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The Benefits of Becoming a Travel Nurse: How Much Do a Travel Nurse Make?
Let’s find out How Much Do a Travel Nurse Make. For many people, a career as a travel nurse offers an exciting opportunity to see the world while also making a good living. As a travel nurse, you can choose to work in different areas of the country or even internationally, depending on your preferences and qualifications. Not only do travel nurses’ benefit from the chance to explore new places, but they can also earn a competitive salary and gain valuable experience in their field. However, you may be wondering just how much money you can make as a travel nurse. We’ll explore the average salaries of travel nurses, as well as the other benefits that come with taking a job in this field.
Do you know How Much Do a Travel Nurse Make? For anyone considering taking on a new career, becoming a travel nurse can be a great option. It offers unique opportunities to explore the world and build a lasting career. But there’s one question that often comes up: how much do you really make? The answer to this question is not always straightforward, as the salary of a travel nurse can vary depending on a variety of factors.
However, the potential to make more money than a traditional nurse is certainly there. From the flexibility of travel to the chance to gain experience in new and exciting places, the benefits of travel nursing can be well worth the effort. By exploring the range of salaries available, the variety of specializations, and the unique experiences that come with this job, you can discover the many advantages of a travel nursing career.
What is Travel Nursing? How Much Do a Travel Nurse Make?
Let’s read further to find How Much Do a Travel Nurse Make. Travel nursing, also known as travel healthcare, is the practice of staffing healthcare facilities with nurses who are not permanent employees. Travel nurses are hired by a travel agency to work in a specific facility for a specified amount of time, after which they are sent to a new facility. While the job of a travel nurse may seem different from that of a permanent nurse, many of the skills and duties are the same.
Travel nurses often work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, doctors’ offices, and other healthcare settings. Travel nursing entails many benefits, but one of the best is the chance to live and work in different parts of the country and world. Not only can you have a different experience each time, but you also have the chance to make a lasting impression on the people and places you visit. This makes travel nursing a great way to see the world, meet new people, and learn new skills.
Registered nurses who take on travel nursing roles can earn as much as, or more than, the average salary of $77,600 a year. Advanced practice registered nurses can expect to make even more, with an average yearly salary of $123,780. Travel nurse openings for licensed practical nurses and certified nursing assistants are less frequent. In times of crisis, remuneration can be considerably higher, and additional perks such as housing stipends can also improve your overall salary.
| State | Median Salary | Bottom 10% | Top 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $60,510 | $47,390 | $78,670 |
| Alaska | $99,110 | $77,450 | $127,020 |
| Arizona | $78,260 | $60,750 | $100,200 |
| Arkansas | $61,530 | $47,510 | $79,440 |
| California | $125,340 | $78,070 | $165,620 |
| Colorado | $78,070 | $60,550 | $100,870 |
| Connecticut | $83,860 | $61,470 | $110,580 |
| Delaware | $75,380 | $59,900 | $99,780 |
| District of Columbia | $95,220 | $62,700 | $129,670 |
| Florida | $75,000 | $49,680 | $95,630 |
| Georgia | $75,040 | $58,400 | $98,410 |
| Hawaii | $111,070 | $75,380 | $129,670 |
| Idaho | $75,560 | $59,640 | $98,030 |
| Illinois | $77,580 | $59,640 | $100,650 |
| Indiana | $62,400 | $48,400 | $90,260 |
| Iowa | $61,790 | $48,290 | $79,260 |
| Kansas | $61,790 | $47,630 | $79,360 |
| Kentucky | $62,480 | $48,000 | $82,410 |
| Louisiana | $64,450 | $48,920 | $94,360 |
| Maine | $75,040 | $59,640 | $98,780 |
| Maryland | $78,350 | $60,420 | $101,650 |
| Massachusetts | $94,960 | $61,180 | $151,310 |
| Michigan | $76,710 | $60,120 | $98,510 |
| Minnesota | $79,100 | $60,850 | $101,610 |
| Mississippi | $60,790 | $47,210 | $78,670 |
| Missouri | $61,920 | $47,350 | $94,690 |
| Montana | $75,000 | $60,320 | $97,260 |
| Nebraska | $64,000 | $55,040 | $84,910 |
| Nevada | $79,360 | $61,790 | $119,530 |
| New Hampshire | $77,230 | $59,900 | $99,580 |
| New Jersey | $94,690 | $70,920 | $117,990 |
| New Mexico | $78,340 | $60,320 | $98,660 |
| New York | $96,170 | $61,260 | $127,080 |
| North Carolina | $72,220 | $51,420 | $95,360 |
| North Dakota | $73,250 | $59,810 | $95,360 |
| Ohio | $74,080 | $59,540 | $94,690 |
| Oklahoma | $62,170 | $47,960 | $79,940 |
| Oregon | $99,410 | $76,180 | $127,680 |
| Pennsylvania | $76,940 | $59,640 | $98,680 |
| Rhode Island | $78,900 | $61,340 | $101,650 |
| South Carolina | $72,650 | $47,860 | $86,820 |
| South Dakota | $60,550 | $47,470 | $77,360 |
| Tennessee | $62,390 | $48,190 | $81,950 |
| Texas | $77,320 | $59,780 | $99,070 |
| Utah | $75,000 | $59,640 | $95,160 |
| Vermont | $75,380 | $59,640 | $98,030 |
| Virginia | $76,900 | $59,170 | $100,990 |
| Washington | $96,980 | $74,070 | $127,320 |
| West Virginia | $62,390 | $47,450 | $87,440 |
| Wisconsin | $76,560 | $60,060 | $98,970 |
| Wyoming | $75,000 | $59,650 | $98,140 |
States with the highest employment level in Registered Nurses:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 324,400 | 19.63 | 0.91 | $ 59.62 | $ 124,000 |
| Texas | 217,630 | 17.80 | 0.82 | $ 38.04 | $ 79,120 |
| New York | 188,300 | 21.72 | 1.00 | $ 44.86 | $ 93,320 |
| Florida | 187,920 | 21.84 | 1.01 | $ 34.62 | $ 72,000 |
| Pennsylvania | 149,270 | 26.73 | 1.24 | $ 36.54 | $ 76,000 |
Source: Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021
What are the Benefits of Travel Nursing?
