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Travel nursing vs. staff nursing: what to know before starting a new job.

Have you ever looked at the relative advantages of travel nursing vs. staff nursing? Travel nursing offers a variety of benefits and can provide a change of pace for any nurse looking for something new — but it’s not for everyone. Like any position, travel nursing jobs have their ups and downs , and you may discover you miss aspects of staff nursing as well.

Before you jump into your first travel nursing job, check out what nurses had to say about different aspects of the career.

Stability in travel nursing vs. staff nursing

Many staff nurses enjoy the stability their positions offer. Though they never know what to expect during their shift because each patient is different, they like returning to the same job each week, with coworkers  and a workspace they know.

As a travel nurse, you sacrifice some stability for adventure. While it is possible to plan your travel nursing jobs back to back, it is not the same as working at the same hospital — with some of the same patients — for years. You will be proving yourself as a nurse every few months and showing the facility you know your stuff and are an asset to the department.

If you do prefer the longevity a staff position provides, consider asking your recruiter and nurse manager about extending your contract. Many travel nurses end up working at the same hospital for at least six months, which gives them plenty of time to develop relationships and get to know coworkers better.

Office politics differ for staff and travel nurses

When you take a travel nursing job, you’re the new kid on the block. You can stay away from office politics because you’ve agreed to a set schedule and salary, and you don’t have to worry about being promoted or getting a better position.

On the other hand, you may have a harder time making friends with the staff because you’re there temporarily. Focus on doing your job and helping your coworkers do theirs, and you’ll find that most staff nurses are happy to have you on board and will welcome you.

Gaining experience

When you’re considering travel nursing vs. staff nursing, each offers different work experience advantages. One of the biggest benefits of working as a staff nurse is becoming an expert at particular aspects of your job. You know exactly where the supply closet is, who to call when you need something and what a specific patient needs when they come to your facility each week or month. You know which diagnoses you see most often and how to treat them, and you’re familiar with the seasonal illnesses or injuries your hospital treats.

If you want to gain different experience and do something new without switching specialties or heading back to school, travel nursing is a great option. Whether you take a job in your home state or travel across the country, you’ll see brand-new patients and be exposed to regional differences and even disorders or illnesses you’ve never seen before.

You’ll also use different technology and meet physicians and other nurses who do things in a totally different way than you’re used to. Both staff and travel jobs give you the opportunity to learn. You just have to decide what direction you’d like to go.

How you’re paid differs for staff and travel nurses

As a staff nurse, you’re used to your hospital’s timeclock system. You may have to clock in with your badge before each shift, or you may have to fill out an electronic timecard. Either way, your paycheck is most likely in your account through direct deposit. If there are discrepancies, you can contact your facilities payroll team or your manager to get it fixed.

You may not realize that as a travel nurse, you’re paid by your agency. While you’ll be paid through direct deposit, you’ll need to submit your hours worked to the agency to be paid. If you have issues with your pay, you must contact the agency’s payroll team.

An unexpected benefit? Most travel nurses are paid weekly. Staff nurses generally receive their paychecks every two weeks.

Vacation time

Earning paid time off (PTO) is a big perk of working as a staff nurse, especially when you’ve worked at the same facility for years and have accrued a lot of hours. You may receive more hours per pay period when you have more tenure, and you’re most likely able to save it up for a big vacation if you’d like to. It’s also nice to have paid sick days, if your facility offers them.

Most travel nursing companies do not offer travelers paid time off, which can be frustrating if you do need to take a day off during your assignment. Paid sick time is generally not an option either. However, you have the flexibility to take weeks or months off between assignments, similar to how you use PTO. Though this time off is not paid, you can set your own schedule and make time for vacations , an extended maternity leave or even medical missions, if you’d like.

Roots or wings

Relationships and attachment to place can be important factors when you are evaluating travel nursing vs. staff nursing opportunities. If you’re raising your family , spend a lot of time with close friends or simply don’t like the idea of living out of a suitcase or moving from place to place, a staff nursing job is probably better for you. And that’s OK! It’s good to know your interests and the obligations that make it more difficult to travel. Working as a staff nurse can be fulfilling and help you develop lasting friendships with people you see every day.

Change is the norm as a travel nurse. Many travelers have just a few years of experience and want to take new jobs every few months for experience and adventure. Other travelers are empty-nesters or simply want to do something new after years of working in one facility. And still other travelers like the thrill of traveling with their families and seeing different parts of the country.

“I love the flexibility of switching hospitals after a contract. It keeps things fresh and new, which has kept me from burning out,” says Correy McDermott, an ER nurse who works with RNnetwork. “I believe the new faces and lives I’ve touched by being in different cities restores my love for my profession.”

Staff nursing and travel nursing both have their pros and cons, so take time to evaluate each one before switching jobs or embarking on a brand-new career. No matter what you decide, you can enjoy a fulfilling position as a nurse — but it’s always good to keep your options open.

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About the author

Lindsay Wilcox

Lindsay Wilcox is a communication professional with experience writing for the healthcare and entertainment industries as well as local government. When she's not circling typos, she's enjoying fish tacos and hanging out with her family.

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Staff Nurse vs. Travel Nurse: What’s the Difference?

Apr 06 2022

Nurse Types / Staff Nurse vs. Travel Nurse

Transitioning from a staff nurse to a travel nurse position can be quite an adjustment. Thanks to increases in pay and other perks, travel nursing is in more demand than ever. Some travel nurses can make $5,000 per week !

If you’re a Registered Nurse (RN) looking for new opportunities, exploring travel nursing is a great idea. You can boost your earning potential without needing additional schooling. It’s a smart way to maximize your education and experience.

Still on the fence about which career move is right for you? In this article, we explore:

• Three differences between staff and travel nursing
• Pros and cons of staff nursing
• Pros and cons of travel nursing

What are 3 differences between staff nursing and travel nursing?

There has never been a better time to be a nurse. Projections for nursing indicate a 15% growth for this healthcare profession between now and 2026. That’s much faster than the national average for all other occupations.

Travel nursing and staff nursing both use the skills you’ve acquired as a licensed RN. That’s where the similarities end. Each has its own set of pros and cons, commitment to a specific facility, and pay. Let’s take a deep dive into both for a more comprehensive review of what you can expect from each opportunity.

