We offer 401(k), travel reimbursement, and multiple ways to earn bonuses. We help you find tax advantages, too.

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Enjoy industry-leading benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance and more. Keep your free spirit. Add corporate coverage.

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Housing can make or break travel. Gather your things, pets, and people. Our experts find the perfect area and amenities for a great home.

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“I was able to spend a few months exploring the Hawaiian islands. You help people along the way, and you get paid for it.”

–Kelly Kilcoyne, NICU travel nurse

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General election latest: Diane Abbott releases statement after Keir Starmer says she's 'free' to stand as Labour candidate

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer issues an update on the future of Diane Abbott after days of pressure and questions.

Friday 31 May 2024 18:39, UK

• General Election 2024

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Election news

• Catch up on the latest news from the campaign trail on your commute
• Starmer says Abbott 'free' to stand as Labour candidate
• Narrative 'positive' says Abbott - but nothing finalised
• Lib Dems announce plans for universal free school meals for primary school kids
• SNP's Swinney says Scots 'likely to be disappointed by incoming Labour government'
• Be in the audience for our general election leaders event
• Live reporting by Tim Baker and (earlier)  Ben Bloch

Expert analysis

• Tamara Cohen: This looks like a victory for Abbott
• Beth Rigby: Starmer made an unforced error
• Matthew Thompson: Even if we're arguing about details of Lib Dem policy, we're still talking about it

Election essentials

• Trackers: Who's leading polls? | Is PM keeping promises?
• Campaign Heritage: Memorable moments from elections gone by
• Follow Sky's politics podcasts: Electoral Dysfunction | Politics At Jack And Sam's
• Read more: What happens next? | Who is standing down? | Key seats to watch | How to register to vote | What counts as voter ID? | Check if your constituency's changing | Your essential guide to election lingo | Sky's election night plans

Nigel Farage, the honorary president of Reform UK, has welcomed Diana Abbott being allowed to stand as a Labour candidate.

Speaking to broadcasters in Skegness, Lincolnshire, Mr Farage says the "vacillation" from Labour over Ms Abbott was "not very impressive".

He adds that "ultimately" it is "probably a good thing" Ms Abbott can stand, as "she's been a big political figure on the scene for 35 years".

Doubles down on Trump backing

Mr Farage was also asked about Donald Trump, as the pair are friends.

The Reform UK politician says that he still backs Trump "more than ever".

He adds that he thinks the US judicial system "stinks", and accuses the judge of being "utterly political".

Rishi Sunak has addressed the Labour row over Diane Abbott's candidacy.

Sir Keir Starmer said today Ms Abbott was allowed to stand - following similar comments from deputy leader Angela Rayner yesterday.

In response, the prime minister told journalists that Sir Keir's actions "reconfirms what we know" about the Labour leader - that "he constantly changes his mind and it's clear that Angela Rayner is in charge of his party and not him".

Mr Sunak went on: "If he's given in to Angela Rayner on this, imagine what he'll give in to when it comes to union demands for higher taxes or indeed weakening our defence and security."

By Gurpreet Narwan , political correspondent

Nigel Farage's generosity didn't extend to Richard Tice when he bought a round of pints at the ex-serviceman's club in Skegness.

The pair didn't exchange many words at the campaign event, which was dominated by Nigel Farage. 

Tice, the party's actual leader, cut a quiet figure, largely in Farage's shadow as he posed for selfies and took media interviews. 

The people of Skegness will be surprised when they open their ballot papers on 4 July and Nigel Farage isn't on it.

Another day, another episode of the Politics Hub at 7pm.

But wait, you may say, it's a Friday - normally there isn't an episode.

Well, throughout the election period we're going live seven days a week at dinner time.

To give Sophy Ridge a bit of a rest, Sky political correspondent Ali Fortescue will also be hosting the show.

Joining Ali tonight will be Conservative candidate Kevin Hollinrake , and Labour candidate Ian Murray .

And then on tonight's panel is Andrew Fisher , who was Jeremy Corbyn's head of policy when he was Labour leader, and Claire Pearsall , a former Conservative adviser.

Do tune in at 7pm to watch along.

Watch live on Sky News, in the stream at the top of this page, and follow live updates here in the Politics Hub.

