Nurses are traditionally glued to one healthcare facility and a single location, but things have changed since the pandemic. With travel nurse vacancies becoming more commonplace, more nurses are now tapping into a newfound flexibility that allows them to work while exploring different parts of the country. Our data has shown that demand for travel nurses tripled year over year, up from 7,863 advertised vacancies in September 2022 to 27,461 in September 2023.
In this blog, we’ll explain what travel nursing involves and list out the best states to work as a travel nurse.
What are travel nurses?
Travel nurses are registered nurses employed by hospitals or clinical facilities on a temporary basis to meet seasonal demand. An assignment is typically around 13 weeks but contracts can last anywhere from two weeks to 26 weeks.
Travel nurses perform the same nursing duties as staff registered nurses but usually get a bigger paycheck. The average advertised salary of travel nurses is $125,720 as of September 2023, slightly higher than registered nurses’ $100,767. On top of a more competitive salary, many healthcare facilities offer standard benefits like healthcare, dental and life insurance, and travel perks like free housing, travel reimbursement, or relocation packages as well.
Travel nurses have the flexibility to choose their assignments and location. It’s a great career choice for nurses with a sense of adventure.
How to become a travel nurse
To become a travel nurse, you’ll need to first become a registered nurse which means completing at least an associate degree in nursing and passing the NCLEX-RN exam. Since all nurses are required to be licensed in the state they practice in, a time-saving way for aspiring travel nurses is to acquire a multistate license, which allows you to practice in your home state and also all compact states. Here’s a map showing the participating jurisdictions:
As these roles are typically held on a short-term basis, new hires need to hit the ground running in week one, with minimum hand-holding. Most employers would therefore be looking for candidates who have at least a few years of field experience. On top of medical skills, you will need to showcase that you have superb interpersonal and communication skills during interviews.
Best states to be a travel nurse
Maine
Advertised vacancies: 264
Average advertised salary: $143,804
Maine is famous for its lobster, craft beer, lighthouses, and rocky coastline. Nurses seeking a temporary serene escape by the seaside will find Maine a great place to have a fresh start. The state tends to pay well for travel nurses, with the advertised salary coming in close to $150,000. If you consider yourself outdoorsy, spend your weekends at the beautiful Acadia National Park and try camping, canoeing and kayaking, or fishing.
Great news for those of you who already obtained a compact state nursing license, Maine is currently a member of the NLC.
New Jersey
Advertised vacancies: 533
Average advertised salary: $138,691
New Jersey is an excellent choice for travel nurses who prefer city life. It is also ranked as the fifth happiest state in the US.
The Garden State has been facing a critical nurse shortage even as the pandemic went away. Nurses went on strikes since August against short-staffing issues. It’s becoming more difficult to hire full-time nurses due to mounting workload and uncompetitive pay. Hospitals have been looking for travel nurses to temporarily fill the gap. Expect world-class healthcare facilities and meeting healthcare professionals and patients from diverse backgrounds.
Connecticut
Advertised vacancies: 490
Average advertised salary: $136,518
Connecticut, known as the “Land of steady habits”, is a great place for healthcare professionals who want to avoid chaos and find order in their life. It’s particularly a great option for working parents, as it is home to some of the best schools in the country, for example, Yale, Wesleyan, and UCONN, and it has one of the lowest crime rates in the country.
California
Advertised vacancies: 2,138
Average advertised salary: $135,309
One of the best things about California is probably its year-round nice weather. It has an average of 300+ days of sunshine per year. The Golden State has a lot of job opportunities, with over 2,000 travel nursing opportunities up for grabs in September.
Be aware that California is not part of the NLC and currently has no plans to join it. If you are interested in living your California dream, you’ll need to apply for state licensure, which is an exam that costs around $500 for nursing professionals graduating outside of California and requires renewal every two years.
New York
Advertised vacancies: 1,568
Average advertised salary: $134,578
Despite the higher cost of living, New York has always been a popular choice for young professionals to move to. It is the city that never sleeps, meaning you’ll never run out of things to do and you can find entertainment after your night shift. From Brooklyn to Manhattan, New York is home to the best museums, Broadway shows, parks, and restaurants.
New York is currently not a nursing compact state of NLC, meaning you’ll have to submit your application for licensure by endorsement through the New York Department of Education (NYSED). The application fee is $143, and the professional body will verify your educational background and any professional certifications from other states.
Washington
Advertised vacancies: 1,300
Average advertised salary: $133,628
With half the state covered in forests and evergreen trees, Washington state is known for its breathtaking landscapes. The top reason why you should consider moving to Washington is that there is no personal income tax, meaning you get to spend your entire hard-earned money as you please!
Aspiring travel nurses, have a look at the Substitute Senate Bill (SSB) 5499 Multistate Nurse Licensure Compact, the legislation that enacted the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) into law. Beginning this July, nurses with an active RN or LPN multistate license (MSL) from another state are allowed to practice in Washington state. That said, aspiring travel nurses in Washington wanting to work out-of-state need to be patient as the board is still reviewing legislation to allow Washington to issue multi state licenses to its nurses.
Massachusetts
Advertised vacancies: 896
Average advertised salary: $133,618
Massachusetts is known for its top-notch healthcare systems. It might have the third highest cost of living in the country but the quality of life is high. The Bay State is ranked 5th in the longest life expectancy ranking and second in the cleanest air quality.
If you’re a nurse with an out-of-state license who wants to practice in Massachusetts, you need to apply for a license from the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing.
Texas
Advertised vacancies: 1,010
Average advertised salary: $113,079
Texas has one of the strongest job markets in the US and has no state income tax like Washington. Even better, the cost of living in Texas is lower than the national average. If you love Tex-Mex cuisine, barbecues and chicken fried steak, start looking for jobs in the Lone Star State.
Top states with most travel nurse openings
Best paying states for travel nurses
Some final considerations
While travel nursing can be a great profession for travel lovers, there are a few things to consider before you decide to switch your full-time nursing career to temping.
- With assignments lasting anywhere from two weeks to 26 weeks, you might need to think where you’ll be staying between jobs and how you’re storing your belongings. If you’re not careful, it could mean paying rent and bills twice.
- In terms of healthcare, while employers pay your premiums for health insurance when you are working, they don’t cover the times when your contract ends. Accidents do happen and they are beyond your control. Therefore, you might need to put money aside to cover an emergency.
- While you can stay out of workplace politics and drama, sometimes it can be difficult to fit in and feel like you belong. Even though the staff nurses will be there to help you learn the workflows at a new workplace, they might not be excited about teaching you the ropes or building a rapport, given you will be leaving soon.
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