If stable benefits are important to you, then staff nursing positions should be your priority. Full-time, permanent positions with healthcare employers typically come with perks such as medical insurance, 401(k)s, and other retirement plans, plus paid time off.

Benefits for travel nursing jobs can be less enticing. Some travel nurse agencies offer sick pay and 401(k)s but rarely provide paid time off. Sometimes the difference in pay can offset the loss of benefits, but not always. It’s worth weighing the pros and cons before choosing.

Commitment to a Facility

When you work as a staff nurse for a healthcare employer, you must commit fully to that position. It is permanent, leaving little wiggle room for new adventures. This can be both a pro and a con of staff nursing positions.

Choosing to work as a travel nurse offers greater flexibility. Commitments can be as short as 4 weeks or longer than 26 weeks, depending on the need. The downside to such short stints is you can always feel like the “new guy” as you bounce from one place to the next.

Without a doubt, higher pay is one of the many reasons RNs choose travel nursing jobs. Pay is significantly higher for travel nursing when you combine hourly pay, tax-free stipends for meals, and housing.

If you’re smart about negotiating, you can get free housing or a monthly stipend to put toward your room and board. Since these kinds of perks are tax-free, any money left from your housing stipend does not count toward your earnings.

But you could also end up paying for housing twice: where you work as a travel nurse and for your “ tax home .”

Some travel nursing agencies eager to recruit top talent toss large sign-on bonuses into their job offers. You can expect to be tempted by bonuses ranging between $5,000 and $10,000 or higher!  

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What are the pros and cons of staff nursing?

If you’re trying to decide whether staff or travel nursing opportunities are right for your nursing career, creating a pros and cons list can help.

What are the pros and cons of travel nursing?

Just like there are pros and cons of staff nursing, travel nursing has its fair share of advantages and disadvantages . Review and add to this list of pros and cons for travel nursing to help you decide if it’s the right move for your nursing career.

What are your next steps?

Only you can decide whether staff nursing or travel nursing jobs are the right moves for your career. If you’re adventurous and interested in earning top wages, travel nursing can be a great opportunity to satisfy both. If security and seniority are more important to you, then staff nursing should be a top consideration.

Incredible Health provides RNs with career leads for staff nursing positions. Check out our jobs board to get the latest scoop on openings. Whichever path you choose, you’ll be a valuable part of the healthcare system. 

• “ Nurses Have Finally Learned What They’re Worth .” nytimes.com. Accessed March 8, 2022. 
• “ Occupational Outlook Handbook-Registered Nurses .” bls.gov. Accessed March 8, 2022. 

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Travel Nursing vs. Staff Nursing: Who Makes More?

Table of Contents

Travel nurse vs staff nurse salary: which pays more.

Have you ever wondered which pays more: a staff nursing job or a travel nursing job ? In this article, we explore the differences between the two professions and how they affect earnings. From understanding the varying pay rates for travel nurses to exploring the benefits and drawbacks of travel nursing, this article will provide an in-depth look into which career path can lead to higher salaries.

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Staff Nursing Jobs vs. Travel Nursing Jobs

Differences between staff nursing and travel nursing.

Staff nursing jobs typically involve working full-time for a single healthcare facility, staying in a specific location for an extended period of time. These positions may be found in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and other healthcare settings. Staff nurses are responsible for providing direct care to patients, collaborating with other healthcare professionals, and ensuring that proper procedures and protocols are followed. Staff nursing also offers the opportunity for professional growth, development, and stability in one's career.

Travel nursing jobs, on the other hand, are temporary assignments that allow nurses to work on a contract basis at various healthcare facilities across the country or even internationally. National travel nurse jobs and crisis management positions often involve working on the front lines of public health emergencies, such as pandemics or natural disasters. Travel nursing assignments can range from a few weeks to several months, with the option for nurses to extend their contracts if desired. These positions often include perks such as a travel stipend, housing, and other benefits in addition to competitive pay rates.

Why Do Hospitals Pay Travel Nurses More Than Staff Nurses?

There are several reasons why travel nurse vs staff nurse salary often favors travel nurses. First, travel nurses work in various healthcare facilities, constantly adapting to new working environments and clinical practices. This flexibility and adaptability are valuable skills that healthcare organizations are willing to pay for, especially in times of increased demand for nursing services or when there is a shortage of skilled staff nursing positions.

Second, healthcare facilities may offer higher pay rates for travel nursing jobs as an incentive for nurses to accept short-term assignments, which can be less appealing than more stable staff nursing jobs. The financial benefits of travel nursing serve as a motivator for nurses to take on these temporary roles and help healthcare facilities address their staffing needs during periods of high demand, such as during a public health crisis, significant staff shortages, or seasonal fluctuations in patient volume.

Travel Nursing vs. Staff Nursing: Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits of taking travel nursing jobs.

Travel nursing jobs offer several unique advantages over traditional staff nursing positions. For one, travel nurses have the opportunity to explore different areas of the country, experience diverse cultures, and work in various healthcare settings. This exposure to new environments can help nurses develop a well-rounded skill set, which can be valuable in career advancement opportunities.

Furthermore, travel nursing jobs typically offer higher pay rates, including travel stipends, housing provisions, and other incentives. This additional income can help nurses pay off student loans, build their savings, or simply enjoy a higher standard of living. Additionally, travel nurses often enjoy a more flexible schedule than staff nurses, allowing them more freedom to plan vacations and time off between assignments.

Advantages of Travel Nursing vs Staff Nursing

When comparing travel nurse jobs to staff nursing positions, several other advantages become apparent. Travel nursing can help enhance a nurse's career by offering opportunities to build their professional network, earn specialty certifications such as cath lab certifications, and strengthen their clinical skills in a variety of settings. Because travel nursing assignments are temporary, these roles allow nurses more control over their schedules, providing them the chance to take extended breaks or seek out specific assignments that align with their career goals and interests.

Travel nursing can also help improve their overall job outlook. Nurses who have a background in travel nursing are often viewed as adaptable and highly skilled, making them more attractive to potential employers when they decide to settle into a permanent staff nursing job. Moreover, travel nursing can help prevent burnout, as nurses have the chance to explore new places, experience different work environments, and meet new people, which keeps their careers fresh and exciting.

