How Travel Nursing Works | Salary and FAQs

Travel nurses are hired to fill staffing shortages on a short term basis which can be caused by: Lack of qualified nurses in the area Seasonal patient population increases Natural disasters or pandemics Strikes Staff nurses taking expected leaves of absence like maternity leave or vacations To find skilled nurses to fill these often short term assignments facilities work with recruitment agencies. Most travel nursing assignments are 13-14 weeks long so as the travel nurse you sign a contract with a travel nursing agency to work that length of time at a designated facility. While 13-14 weeks is the average length of time there may be other assignments that are shorter or longer. Every facility will have different policies but most will also have clearly explained policies about what will happen if you feel unsafe, can’t complete your assignment or if the hospital decides to cancel your contract before the length of time is up. Your travel nurse recruitment agency will work with you to place you at a facility and help you arrange things like housing, meals and other practical things you may need during your stay like internet or utilities. You also have the option to receive retirement benefits and insurance for the duration of your assignment although those benefits usually end when your assignment does so some travel nurses opt to pay out of pocket for the benefits they need so they last between assignments.There are travel nurse assignments available in almost every specialty from ICU to labor and delivery to advanced nurse practitioner positions like CRNAs and NPs. In general the more specialty experience you have the higher pay you may make as a travel nurse. If you have specialty training or want to gain it be sure to talk to your nurse recruiter.

Travel nurses are Registered Nurses with typically 12-18 months of hospital based RN experience in their field. Depending on the specialty or the facility requirements the required work experience may be longer. Travel nursing assignments are available for multiple specialties but some specialties like ICU and oncology are more in demand. Nurses with advanced certification like NPs, CNMs and CRNAs can also take travel positions. See other high demand travel nurse specialties.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the average salary for a Registered Nurse in 2026 was $96,070 per year while travel nurses can make on average approximately $120,560 per year. However keep in mind that while high rate travel nursing positions are still available they are not as high as they were at the peak of the pandemic. Total travel nurse compensation depends on multiple factors such as your specialty, the contract details and the location of the hospital. In general travel nurses are paid well because they’re filling a high demand for nurses. In addition to your hourly rate you’ll often be eligible for: Medical and dental benefits 401K Bonuses Stipends for housing Meals Travel expenses Keep in mind when working as a travel nurse you’re employed by the travel nursing agency and not the facility. Also remember travel nurses are paid (and taxed) differently than staff nurses. Travel nurses are paid through agencies not the hospital so you have to look at your total pay. This will include your hourly base pay + your non-taxable stipends which are things like housing and meals. Your hourly base pay may look lower than you expect but when you factor in the stipends you can get a more accurate picture of what your total pay looks like. You’ll also need to make sure you have a “tax home” to avoid paying taxes on the stipends as well.

The standard travel nursing assignment is 13 weeks but anything between 8-26 weeks is common. Hospitals will often offer to renew your contract too if you agree – called extensions. Extensions usually happen during the last 3-5 weeks of your assignment but if you want to stay on longer you should talk to your recruiter. You don’t have to wait to be approached by the facility. Standard travel nurse hours are 5 8s, 4 10s or 3 12s though this will vary by facility. Your shift and hours should be written in your contract. The beauty of being a travel nurse is the flexibility. You can work as much or as little as you want – you can extend an assignment, take on a new one as soon as one contract ends or take an extended break between assignments.

Travel nursing jobs are available nationwide but available assignment locations will depend on current staffing needs. While vacation destinations like Hawaii or California might be the dream for many travel nurses starting out they’re also high in demand and as such may not come with as high of pay. On the flip side choosing less in demand areas may get you higher pay and help you build your resume and experience. You can also sign up to be on a list for crisis travel nursing positions so when something pops up last minute like a hurricane in Puerto Rico you can take a crisis pay travel nurse position. Ultimately you decide where you want to go – chances are if your dream location isn’t available now it will be in the future.

A common myth is your assignment must be at least 50 miles away from your permanent residence — often called the “50-mile rule.” The truth is you can work a contract assignment at a hospital close to your home if you choose. In fact some nurses even choose to quit their staff positions and take on travel nursing roles at the same hospitals they work at. (Keep in mind your hospital may frown upon that or even ban nurses from doing that so be sure to tread carefully if that’s your plan). Additionally if you do choose a location close to home you can’t collect the non-taxable housing stipend which can reduce your overall pay. To collect the housing stipend you must be duplicating expenses — rent or own a home in your home area AND rent a place in the area you’re working. Basically you can’t work a contract and go home to your main residence at the end of your shift and receive a non-taxable housing stipend.