Being able to explore the world while still being able to make a living is the best explanation of why someone would want to become a travel nurse. Travel nurses have the chance to explore different parts of the country and world, meet new people, and live in new places. Travel nurses also have the chance to earn more money than a traditional nurse, as some specializations are more lucrative than others.
Travel nurses also may have the chance to build a lasting career through relationships with other healthcare professionals, different healthcare facilities, and potential employers. Another benefit of travel nursing is the amount of flexibility this career offers. By signing a contract with a travel agency, you can get a set amount of time off each year. This can accommodate any commitments such as family vacations, weddings, or other important events.
How Much Do Travel Nurses Make?
The amount of money a travel nurse makes can vary depending on a variety of factors. One of the first factors to consider is if you travel for short-term or long-term assignments. Short-term assignments are generally for less than two months and may pay less than long-term assignments. Another factor is the area you choose to travel to. Areas with a high cost of living, such as New York City, are likely to pay better than other areas such as rural Kentucky. Another factor to consider is the specialization you choose. Specializations that are in high demand may pay more than those that are understaffed.
Factors that Affect Salary
As mentioned above, there are many factors that affect the salary of a travel nurse. The most obvious of these factors is the area you choose to travel to. Cities with a high cost of living, such as New York City, San Francisco, and Honolulu, tend to pay more than other cities. Rural areas, on the other hand, usually pay less. Another factor is the specialization you choose. Specializations that are in high demand may pay more than those that are understaffed.
For example, cardiac surgery, neonatal, and telemetry nursing are three specializations that are in high demand. These specializations may pay upwards of $100,000 annually. On the other hand, invasive infection prevention, allergy, and endoscopy are understaffed specializations. These specializations may only pay between $60,000 and $75,000 annually.
Specializations and Experiences
How Much Do a Travel Nurse Make also depends on experiences and specializations. As a travel nurse, you may have the chance to try new specializations and gain new experiences. Travel nurses may have the chance to try specializations such as:
- Emergency room nursing
- Intensive care unit (ICU) nursing
- Neonatal ICU
- Telemetry
- Emergency medicine
- Cardiac surgery
- LDRP
- Home health
- Orthopedic surgery
- Oncology
- Pediatrics
- Rural health
- Rural critical care
- Surgical critical care
- Surgical subspecialties
- Trauma
- Wound Care
Specializations vary by travel agency, but they are often available. In many cases, you may even have the chance to try specializations that most nurses do not. For example, many emergency room nurses never get the chance to try cardiac surgery. As a travel nurse, you may have the chance to try new experiences as well. For example, you may have the chance to learn a new language or practice a new sport that is common in the area you travel to.
Advantages of Travel Nursing
The best way to discover the advantages of travel nursing is to look at the many benefits discussed above. However, in summary, travel nursing offers flexible work hours, a chance to build a career, the chance to make more money, and the chance to explore new places and new people.
The Best Places to Travel as a Nurse
The best places to travel as a nurse are places that are in high demand and have a high cost of living. New York City, San Francisco, and Houston are all examples of cities with a high demand for nurses and a high cost of living. Other great cities to travel to as a nurse are Chicago, Boston, and Seattle. Each of these cities has a relatively high cost of living, which leads to better salaries for nurses.
How to Become a Travel Nurse
Becoming a travel nurse is a challenging journey, but the experience is well worth it. There are many ways to become a travel nurse, but most of them require experience in the healthcare industry. The best way to become a travel nurse is to get a job as a nurse and gain experience. This will give you the chance to prove yourself as a nurse and get the necessary experience to become a travel nurse.
Resources to Help You Get Started
If you are interested in becoming a travel nurse, there are a few resources you can use. One great place to start is the National Council of State Boards of Nursing website. This website has information on licensing requirements, a salary calculator, and information on becoming a travel nurse. Another great resource is the travel nurse job board provided by Nurse.com.
This site has job listings for travel nurses and many helpful articles on the travel nurse career. If you are interested in becoming a travel nurse, you should know that it is a challenging but rewarding path. You will have to work hard to get the necessary experience, but when you do, it is well worth it. Travel nursing offers flexibility, a chance to make good money, and the chance to explore new places and meet new people.
How Does Travel Nurse Pay Differ from Staff Nurse Pay?
The salary of hospital staff nurses is typically determined by their education and experience, and they usually get a pay raise after certain periods. On the other hand, the payment for travel nurses can be quite complicated, including hourly wages, housing allowances that are not taxed, per diem payments that are not subject to taxes, travel reimbursement, and more.
Conclusion
Now you know How Much Do a Travel Nurse Make! Registered nurses (RNs) who take up travel nurse roles may earn more than the standard annual salary of $77,600 for RNs; similarly, APRNs may even surpass the average annual wage of $123,780. There are also opportunities for licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and certified nursing assistants (CNAs) to join as travel nurses, yet such cases are less frequent. During times of crisis, remuneration is likely to be higher than the average nursing salary; moreover, one can also expect housing allowances to increase their total income.