How Travel Nursing Can Improve Your Career

There are numerous ways in which a travel nursing career can enhance a nurse's professional development. One significant aspect is the exposure to a variety of healthcare settings, ranging from large teaching hospitals to smaller, rural healthcare facilities. This experience can provide invaluable insights into diverse patient populations, care protocols, and clinical practices that a staff nurse may not have the chance to encounter without switching jobs entirely.

Travel nursing assignments also allow nurses to work with a range of healthcare professionals, fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and networking opportunities. These connections can lead to further career advancement opportunities and access to resources that may not be available to those in staff nursing positions.

Additionally, travel nurses work in national travel nurse jobs and crisis management roles, acquiring essential skills in high-pressure and high-stakes situations. Such experience can be invaluable in future staff nurse positions, as it demonstrates the nurse's ability to adapt, remain calm under pressure, and work effectively in challenging circumstances.

In conclusion, both staff nursing jobs and travel nursing jobs have their own unique set of benefits and drawbacks. Staff nursing offers stability, long-term professional growth, and the chance to build lasting relationships within a healthcare community. Travel nursing, on the other hand, provides flexibility, higher home pay, diverse experiences, and opportunities for professional development. Ultimately, the decision between staff nursing and travel nursing comes down to personal preferences, values, and career goals. Regardless of the path chosen, the nursing profession offers a wealth of opportunities for personal fulfillment and professional advancement.

Varying Pay Rates for Travel Nurses

The pay rates for national travel nurse jobs can fluctuate significantly depending on several factors such as location, specialty, and facility needs. In this section, we will explore the components that influence pay scales for travel nursing assignments and compare travel nurse vs staff nurse salaries.

Understanding Pay Scales for Travel Nurses

Travel nursing pay scales are complex and contingent upon multiple factors. The demand for specific nursing specialties, such as staff nursing jobs in the cath lab or crisis management, can lead to higher pay rates, while some healthcare facilities may offer a lower pay scale in exchange for advancement opportunities and job security.

Additionally, travel nurses often benefit from a travel stipend, housing allowance, and other non-taxable reimbursements that can increase their take-home pay. Understanding these factors and their impact on your overall compensation package is critical to making informed decisions about accepting a travel nursing assignment.

Highest Paying Travel Nursing Jobs

While the exact rates for travel nursing jobs may vary, certain nursing specialties consistently rank among the highest-paying. Some of these include:

• Operating Room (OR)
• Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
• Labor and Delivery (L&D)

Travel nursing assignments in these specialties typically demand specialized skills, experience, and certifications, which can lead to higher pay rates.

Comparison of Travel Nursing Salaries Across the US

The location of your travel nursing assignment also plays a significant role in determining pay rates. While the overall job outlook for nursing jobs remains positive, various regions vary in the number of open staff nursing positions and related salaries.

For instance, travel nurses working in metropolitan areas tend to receive higher pay rates than those in rural settings, reflecting the cost of living disparities between these regions. Additionally, states such as California, New York, and Massachusetts consistently rank among the highest paying for travel nursing jobs, owing to their high demand for healthcare services, licensure requirements, and regional cost of living.

Exploring Travel Nursing as a Career

A career in travel nursing offers numerous opportunities for professional growth, including increased job flexibility, diverse work experiences, and competitive compensation packages. In this section, we will discuss factors to consider when pursuing a travel nursing career and provide tips to help you start a successful career in this field.

What to Expect in a Travel Nursing Career

Embarking on a travel nursing career means you'll be taking on temporary assignments at various healthcare facilities, usually lasting between 8 to 26 weeks. This flexibility allows you to experience different work environments, medical practices, and cultures while also providing the opportunity to explore new locations across the country.

However, a travel nursing assignment may not be a sustainable long-term career choice for all nurses. Before pursuing this career path, evaluate how flexible you are regarding changing work locations and responsibilities, and adapting to new work atmospheres.

Skills Needed for Travel Nursing Jobs

Travel nurses must possess a unique set of skills to succeed in this field. In addition to standard nursing skills and certifications, successful travel nurses generally exhibit excellent communication, flexibility, and adaptability, as well as the ability to remain calm under pressure and learn quickly.

Moreover, travel nurses should exhibit strong crisis management skills, since they are often called upon during situations requiring extra support or emergency care in healthcare facilities.

Tips for Starting a Successful Travel Nursing Career

Here are some tips to help jumpstart your travel nursing career:

• Earn any necessary certifications and gain experience in your chosen specialty, as this will make you more marketable for travel nurse job opportunities.
• Research different travel nursing agencies and choose one that aligns with your needs and goals.
• Maintain an updated resume that highlights your skills, experiences, and certifications related to your nursing specialty.
• Approach each travel nursing assignment with a willingness to learn, adapt and grow professionally, as this will enhance your desirability for future opportunities.

Travel nursing can be an exciting and rewarding career choice with countless possibilities for personal and professional growth. Understanding salary differences between travel nurses and staff nurses, varying pay scales, and factors that contribute to regional pay disparities can help you make informed decisions when considering your next travel nursing assignment or staff nursing positions.

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Q&A: Staff Nurse vs. Travel Nurse

Written by Ayan Monpara, MD

Category: Medical Careers , Nurses

There’s a lot to consider when deciding between becoming a staff nurse at one facility or a travel nurse at many facilities. It’s not only the location of where you’ll work that differentiates the two, but it’s also the pay, benefits, time off, requirements, and more.

To get a better idea of the differences, we reached out to Ashley Goodwin, a staff registered nurse (RN) at a hospital in San Antonio who used to be a travel nurse.

How long have you been a nurse and at how many facilities?

I’ve been a nurse for seven and a half years. As a staff RN, I have worked at four different hospitals, and as a travel nurse, I worked at six different hospitals.

In what ways has being a staff nurse differed from being a travel nurse?

In most cases as a staff nurse, you’re hired as an at-will employee and don’t have to sign a contract (unless you’re moving to a position where they’re offering a bonus, in which case you sometimes do have to sign a contract).

With travel nurses, though, everything is done through a contract, which determines how long the assignment is, how much time off you get, your hourly wage, what shifts you get, and so on.

What were some of the benefits of being a travel nurse?