Most travel agencies offer medical and dental benefits as well as other benefits like a 401K that you can collect directly through the agency — some even offer matching 401K plans! To maintain health insurance though you cannot take off more than 30 days. If your plan is to take extended time off between assignments it would be better to get your own health insurance. You can purchase your own benefits through Marketplace.gov or go through an insurance agency that offers health insurance. You can also open your retirement accounts and contribute directly to them as you please. Also most travel nurse companies do not offer paid time off (PTO) or short-term disability. You’ll need to get your own insurance policy if you’re concerned with the possibility of getting hurt and not being able to work. Bottom line: In the world of travel nursing if you don’t work you don’t get paid. However some nurses still find that thanks to the high wages travel nursing offers they can actually earn more money by working fewer hours and still reap all the benefits of a staff position.

There are two housing options available to travel nurses: Agency-placed housing Taking a housing stipendIf you choose agency-placed housing the agency will arrange your living situation but it’s not free. The housing fees come out of the bill rate and ultimately reduces your take-home pay. Housing is deducted from the travel nurse’s “cut” of the bill rate. Agencies will coordinate and set up housing which is helpful if you’re new to travel nursing. However if you want to bring home the most money we recommend taking the stipend and finding your own housing. In that scenario you can still collect the housing stipend but you have the freedom to choose your own living quarters so if you find a place that’s lower than the stipend allows you get to keep the difference. Many travel nurses choose to do this to keep their housing costs low and take home more pay. When you get housing through an agency it’s also important to know that things like a television, washer and dryer or a vacuum are often not included but you have the option of renting these items from the company that furnished the apartment. Let your recruiter know what you’ll need so they can help arrange the rentals. If you opt for the housing stipend you’ll be responsible for finding your own housing as well as all of the living expenses.

Yes! You can travel on assignment with your family and/or pets — though finding housing may become a bit trickier. Most travel nurse companies provide a one-bedroom apartment (some just a studio or an extended-stay hotel), which probably isn’t doable if you’re bringing your children. To get housing with additional bedrooms and space you may be required to pay for part of your housing (if using agency-placed housing). Or you’ll have to find your own housing (using the housing stipend). Let your recruiter know if you’d like to travel with your pet so they can find pet-friendly housing. Keep in mind that some housing has breed or weight restrictions which can limit your options. You’ll also likely have to pay an additional security deposit or pet fee.

Yes! It’s not uncommon for RNs to select travel nursing assignments together. You can even request to work in the same hospital or city and share an apartment or apartment complex. Traveling with another nurse gives you someone to explore with and often saves on housing costs. You can even do travel nursing as a couple — learn how one couple does it and their advice for other nurse couples.

Some travel nurses have reported that many facilities tend to give travel nurses the “easier” patients and leave the sickest to the staff nurses, especially for acute patients. Why? It takes time for a charge nurse to get to know you and learn what you can handle. However, this may not be the case for you, especially if you are taking on a specialty assignment, like working in a COVID or ICU unit. Additionally, in critical staffing positions there may not be an option to delegate “easier” patients as every patient may be critically ill. As a travel nurse however you’ll usually be the first to float. If you dislike that then you may not enjoy being a travel nurse.

No — typically you will not be paid if your assignment is cut short due to low patient counts. However, your recruiter will try to find you a replacement assignment quickly. Also, the number of shifts allowed to be canceled is written in your contract. Some contracts may also have policies about what will happen if the entire assignment is canceled. As a side note, you may also want to confirm that you can get out of your housing contract should your contract be canceled.

Traveling as a nurse increases your skill level and makes you a more eligible candidate for future nursing jobs. Why? It exposes you to different regional nursing procedures and patient populations You may have the opportunity to work in a wider variety of specialties You have experience learning a new clinical environment quickly Some agencies may also help you get more specialty training or certifications—if you’re interested in this be sure to talk to your recruiter about what your agency might offer for continuing education!

While the need for travel nurses during the pandemic has slowed, there will always be a demand for travel nurses. Not only do nursing shortages nationwide continue to be a problem but the rate of new nurses replacing nurses leaving and retiring from the workforce is not enough. Plus there will always be things like natural disasters and emergencies that pop up and require an influx of travel nurses who can work on short notice. Nurses make up the largest segment of the healthcare profession and continuing shortages are still a real issue. The US Bureau of Labor and Statistics says over 1.2 million nurses are needed to meet the current demand and that employment opportunities for nurses are growing at a 6% rate through 2032 which is faster than average.

Becoming a travel nurse typically starts with earning an active nursing license, gaining clinical experience, and exploring travel nursing opportunities that match your specialty and career goals. Many nurses begin by searching for travel RN or LPN assignments based on location preferences, contract length, and healthcare setting. Travel nursing platforms and staffing companies can help nurses connect with hospitals and healthcare facilities looking for flexible nursing professionals.