Watch  Politics Hub  from 7pm every night during the election campaign on Sky channel 501, Virgin channel 602, Freeview channel 233, on the  Sky News website  and  app  or on  YouTube .

We're getting more responses from the political world after Sir Keir Starmer said Diane Abbott would be allowed to stand as a candidate ( read more here ).

Marc Wadsworth, who founded the campaign group Grassroots Black Left, told The Voice newspaper that today's developments mark a "huge victory for grassroots campaigning and community pressure".

He adds that it's "a big victory for the black community flexing its political in a way left-bashing strongman Keir Starmer couldn't overcome".

Mr Wadsworth adds that it has been demonstrated to the Labour leadership that they should not take the black vote "for granted".

He adds that "the struggle against racism inside Labour and outside of it continues".

It's just gone 5pm - here's where we are as we get to tea time.

The main story is - what Labour will hope - the end of the row over Diane Abbott's potential selection as a candidate.

Sir Keir Starmer confirmed she would be able to compete for her Hackney North and Stoke Newington seat if she so desires.

Elsewhere, Rishi Sunak faced more criticism from former members of his own party.

All the parties have been on the campaign trail as we remain more than a month out from the election.

Let us get you up to speed on everything you may have missed so far today…

• Sir Keir Starmer  announced Diane Abbott is allowed to stand as a Labour candidate if she wants to;
• Ms Abbott says the " narrative does look positive " - but nothing is finalised yet;
• Our political editor Beth Rigby says Sir Keir needs to be more ruthless with his decision-making;
• Elsewhere, the Labour leader defended his use of a private jet to get from Wales to Scotland;
• Sir Keir also insisted he was " not turning off the taps " on oil and gas as party of his energy plan;
• The Conservatives claimed Sir Keir's response to the Abbott row showed he was a "weak leader" ;
• Rishi Sunak trashed Labour's energy plan , saying "you don't deliver energy security with a logo";
• Elsewhere, Julian Knight, a former Conservative politician, said he will stand as an independent;
• He also criticised Mr Sunak as a 'disastrous campaigner'
• A Conservative candidate also spoke about having 'excrement' put through their letterbox .
• Elsewhere, the  Liberal Democrats pledged to introduce free school meals for all children;
• Sky correspondent Matthew Thompson says it doesn't matter to the Lib Dems if the sums don't work - they just want people talking about them;
• And Sky News heard why it is 'wrong'  for politicians to prioritise older voters while putting teenagers in national service.

Here are a couple of other stories that may interest you:

Our essential political podcast,  Politics At Jack And Sam's , is going daily through the election campaign to bring a short burst of everything you need to know about the day ahead as this election unfolds.

Click here to listen to this morning's episode - and tap here to follow Politics At Jack At Sam's wherever you get your podcasts .

Stick with us for all the latest throughout the evening.

With the general election campaign officially under way, what better time to keep a close eye on the latest polling?

The Sky News live poll tracker - collated and updated by our Data and Forensics team - aggregates various surveys to indicate how voters feel about the different political parties.

See the latest update below - and you can read more about the methodology behind the tracker  here .

By Tom Parmenter , national correspondent

Prioritising older voters while forcing teenagers into national service has been described as "outright wrong" in Sky News' Target Towns.

The early stages of the campaign have seen the Conservatives offering a pensions "triple lock plus" while also promising to force 18-year-olds to dedicate time to the military or community service.

Labour has vowed to maintain the pensions triple lock for the duration of the next Parliament, if elected.

Inside a boxing fitness class laid on for elderly residents of a care home in Grimsby, Sky News heard concerns about an emerging generational divide.

Sydney Ballard, 18, has just started a student work placement at the care home. She said she wanted to see fewer dividing lines in politics.

Read more here:

What are the rules on voter ID?  How does tactical voting work? In what different ways can you cast your ballot?

The countdown to the election is on - and already the amount of information can seem overwhelming. 

We cut through the noise to bring you what you need to know, from registering to vote, to election day and what happens next.

Read on here...

On 12 June, Sky News will be hosting an election leaders event in Grimsby - a key marginal seat and one of our Target Towns this election year.

The Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and the Conservative leader Rishi Sunak have been invited to attend, and we are looking for a live audience to join us on the night.

If you would like to be part of this studio audience, and be given the opportunity to ask a question to one of the party leaders, please complete the short questionnaire in this link .

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