The benefits I found were:

• Depending on the contract, you really can make some good money through bonuses and housing stipends.
• If you don’t like where you work, you’re only there until the end of the contract, which is usually 13 weeks.
• Since nurses generally only have to work three 12-hour shifts a week, you can go explore the city you’re in on your four days off.
• You don’t have to put up with hospital politics.
• You don’t have to go to staff meetings.

What were some of the downsides of being a travel nurse?

Some of the downsides included:

• If there’s not a need for your specialty, there is no job (though this seems to rarely happen).
• Most contracts are 13 weeks, so you are packing up and heading out every three months unless you extend your contract.
• You’re away from most of your friends and family while on contract unless you’re lucky enough to have them come see you (which, I think with all of my contracts, I had people come visit me).

You often have to re-do all of the online learning for each hospital you work at, which is quite cumbersome.

How has being a nurse differed in each city you’ve worked in?

Each region has its own “common” diagnosis. For example, I saw a lot of psychiatric care in Washington; a lot of dialysis in Texas; some cases of Lyme disease in North Carolina, which I hadn’t seen before; and so forth.

Also, all hospitals have particular ways that they treat common diagnoses. It was a good learning opportunity to see the different clinical practice guidelines that hospitals had set in place.

In what ways is being a travel nurse better than being a staff nurse?

Mostly autonomy and independence. The thing I loved most about travel nursing was being able to choose where I want to work, the shift I want, and the time off I need. Since everything is contracted, you will get what you want. The assignments are so quick, so if you don’t like it, you can leave and go somewhere else. Most of the time you can even negotiate a bonus for overtime shifts or a sign-on or completion bonus. So, you can make more money if you negotiate correctly.

In what ways is being a staff nurse better than being a travel nurse?

Permanence. Some people dislike not knowing where they are going to be working in 13 weeks. I also like being close to friends and family.

Some people would also argue that the benefits of staff nurse roles are better, but that is dependent on the travel company you work with. Paid-time-off can typically only be gained working staff, though I have heard of a couple of travel companies that will give you it after 1 or more years of working with them.

Why did you decide to stop being a travel nurse and become a staff nurse instead?

When I was traveling, my specialty was pediatric emergency. I wanted to broaden my resume and start working in adult emergency as well, but since travel companies will only give you contracts in areas that you have over a year of experience in, I couldn’t. Now my full-time job is in adult emergency and my per-diem job is in pediatric emergency—so it’s perfect.

What advice do you have for someone thinking of becoming a travel nurse?

I always tell staff nurses, “If you ever have considered becoming a travel nurse, just do it.” I feel like I learned so much while traveling about nursing in general and myself. If you don’t like it, it’s only 13 weeks and then afterwards you can go find a staff position somewhere. But most everyone loves the experience and being able to explore.

Anything else you’d like to add?

Yeah. With travel nursing, seniority is not a thing. They will not accept new graduates since they have no experience. The minimum requirement is one year of experience. I suggest at least two years of experience to really get comfortable. Also, taxes can be difficult for travel nurses because they require you to have a tax home to get the stipend and you have to be 50 miles from your tax home to quality. And you don’t really get evaluations through the company as a travel nurse, but you can ask co-workers at facilities to write a short evaluation for your file. Lastly, orientation depends on the facility and types of accreditation they have. On-unit orientation is usually three shifts.

The consensus

So, as you can see, it’s not perfectly clear which of the two roles is better. Whether you’d be happier with the nomadic life of a travel nurse or staying put as a staff nurse comes down to personal preference. But hopefully, you’re better equipped now to make the decision.

For more information on the travel nurse role, be sure to check out the “ Pros and Cons of Becoming a Travel Nurse ” blog on our website. Also, subscribe to our blog below so we can notify you of other great posts in the future.

The demographic differences in travel nurses vs. staff nurses

Navigating nursing paths: comparing travel nurses and staff nurses.

The COVID-19 pandemic presented the U.S. healthcare system with several unprecedented challenges. One such challenge was and continues to be a severe shortage of qualified nurses , according to the American Hospital Association.

The COVID-19 Impact Assessment Survey , conducted by the American Nurses Foundation and American Nurses Association in 2022, found that 52% of nurses were considering leaving their jobs due to insufficient staffing. The American College of Healthcare Executives found that the most pressing issue for 90% of CEOs at community hospitals was keeping nurses on staff.

Many hospitals are turning to travel nurses to address this shortage. CNBC found that during the winter of 2022, travel nurse rates spiked to an average of $150 an hour, three times the national average for full-time staff nurses.

While one might think that the potential to work fewer days and earn three times what the average staff nurse makes is a compelling reason to become a travel nurse, only 6% of registered nurses identified as travel nurses in 2022 .

Study.com analyzed the most comprehensive demographic data on travel clinicians, released in May 2022 by Aya Healthcare , the leading healthcare staffing provider in the United States. This data was complemented by salary figures from the Center for Economic Policy and Research and the age demographics of Registered Nurses provided by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing . A review of the data and various news sources revealed the differences between travel and staff nurses and why some might choose one path over the other. 

Alina Lehtinen-Vela for Study.com

Let's dive into some of the key demographic differences.

Although the field of nursing is heavily female-dominated, there is a smaller gap in gender representation among travel nurses. According to Aya Healthcare, the percentage of males in travel nursing is nearly double that in staff nursing roles, standing at 18% as opposed to 9%. In staff nursing positions, females constitute an overwhelming majority, comprising 91%. However, the percentage of females in travel nursing is slightly lower, at 82%, marking a 9-percentage point decrease. This dataset did not consider dimensions of gender other than male and female.

Family status

Family status stands out as the area with the most considerable distinction between travel nurses and staff nurses. Aya Healthcare data shows that only 29% of staff nurses are single, with the other 71% being married. In stark contrast, only 30% of travel nurses are married, while 70% are single. In this case, staff nurses and travel nurses are nearly exact opposites of each other.

There are more significant differences between staff nurses and travel nurses when examining the dimension of race. 80% of all staff nurses in the U.S. identify as white, while 20% identify as a race other than white. In contrast, 37% of travel nurses identify as a race other than white and 63% identify as white.

Staff nurses tend to be quite a bit older than travel nurses. The median age for staff nurses is 52 . The median age for travel nurses is 35.

