Some nurses chase adventures, and others chase dollars, but travel nurses get both. If you are a nurse and bored with working in the same healthcare facility and want some change, then pack your bags and grab your stethoscope, as it is time for you to make money across the US. But wait, before you decide to become a travel nurse, the most basic question that will pop up in your mind is “how much do travel nurses make?” In this blog, we will discuss the travel nurses’ salary in 2025 according to the states, cities, and specialties, and the factors that affect the travel nurse salary. So let’s dive in!
What is the average travel nurse’s salary in the United States?
The average travel nurse salary in 2025 in the US is $101,132 annually, which means $49 per hour ( source: Travel Nurse Salary: Hourly Rate September 2025 USA). We all know that travel nurses make more than permanent staff because they fill short-term, high-demand roles, and hospitals save on long-term benefits. Travel nurses make between $3000 to $5000 per week, depending on their location, healthcare facility, specialty, experience, and demand.
Breakdown of travel nurse salary:
Travel nurses don’t just get paid hourly, but their pay can be broken down into the following:
- Base pay: The hourly pay they are getting, for example $30/hour.
- Housing stipend: They either get free accommodation or are given housing stipends, which are not taxable.
- Meals and other incentives: They also get meals and other incentives, which are not taxable.
- Bonuses: Nurses can also make money by getting bonuses such as starting bonuses, completion bonuses, or referral bonuses.
What are the factors that affect travel nurse salaries in 2025?
A travel nurse’s salary depends on many factors. The factors that affect travel nurses’ salaries in 2025 are:
- Specialty: Some specialties have higher pay as compared to other specialties because of their high demand, such as ER, ICU, OR nurses, who make more.
- Location: The location of the travel nurse’s contract also affects the travel nurse’s salary. Nurses working in New York have a high hourly rate because their cost of living is high compared to that in Texas.
- Full-time or part-time pay: Travel nurses working full-time will make more than those working part-time.
- Shift timing: The other factor that affects travel nurse salary is shift timing. Nurses working night shifts or on weekends might get more pay than the standard day shift.
- Bonus: Travel nurses also make more by getting bonuses such as a sign-on bonus, completion bonus, or referral bonuses.
- Holiday pay: Nurses working on holidays also receive an increase in their pay.
- Crisis pay: Sometimes hospitals need nurses urgently during emergencies or crises, and travel nurses are willing to fill in. Travel nurses make extra during a crisis.
Travel nursing salary by state, city, and specialty in 2025
Washington is the top-paying state right now, giving an hourly wage of $55.07 for travel nurses. The following is the list of the top 12 highest-paying states for travel nurses.
Top 10 highest paying cities for travel nurses in 2025
The top paying cities for travel nurses in 2025 is Two Rivers, WI, paying an hourly wage of $65.61.
Top 8 travel nurse salaries by specialty in 2025
Here is the list of the top 10 travel nurse specialties that get high travel nurse pay.
- CRNA travel nurse Salary: The Average pay of a travel CRNA nurse is $125/ hour and $259,707 /year.
- Travel Nurse Practitioner Salary: The average salary of a travel nurse practitioner (NP) is $63/hr.
- Intensive Care Unit Nurse Salary: The average ICU nurse salary in the US is $61/hr.
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Salary: The average salary of a NICU travel nurse in the US is $61/hr.
- Telemetry RN Travel Nurse Salary: The average Telemetry RN travel nurse pay in the US is $58/hour.
- Med Surg Travel Nurse: Medsurg Travel Nurse salary is 52.96/ hour, average pay.
- Operating Room Travel Nurse Salary: The average hourly pay of an operating room travel nurse is $45/hour.
- Emergency Room Travel Nurse salary: The average emergency room travel nurse salary in the US is $42/ hour.
What are the tips to increase your salary as a travel nurse?
If you want to become a travel nurse, it is important to know that experience matters. You need to have at least one to two years of experience before you sign your first contract, and that too with SkillGigs! Here are some tips to increase your salary as a travel nurse.
- Choose a high-demand specialty: Some specialties are in higher demand than others. Therefore, choosing a specialty is also an important factor if you want to become a travel nurse. Some high-demand specialties are ICU, ER, OR, etc. These specialties have high pay and are in high demand. Special certifications such as CCRN, CNOR, or CEN can also increase your hourly rate.
- High-paying locations: If you want to increase your salary as a travel nurse, then choosing the location of your next assignment is also important. Select the states and cities that pay higher rates to travel nurses. States and cities with nursing shortages or high living costs, and understaffed hospitals or rural areas, offer higher pay to travel nurses.
- Be flexible: Another important factor for travel nurses to increase their salary is their flexibility. Travel nurses should be very flexible. They should be willing to relocate quickly where there is a shortage of staff during an emergency or crisis. Nurses get premium pay when they sign crisis assignments.
- Working on holidays: Travel nurses can also increase their salary or paycheck by working on holidays. Holidays’ pay is more than the standard pay rate. They can also work extra shifts to make more money during their assignments.
- Negotiate your rate: To make more money with travel nursing, do not settle for the first offer. You can always negotiate using your experience, certification, and specialty demand. With SkillGigs, you can directly contact the employee and negotiate your rate without recruiter drama. So, download your SkillGigs app today and make more money.
How much experience do you need to become a travel nurse?
To become a travel nurse, you need at least 1 to 2 years of experience. This experience helps you adjust to the new environment easily with minimal orientation.
How much do travel nurses make on average?
The travel nurse’s salary depends on several factors, such as location, experience, healthcare facility, specialty, etc. The salary of nurses is not fixed as they get base pay, house and meal incentives, bonuses, extra shift pay, etc.
Do travel nurses have a higher salary than permanent staff?
Yes, the hourly rate of travel nurses is more than that of permanent staff because of constant relocation and their willingness to fill the gaps when there is a shortage of staff, especially during emergencies and crises.
Which nursing specialty pays the most?
CRNAs (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists) earn the most, as they make an average of $125/hour.
Which states pay travel nurses the most?
States such as Washington, D.C., New York, Massachusetts, Alaska, Vermont, and North Dakota pay the travel nurses the most.
Which cities pay the travel nurses the most?
Cities such as Two Rivers, WI; New Lisbon, WI; Barrow, AK; Berkeley, CA; and Redwood City pay travel nurses the most.
Are travel nurses’ salaries different on different shifts?
Yes, travel nurses’ salaries are different on different shifts, such as night shifts, weekends, and holiday shifts, which usually pay more. It is sometimes time and a half or double time.
Conclusion
Travel nursing in 2025 is more than just a paycheck- it is about getting experience, exploring new places, and meeting new people. Travel nursing salary is not fixed, but it consists of base pay, bonuses, meals, and other incentives, housing stipends, and so much more. If you are thinking of becoming a travel nurse, then choose the specialty that has high demand and pays more. Travel nurses can maximize their pay by being flexible, getting jobs in high-demand areas, working extra shifts, working on weekends, and holidays etc. Travel nursing is fun if you are with the right people, and therefore, SkillGigs is here to help you secure the high-paying jobs. No recruiter drama, just you and your next travel nursing assignment. Download the SkillGigs app and make more money with travel nursing.
