Travel Nurse Jobs In USA

Travel nurses are in high demand across various states in the USA, addressing critical staffing needs. The demand for travel nurse jobs has increased in recent years, with specific specialties experiencing particularly robust growth. In this guide, we will explore the top travel nurse jobs in the USA.

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How much do travel nurses earn in the USA?

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Travel nurse salaries vary across states in the country, with the lowest earners making $40,000 and the highest earners making around $155,500 annually.

On average, travel nurses in the USA earn an annual salary of $105,021 or $50 per hour. This is higher than the average salary for permanent registered nurses, which is $81,220 per year or $39.05 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Top travel nurses are in high demand in the US

1. Travel CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist)

Travel CRNAs are in high demand due to their specialized skills in administering anesthesia during surgical operations. Their expertise is vital across various medical facilities, especially those experiencing staffing shortages in anesthesia services.

According to ZipRecruiter, travel CRNA earns an average annual income of $194,352 or $93/hr.

2. Operating Room Travel Nurse

Operating room-focused travel nurses are essential since the need for surgical services is always changing. They support the provision of high-quality patient care and help to guarantee the efficient running of surgical units.

They make an average annual income of $181,460 or $87/hr. Some of them make as much as $286,000 annually!

3. Emergency Room Travel Nurse

Emergency Room (ER) travel nurses are crucial in helping patients in urgent need of care. They are significant assets because of their experience managing emergencies, especially in hospitals with crowded emergency rooms.

These travel nurses earn an average annual income of $83,503 annually or $40/hr.

4. Intensive Care (ICU) Travel Nurse

ICU travel nurses are highly demanded to support critical care units. Their abilities are essential for improving outcomes in intensive care units by handling patients with serious illnesses or complications following surgery.

The average annual salary for intensive care travel nurses is around $143,416 annually or $69/hr.

5. Travel Nurse Practitioner

Nurse practitioners (NPs) with more flexibility to travel are highly demanded across various specialties. These advanced practice nurses offer a variety of medical services, such as patient education, diagnosis, and treatment.

According to ZipRecruiter, the average travel nurse practitioner earns $140,086 annually or $67/hr. However, their salary is often dependent on location and specialty.

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Others include:

6. Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Travel Nurse

NICU travel nurses are experts in providing care for infants with life-threatening illnesses. They are in high demand in hospitals with neonatal units because of their experience in providing specialized care to premature or sick infants.

These nurses earn an average income of approximately $173,017 annually or $83/hr. However, their income can vary across the country.

7. Med-Surg Travel Nurse

Travel nurses who specialize in medical-surgical (med-surg) nursing provide a wide range of patient care by fusing aspects of surgical and medical nursing. Because of their adaptability, they are useful in medical facilities and hospitals that need nurses with diverse skills.

They earn an average annual income of $118,997 or $57.21/hr. However, they can earn as high as s$134.38/hr, depending on their location and facility.

8. Telemetry Travel Nurse

Telemetry travel nurses specialize in monitoring patients’ vital signs and cardiac activity, usually in specialized units. Their expertise in interpreting telemetry data helps detect changes in patients’ conditions and provide timely interventions.

According to ZipRecruiter, they earn an average annual income of $124,122 annually or $60/hr.

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How to become a travel nurse in the USA?

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to become a travel nurse in the USA:

1. Educational Requirements

Travel nurses must have either an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited program. While an ADN offers a quicker route to becoming a registered nurse (RN), many travel nursing agencies prefer candidates with a BSN because of its comprehensive training and expanded career opportunities.

2. RN Licensure

After completing the nursing program, you must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) to obtain an RN license. This licensure is a requirement to practice nursing in the United States.

3. Clinical Experience

For travel nurses, gaining clinical experience is essential. A year or more of clinical experience is a prerequisite for most travel nursing agencies. To guarantee that travel nurses can swiftly adjust to new settings and duties, certain healthcare contracts could need two years or more of relevant expertise.

4. Choose a Specialization

A particular skill set or certification in critical care, emergency department, or labor and delivery can improve a travel nurse’s marketability, however, it is not required.

Specializations support a nurse’s overall competence in a variety of tasks and correspond with the particular requirements of healthcare institutions.

5. Find a Travel Nursing Agency

Staffing companies that specialize in travel nursing placements are often the source of employment for travel nurses.

Find a trustworthy agency by doing your homework and selecting one that suits your requirements for housing, benefits, salary, locations, and assignment type.

6. State Certification and Adherence

Travel nurses are required to obtain licensing in the states where they intend to work, While some states participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), which permits nurses to practice across state lines with a single license, each state has its licensing criteria.