Travel nurses can make significantly more than staff nurses. The average travel nurse earned $2,589 per week in January 2023. During the same period, the average staff nurse earned $1,375 per week .

Putting things into perspective

Based on the data from Aya Healthcare, travel nurses tend to be younger and more diverse in terms of both race and gender than staff nurses. Additionally, travel nurses are far less likely to be married than staff nurses. All this data points to what may be one of the factors that contributes the most to the difference in who chooses to be a travel nurse or staff nurse lifestyle .

While the average travel nurse makes over $1000 more per week than the average staff nurse, this is done to 'compensate them for the disadvantages of the experience" according to NurseJournal.org. Every time a travel nurse takes a new contract, they must 'learn the new facility's policies and procedures."

Additionally, because travel nurses work on contracts and do not receive salary pay, they are solely responsible for things like their retirement savings and health insurance.

Speaking of contracts, travel nurses can take new contracts every 4 to 26 weeks, according to CNBC and NurseJournal.org . For many travel nurses, this means being away from home for extended and unpredictable periods of time. This also means that travel nurses are frequently relocating. While this may be attractive to some, others might prefer the stability afforded by a career in staff nursing.

Travel nursing is a more financially lucrative career path than staff nursing, but it comes with its own associated costs - time away from home, less job security than staff nursing, and more frequent adaptation to a new setting.

As Health Carousel puts it, staff nursing presents more opportunities for professional growth and stability, while travel nursing presents more opportunities to explore different parts of the country, experience diverse cultures, and work in various healthcare settings.

This story was produced by Study.com and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media.  

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Is Travel Nursing Worth It?

This post may contain affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission. Read our full disclaimer here . Our opinions are our own.

Additionally, we are proud to not use any AI within our content. Our content is 100%   for nurses, by nurses .

Travel nursing can be an extremely lucrative and rewarding career, but many nurses are asking, is travel nursing worth it ?

My short answer is yes, travel nursing is worth it . However, due to the recent pay caps and internal travel nursing on the rise the full answer is a bit longer, and more complicated. Today I’m going to be exploring whether or not being a travel nurse is worth it, and what the pros and cons are.

My travel nurse journey started just about 2 years ago. And since, I have had no regrets. There have been a lot of new things I have seen, learned, and gotten to experience. However, there are some things that make me think whether or not it’s still worth it today?

Pros of Travel Nursing

Cons of travel nursing, is travel nursing worth it (long answer), why travel nurse.

Travel nursing is becoming increasingly popular among younger nurses, as well as more senior nurses. It is a way for RN’s to make more money, have a more flexible schedule, and theoretically have a better career. While these can be true in some cases, it simply isn’t always the case.

Many people start travel nursing to make more money . Travel nurses can, on average, make around $2,500-5,000 per week, with some of the highest paid specialties reaching over $8,000 per week. This is a significant increase over the standard average nursing salary of $75,000 per year ( source ).

Additionally, travel nurses are typically on 13-week contracts. This means that they have a lot of flexibility between contracts or even when negotiating time off. A lot of nurses will have restrictions on how much vacation time they can take, so this is a big win in a staff nurse’s eyes.

• Typically A LOT more money
• Better schedule
• A lot of flexibility
• If you don’t like an assignment, you don’t have to go back
• Meet new people
• See new processes
• Potential travel far from your home
• No/minimal benefits
• Usually no retirement
• Usually no Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Put on hard assignments that none of the staff want
• Potentially given shifts none of the staff want
• Uncertainty of the next assignment
• Always working with new/different people

The pros and cons of travel nursing are plentiful. You can easily argue both sides. But, in my experience I think that it is worth it to at least try.

One of the big misconceptions about travel nursing is that you have to “travel”. A lot of assignments are local. This means that you don’t have to travel very far. Although they are close, you probably won’t get to take advantage of some tax savings. But, you’ll still get paid more!

In the end, is travel nursing worth it ? Yes it is worth it for the improved lifestyle and monetary aspects. I recently got to meet up with some fellow classmates from nursing school, and every single one of them was travel nursing. Travel nursing has become a staple in the nurse community and vital for hospitals to operate.

It is crazy to think that none of my friends work regular staff jobs, but at the same time, that’s the way the market is going. Why work a staff job when you can get paid 5x-6x more for the same top?

The biggest reason people say is they have kids or a family. Well, you can easily work a local contract for more money and still see your family just as much or even more than you do now! From a retirement or benefits perspective, it sucks not having the lush hospital benefits we’ve become accustomed to. However, you make way more money , so just pay for them out of pocket.

At the end of the day, I don’t think travel nursing is for everyone. There are definitely good reasons why some people might not want to leave their positions. However, if you are even remotely thinking about attempting to travel nurse, then I would highly recommend trying it out.

Worse comes to worse, you can go right back to your old job or apply for one of the several thousands of other vacant nurse jobs. The best part about being a nurse is that we are in very high demand. So, you have a lot of negotiating power – use it!

If you are thinking about travel nursing and don’t know how to start, I wrote a big guide on How to Start Travel Nursing !

Striving to help nurses and nursing students succeed.

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2019 Travel Nurse Compensation Report

Avg. Gross Weekly Pay for Travelers

Most In-Demand Specialty

Avg. Weekly Pay Difference for Travelers vs. Staff

St. Louis, MO

Most Travel-Friendly City

Highest-Paying State

San Francisco, CA

Highest-Paying City for Travelers

Trusted is on a mission to bring transparency to the hiring process within the healthcare industry. We've compiled data from thousands of jobs across more than 100 specialties for registered nurses throughout the country to develop this report on how travel nurses are being compensated in 2019. This report answers some of the most frequently asked questions in the travel nursing industry such as:

• Which nursing specialties pay the most?
• Which cities are the best for travel nurses?
• How does travel nursing pay stack up against staff nurse pay?

Trusted is uniquely positioned to speak to pay rates across the industry by providing pay package details and facility information upfront before the interview process even begins, which allows us to be consistent with pay rates across the industry. Additionally, we include both taxable income and non-taxable stipends into a cumulative gross weekly pay rather than an hourly rate to ensure consistency across the variable hours and shifts that travel nurses work.

