The term “best” means something different to every travel nurse. If you’re looking for the highest gross paycheck, you’re looking at a different list than someone trying to stretch their take-home pay in a low cost city. If lifestyle matters as much as money, you’re looking at a separate list again.
This guide covers all three cases: the best states for raw pay, the best states for pay-to-cost-of-living balance, and a few spots worth considering if you want strong assignments and a good life outside the hospital.
What Makes a Location Best for Travel Nurses
Before you pick a state, it helps to know what you’re actually comparing. Four things matter most:
- Gross pay and stipends. Weekly packages vary significantly by state, specialty, and facility. A high bill-rate state doesn’t always mean more money in your pocket after housing and travel nurse taxes.
- Cost of living. A $3,800/week contract in San Francisco and a $2,400/week contract in Tulsa can look very different once rent is factored in.
- State licensing timelines. Non-compact states (like California and New York) require a separate license, which takes weeks or months to process. If you hold a compact license, you can work in compact states without reapplying, which matters when you’re trying to move quickly between assignments. See how far can travel nurses travel to understand the 50-mile rule.
- Demand levels. Some states have chronic nursing shortages that keep travel positions open year-round. Others spike seasonally.
Best States for Highest Pay
California
California continues to be the top-paying state for travel nurses, and that won’t change in 2026. CatSol Healthcare’s contract data shows that average travel nurse wages in California are currently about $3,800 per week, while ICU, ER, and L&D travel nurses typically make $4,500 or more per week. One driver is California’s legally mandated nurse-to-patient ratios, the only law of its kind in the country, which forces hospitals to keep staffing levels up at all times and creates sustained, consistent demand for travelers.
The trade-offs are real. California has the highest state income tax in the US, up to 13.3% on earned wages. Housing costs are steep, particularly in the Bay Area and Los Angeles, where a $4,500/week contract can look less impressive once you account for rent. And California is not part of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so you’ll need a separate California license before you can start, which can take several weeks. If you’re planning an assignment here, apply for your license well in advance.
New York
New York has always been a hot destination for travel nurses and ranks highly among the highest-paying states. The average weekly wage in the state is approximately $2,400, and assignments in New York City average around $2,600 per week, according to current job activity data from Vivian Health. The city is home to many academic medical centers, specialty hospitals, and large health systems, which drive demand for most nursing specialties year-round.
Similar to California, the cost of living is high in New York City, where housing costs eat a significant portion of any stipend. New York is also a non-compact state, so a separate New York RN license is required. If your priority is resume depth and high gross pay, New York delivers both.
Best States for Pay-to-Cost-of-Living Balance
Texas
Texas doesn’t have the highest weekly contract rates in the country, averaging between $1,850 and $1,900 per week according to Vivian Health, but it has one thing California and New York don’t: no state income tax. That alone can put 5 to 9% more of every paycheck in your pocket compared to high-tax states.
Large cities such as Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio have some of the biggest hospital systems in the country and continue to see consistent demand across most specialties. Housing costs run lower than in coastal markets, so the stipend goes further. Texas is a compact state, which means a nurse holding a compact license can begin work with little to no extra paperwork.
Georgia and North Carolina
Georgia and North Carolina are gaining traction with travel nurses who want steady demand and manageable costs. Neither state has the pay ceiling of California or New York, but Atlanta and Charlotte both support large, active hospital markets with consistent travel demand across specialties, and housing costs leave more of every stipend intact. Both states are part of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a compact-license holder can start assignments without extra licensing steps.
Best States for Scenery and Lifestyle
Washington
Washington is one of the stronger all-around states for travel nurses in 2026, particularly for those who want competitive pay without California-level costs. Average travel nurse weekly pay in Washington runs around $2,300 to $2,900, with Seattle-area contracts ranging from roughly $2,200 to $2,800 per week depending on specialty and facility, according to data from Vivian Health and TLC Nursing.
Like Texas, Washington has no state income tax, which improves take-home pay compared to equivalent contracts in high-tax states. Seattle is home to major academic medical centers, including University of Washington Medical Center and Swedish Medical Center, which generate consistent travel demand. Outside work, the Pacific Northwest offers mountains, coastline, national parks, and outdoor recreation that’s hard to match in most major metro areas. Washington is a compact state, so nurses with a compact license can start assignments without extra licensing steps.