Trusted aims to equip nurses with the resources they need to confidently participate in the job market and make more informed decisions by providing accurate information on what RNs are earning across the country. We're also able to share this information with partners and health care facilities to enable them to make more informed decisions on how to attract great talent across a variety of specialties. This is invaluable during a time when the nursing shortage is at its most severe. This reports stands as just the first step to a more transparent health care industry. So, let's jump into the findings.

A Closer Look At Travel Nursing Specialties

In conducting our analysis of the travel nursing industry, we established a baseline average gross weekly pay for travel nurses of $1,786. However, when choosing a specialization, a nurse should consider a number of factors, including demand, location, and average gross weekly pay.

Share of Total Marketplace

Demand for a given specialty is one factor that may impact a nurse's decision to pursue a new specialization. ICU nurses are the most in-demand across all travel nurse specialties accounting for 16.5% of the total jobs in our dataset, followed by Medical-Surgical, OR, and ER.

However, it's important to note that demand does not necessarily mean better pay. Anesthetists and Perinatal RNs, for example, do not have as many openings across the country as ICU or Medical-Surgical, even though their gross weekly pay is almost twice as high.

Top 10 Travel Nursing Specialties

By total job count.

Download the full list of 100+ specialties here.

State of the Nursing Shortage

States facing the worst nursing shortage.

According to the Department of Health, there are currently seven states facing the largest deficit of nurses by 2030 [1] . Four states have a deficit of 10,000 or more full-time employees: California,Texas, New Jersey, and South Carolina, followed by Alaska, Georgia, and South Dakota with deficits less than 10,000.

Future nurses may want to target one of these shortage states for their home base to ensure they have plenty of local job opportunities, should they anticipate moving to staff nursing in the future. Additionally, three of these shortage states (Texas, South Carolina, and South Dakota) are part of the Nursing Licensure Compact coalition, which means nurses with Compact Licensure will have ample opportunity to work in areas where nurses are in short supply without the added expense of obtaining additional state licensure.

The Top U.S. Cities for Travel Nurses

We define top U.S. cities as those that have a high total number of travel nursing jobs, a low cost of living index, and a higher average gross weekly pay for travel nurses over staff nurses.

Average Gross Weekly Pay for Top Cities

While it’s no surprise that San Francisco is at the top of the list for average gross weekly pay, other cities like St. Louis may provide better value for travelers due to a lower cost of living index and a higher rate of pay compared to their staff counterparts.

Travel Nurse vs. Full-Time Nurse Pay Differential

In most cases travel nurses earn more than their staff nurse counterparts, with the exception of San Francisco and San Diego, where travel nurses actually earn $20-30 less on average each week. Likewise, the largest pay differential between the two actually occurs in St. Louis and Atlanta, where travel nurses earn over $450 more on average each week.

Average Gross Weekly Pay for Travel Nurses vs. Local Residents

Average Gross Weekly Pay vs. Cost of Living Index

Note: The cost of living index is based on a scale of 1-100 to indicate how expensive the cost of living is in a given city, with 1 being the most affordable and 100 being the most expensive. The U.S. average cost of living index is 69.91. [2]

We wanted to see how far the average travel nurse’s pay would stretch in each of our top ten cities. We did this in two ways: by plotting it against the cost of living in each city and comparing it to the average salary of that city’s residents.

What we found is that travel nurses earn competitive pay, even in expensive cities like San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles, where they earn 29, 34 and 60 percent more than the average resident respectively. What’s more, given California’s nursing shortage, San Francisco and Los Angeles also represent markets with ample job opportunities for travel nurses.

Tucson is also a desirable city for travelers. Its cost of living is among the lowest on our list and travel nurses earn a whopping 86 percent more than the average resident.

Gross Weekly Pay by Shift Type

Breakdown of Jobs by Shift Type

Traditionally, full-time night shift nurses receive bonus salary for working nights, however our data indicates that night shift travel contracts and day shift travel contracts have roughly the same gross weekly pay.

Compact States

Compact vs. non-compact.

Compact vs. Non-Compact (% of Jobs)

Despite the fact that the number of Compact Licensure states has recently grown to include over half of the U.S. states, 66% of travel nursing contracts still come from non-compact states. For example, California is currently a non-compact state and accounts for 37% of all travel nursing contracts in our dataset.

The future of travel nursing is looking bright, and the industry is expected to continue growing in the coming years. An aging U.S. population means a higher demand for nurses nationwide. And with an economic recession looming, health care facilities will likely be encouraged to hire travel nurses to allow for greater flexibility in hiring.

These macro trends become even more pronounced when considering the current nursing shortage that already exists across the country. Because of this, travel nursing is proving itself to be both a lucrative and secure career choice and will continue to be for the foreseeable future, particularly for those nurses who work in high-demand specialties like the ICU.

By shedding light on hiring trends in the healthcare industry, we strive to equip nurses with the information they need to confidently enter the workforce. We aim to bring a positive and lasting impact on the nursing industry by combating  the nursing shortage so that people everywhere can get the care they deserve.

Methodology

This report is based on proprietary information gathered and analyzed by Trusted Health. For the purpose of this report, we reviewed thousands jobs and more than 100 specialties throughout the United States. Staff nursing data was determined using the Bureau of Labor Statistics salary data, which was normalized to align with a standard travel nurse contract of a 36-hour work week or 1,872 work hours per year. All data is assumed to be pre-tax and doesn’t include health insurance, retirement benefits, etc.

[1]: Supply and Demand Projections of the Nursing Workforce: 2014-2030”. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

[2]: Cost of living data was obtained from Numbeo

Download the complete 2019 Travel Nurse Compensation Report

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Travel nurses' gold rush is over. Now, some are joining other nurses in leaving the profession altogether.

Working as a travel nurse in the early days of the Covid pandemic was emotionally exhausting for Reese Brown — she was forced to leave her young daughter with her family as she moved from one gig to the next, and she watched too many of her intensive care patients die.

“It was a lot of loneliness,” Brown, 30, said. “I’m a single mom, I just wanted to have my daughter, her hugs, and see her face and not just through FaceTime.”

But the money was too good to say no. In July 2020, she had started earning $5,000 or more a week, almost triple her pre-pandemic pay. That was the year the money was so enticing that thousands of hospital staffers quit their jobs and hit the road as travel nurses as the pandemic raged. 

Two years later, the gold rush is over. Brown is home in Louisiana with her daughter and turning down work. The highest paid travel gigs she’s offered are $2,200 weekly, a rate that would have thrilled her pre-pandemic. But after two "traumatic" years of tending to Covid patients, she said, it doesn’t feel worth it.

“I think it’s disgusting because we went from being praised to literally, two years later, our rates dropped,” she said. “People are still sick, and people are still dying.”

The drop in pay doesn’t mean, however, that travel nurses are going to head back to staff jobs. The short-lived travel nurse boom was a temporary fix for a long-term decline in the profession that predates the pandemic. According to a report from McKinsey & Co., the United States may see a shortage of up to 450,000 registered nurses within three years barring aggressive action by health care providers and the government to recruit new people. Nurses are quitting, and hospitals are struggling to field enough staff to cover shifts. 

Nine nurses around the country, including Brown, told NBC News they are considering alternate career paths, studying for advanced degrees or exiting the profession altogether. 

“We’re burned out, tired nurses working for $2,200 a week,” Brown said. People are leaving the field, she said, “because there’s no point in staying in nursing if we’re expendable.”

$124.96 an hour

Travel nursing seems to have started as a profession, industry experts say, in the late 1970s in New Orleans, where hospitals needed to add temporary staff to care for sick tourists during Mardi Gras. In the 1980s and the 1990s, travel nurses were often covering for staff nurses who were on maternity leave, meaning that 13-week contracts become common. 

By 2000, over a hundred agencies provided travel contracts, a number that quadrupled by the end of the decade. It had become a lucrative business for the agencies, given the generous commissions that hospitals pay them.  A fee of 40 percent  on top of the nurse’s contracted salary is not unheard of, according to a spokesperson for the  American Health Care Association , which represents long-term care providers. 

Just before the pandemic, in January 2020, there were about 50,000 travel nurses in the U.S., or about 1.5 percent of the nation's registered nurses, according to Timothy Landhuis, vice president of research at Staffing Industry Analysts, an industry research firm. That pool doubled in size to at least 100,000 as Covid spread, and he says the actual number at the peak of the pandemic may have far exceeded that estimate.

By 2021, travel nurses were earning an average of $124.96 an hour, according to the research firm — three times the hourly rate of staff nurses, according to federal statistics. 

That year, according to the 2022 National Health Care Retention & RN Staffing Report from Nursing Solutions Inc., a nurse recruiting firm, the travel pay available to registered nurses contributed to 2.47% of them leaving hospital staff jobs.

But then, as the rate of deaths and hospitalizations from Covid waned, the demand for travel nurses fell hard, according to industry statistics, as did the pay.

Demand dropped 42 percent from January to July this year, according to Aya Healthcare, one of the largest staffing firms in the country. 

That doesn’t mean the travel nurses are going back to staff jobs.

Brown said she’s now thinking about leaving the nursing field altogether and has started her own business. Natalie Smith of Michigan, who became a travel nurse during the pandemic, says she intends to pursue an advanced degree in nursing but possibly outside of bedside nursing.

Pamela Esmond of northern Illinois, who also became a travel nurse during the pandemic, said she’ll keep working as a travel nurse, but only because she needs the money to retire by 65. She’s now 59. 

“The reality is they don’t pay staff nurses enough, and if they would pay staff nurses enough, we wouldn’t have this problem,” she said. “I would love to go back to staff nursing, but on my staff job, I would never be able to retire.” 

The coronavirus exacerbated issues that were already driving health care workers out of their professions, Landhuis said. “A nursing shortage was on the horizon before the pandemic,” he said.

According to this year’s Nursing Solutions staffing report, nurses are exiting the bedside at “an alarming rate” because of rising patient ratios, and their own fatigue and burnout. The average hospital has turned over 100.5% of its workforce in the past five years, according to the report, and the annual turnover rate has now hit 25.9%, exceeding every previous survey. 

There are now more than 203,000 open registered nurse positions nationwide, more than twice the number just before the pandemic in January 2020, according to Aya Healthcare.

An obvious short-term solution would be to keep using travel nurses. Even with salaries falling, however, the cost of hiring them is punishing.

LaNelle Weems, executive director of Mississippi Hospital Association’s Center for Quality and Workforce, said hospitals can’t keep spending like they did during the peak of the pandemic.

“Hospitals cannot sustain paying these exorbitant labor costs,” Weems said. “One nuance that I want to make sure you understand is that  what a travel agency charges the hospitals  is not what is paid to the nurse.”

Ultimately, it’s the patients who will suffer from the shortage of nurses, whether they are staff or gig workers. 

“Each patient added to a hospital nurse’s workload is associated with a 7%-12% increase in hospital mortality,” said Linda Aiken, founding director of the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research.

Nurses across the country told NBC News that they chose the profession because they cared about patient safety and wanted to be at the bedside in the first line of care. 

“People say it’s burnout but it’s not,” Esmond said about why nurses are quitting. “It’s the moral injury of watching patients not being taken care of on a day-to-day basis. You just can’t take it anymore.”

Jean Lee is an associate reporter with NBC News’ Social Newsgathering team in Los Angeles. She previously reported for the NBC News consumer investigative unit.

Is Travel Nursing Worth it in 2024?

• B Caleb Williams, RN, CEN, TCRN
• Last Updated: January 23, 2024

Travel nursing is a growing area of opportunity for nurses, accelerated by the nursing shortage . Travel nursing has always been an exciting opportunity, offering nurses the ability to see new parts of the country and gain experience working in new environments. Since the COVID-19 pandemic , however, demand for travel nurses has been volatile but still higher than ever.

Whether you’re a new nurse contemplating your future career path or an experienced nurse looking to optimize your potential, this article will provide valuable insights into the world of travel nursing. Understanding the myriad of opportunities that travel nursing offers will help you make the best decision about whether it is for you.

What is Travel Nursing?

Travel nursing is a unique career path for nurses, where nurses take on temporary positions in various locations, typically hospitals or healthcare facilities. These assignments typically last for 13 weeks but can last from just a few weeks to several months. Facilities use travel nurses to fill temporary gaps in their staffing, often paying more for these nurses due to the urgency of their needs.