Some people have concerns about whether they can travel with their pets in these locations. Short answer is yes but their are certain things to consider before you make a decision.
Best Budget-Friendly Hubs
For nurses who prioritize savings over scenery, a few mid-size cities offer some of the most favorable stipend-to-housing-cost ratios in the country.
| City | Why It Works |
| Tulsa, OK | Low cost of living, active hospital market, stipends stretch further than in most metros |
| Omaha, NE | Solid healthcare infrastructure (Nebraska Medicine, CHI Health), affordable housing |
| Wichita, KS | High stipend-to-rent ratio, steady demand, not oversaturated with travelers |
These cities won’t make headlines for pay rates, but nurses focused on saving during assignments often come out ahead of peers working in higher-paying, higher-cost markets.
Where Travel Nurses Are Needed Most
The states and cities above aren’t only good for pay, they’re also where the demand is. Chronic staffing shortages driven by high patient volume and ratio laws keep demand elevated in California and New York. Texas continues to grow fast, and its hospital systems stay understaffed in certain specialties even with strong local hiring. Washington’s major academic medical centers also generate travel demand throughout the year.
More broadly, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects around 189,000 RN job openings per year through 2034, and training pipelines aren’t growing fast enough to close that gap. That keeps demand elevated across most markets, with ICU, ER, OR, and L&D nurses in particularly short supply nationwide.
How to Land Assignments in These Locations
A few practical things affect how quickly you can start:
- Get your licenses in order early. Non-compact states like California and New York require a separate state license. These can take weeks to process, so apply before you start looking for assignments, not after.
- Know your compact status. If you hold a multistate compact license, you can take assignments in any of the 40-plus compact states without reapplying. That makes it much easier to move between Texas, Washington, Georgia, and North Carolina.
- Build a complete, verified profile. Hospitals and direct-sourcing platforms move faster when your credentials, certifications, and work history are already on file. Gaps in documentation slow down every offer.
- Look at direct-sourcing platforms alongside agencies. Platforms like SkillGigs, which connect nurses directly to hospitals, often surface assignments faster and with more pay transparency than traditional agency pipelines.
Best Hospitals to Work at as a Travel Nurse
The state isn’t the only thing that matters in finding a great assignment. Finding the right facility, in the right specialty, at the right time, with the right pay, matters just as much, and that’s harder to see on an agency board that doesn’t show the full picture.
SkillGigs lets nurses search verified hospital assignments directly and see full pay transparency, backed by a credentialed profile that hospitals can act on right away. There’s no middleman and no markup hidden in the rate, just the assignment details and the tools to apply. If you’re chasing assignments at top hospital systems in California, Texas, Washington, or anywhere else on this list, it’s worth starting there.
Search Nurse Assignments on SkillGigs Free
Frequently Asked Questions
Where Do Traveling Nurses Make the Most Money?
California pays the most, averaging about $3,800 a week across specialties and $4,500 or more in ICU and ER roles. New York ranks second. High state taxes and living costs in both states can shrink net pay, so gross pay alone doesn’t tell the full story.
What Is the Best Travel Nurse Company to Work For?
The best choice depends on what matters most to you, whether that’s pay transparency, support, or speed of placement. Many nurses now pair direct-sourcing platforms with traditional agencies to see real assignment pay and connect with hospitals directly.
Where Are Travel Nurses Needed the Most?
California, Texas, and New York have the highest ongoing demand, driven by population size, ratio laws in California, and large hospital networks. ICU, OR, and L&D units nationwide also face chronic shortages that keep travel positions open year-round.
Where Do the Happiest Nurses Work?
Survey data on nurse satisfaction points to environments with manageable ratios, supportive leadership, and stability, not necessarily the highest-paying states. Washington regularly scores well on nurse-to-patient ratios and overall work environment.
What Is the Highest Paid Type of Travel Nurse?
CRNAs are the highest earners in travel nursing, often making $3,500 to $7,000 or more a week in 2026. Among standard RN specialties, ICU, CVOR, and OR nurses command the top rates, typically $2,600 to $4,500 a week depending on location and facility.