Travel nursing offers nurses the opportunity to explore new regions, experience different healthcare settings, and develop a diverse skill set. Nurses who travel are often employed by staffing agencies that specialize in placing them in these short-term roles, providing a flexible and dynamic career option.

The appeal of travel nursing lies in its unique blend of professional development, personal adventure, and financial reward. Nurses have the chance to work in a variety of clinical environments, from rural community hospitals to large urban medical centers, gaining exposure to different patient populations and healthcare practices. This not only broadens their clinical experience but also enhances their adaptability and problem-solving skills, valuable assets in the nursing profession.

The Demand for Travel Nurses

While demand for travel nurses isn’t as high as it was at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has seen a significant uptick in recent years and continues to grow in 2024. The nursing field, in general, is growing rapidly at 6% per year . Travel nursing is growing even faster within this overall field. Several factors contribute to this trend, including:

• A growing need for nurses specialized in specific fields
• Hospital or nurse strikes
• A growing population of elderly patients requiring care
• The general nursing shortage that continues to worsen

Hospitals and healthcare facilities turn to travel nurses to fill these gaps, ensuring they can continue delivering quality patient care. While in an ideal world hospitals would eventually never need travel nurses, the growing nursing shortage and variable needs hospitals have almost guarantees that the demand for travel nurses will only expand in 2024 and beyond. 

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Demand

The COVID-19 pandemic had a large impact on travel nursing, with the demand for travel nurses spiking tremendously during the pandemic. In some hospitals, travel nurses made as much as $250 per hour due to the extreme demand for nursing skills coupled with the severe strain on the nursing workforce.

If you’re considering travel nursing, it is important to know that the extraordinary demand for travel nurses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided. While it was possible to make over $10,000 during the height of demand, you are very unlikely to see travel assignments at even half of this in 2024.  While the inflated wages some nurses saw during the pandemic are no more, it did cause lasting strain and accelerate burnout among nurses. This has led the demand for travel nurses to plateau at a higher level than prior to the pandemic, with travel nurses making more and finding themselves more highly desired than prior to COVID-19.

Navigating the 2024 Travel Nursing Market

For those considering a career in travel nursing, you don’t have to figure out the market for travel nursing on your own. Travel nurses will typically work with a reputable staffing agency that works with hospitals to understand both their needs and the needs of the individual nurses they work with. They will help make nurses aware of potential opportunities and work with them to find the best fit for their plans.

While staffing agencies play an important role in navigating the travel nursing market, understanding the market yourself is also important. The demand for travel nurses varies by location, specialty , and time of year, so staying informed about these trends is key. Networking with other travel nurses and joining professional groups can provide insights into the best opportunities and the most reputable staffing agencies.

It’s important to consider the practical aspects of travel nursing, such as obtaining the necessary licenses for different states and understanding the benefits packages offered by agencies. Travel nursing compensation often differs from most staff nursing positions to offer tax savings. For example, travel nurses may receive a large housing allowance that is taxed at a lower rate than their wages.

The Pros and Cons of Travel Nursing in 2024

Travel nursing in 2024, like any career decision, comes with its set of advantages and challenges. On the positive side, travel nursing offers flexibility and the opportunity for personal and professional growth that cannot be found in most staff nurse positions. Advantages of travel nursing include:

• Higher potential earnings compared to most comparable permanent positions.
• Flexibility in choosing assignments.
• Exposure to diverse clinical settings.
• Opportunity to avoid long-term obligations in suboptimal positions.
• Ability to visit new places without paying for travel.

While there is comparably little downside, the potential cons are worth evaluating before making a decision. Travel nursing can involve a lot of uncertainties and require a high level of adaptability. These potential downsides include:

• The stress of frequent relocations.
• Variable workload and expectations.
• Potential for feelings of disconnection from a stable social circle.

If you’re uncertain if travel nursing is for you, one of the great things about this career move is that you can try it out without any long-term commitment. You can take on a short, three-month assignment to see what it is like, then simply do something else if you don’t like it. Most nurses who start to travel, however, get hooked quickly to the travel lifestyle and benefits traveling offers.

Starting a Career As a Travel Nurse

Embarking on a career as a travel nurse does have some basic requirements that you should consider. It’s important to ensure you have the necessary qualifications and experience, as most agencies require at least a year of clinical experience. Additional clinical specialization can also make obtaining certain positions easier. 

The key steps to beginning your travel nursing career include:

• Getting licensed – To be a travel nurse, the first obvious step is becoming a nurse . It is important to remember that you will need to be licensed in every state you’d like to travel in. A compact state license 
• Gain experience – Travel nursing requires the ability to “hit the ground running.” You’ll typically have a short orientation and be expected to learn each facility’s workflow quickly. Because of this, having at least a year of experience is almost always required.
• Build a strong resume – Part of travel nursing involves having your experience and background evaluated for each new position. Because of this, it’s important to put some time and effort into building your resume and keeping it up to date.
• Connect with a staffing agency – Travel nursing positions are typically only accessible through staffing agencies. These agencies make money each time they place a nurse and are very incentivized to build good relationships with nurses. They should help guide you through the process and make it easy to get started.

What Does 2024 Hold for You?

2024 is a great time to get into travel nursing. There has never been a better way for nurses to see the country while also increasing their earning potential. This unique career path also offers flexibility, diversity in work environments, and the opportunity for substantial professional growth. 

If you’re someone who thrives in dynamic settings and is looking for a non-traditional nursing role that gives you the freedom to see new places, travel nursing could be exactly what you’re looking for! The only way to truly know is to try it out for yourself.

Caleb is a nurse leader and an experienced medical writer. His academic background includes nursing at a State University of New York school and biology and neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania. With multiple advanced certifications in emergency, pediatric, and trauma nursing, Caleb’s clinical experience includes supervisory roles within ICU and ER settings and executive roles in healthcare startups. Caleb is a prolific medical writer, having written thousands of medical articles and papers covering a wide variety of healthcare topics. His writing experience includes creating content for dozens of entities, ranging from startups to Fortune 1000 companies. Caleb grew up in New Zealand and emigrated to the United States in 2008. He has settled in Boise, ID, with his wife and two daughters.

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