Travel nursing is a lucrative job for travel nurses who love traveling and flexibility. They earn more than staff nurses with similar qualifications and experience. The main difference between staff nurses' and travel nurses' pay is that travel nurse agencies provide hourly rates for every assignment. Therefore registered travel nurses can look for opportunities that pay better. On the other hand, full-time nurses depend on pay increases or additional education to increase their income potential.

There is no specific pay for travel nurses because agencies have varying conditions and their packages are different. For instance, some travel nursing companies offer hourly rates and provide stipends to cater for food and housing. Other agencies provide higher hourly rates to cater to other expenses. So, how much does a travel nurse earn? Well, let me explain!

A Look into Travel Nurse Salary

Travel nurses choose their assignments so they have control over their salary and other benefits. They work in different locations, and their assignments commonly take 13-16 weeks. According to NP Editorial Assessment, the average hourly rate for travel nurses is $56. However, newly licensed travel nurses earn a lower average hourly rate of $37.71 and experienced ones earn an average hourly rate of $82.

The monthly average salary for travel nurses is $9,790, and this depends on the number of hours worked and bonuses. The average annual salary of travel nurses also differs. Their average salary is $117,490 and bonuses and overtime matter. Travel nurse salary also depends on experience and the nature of the job.

For instance, travel nurses who work long hours at night in trauma centers are paid more compared to those who work shorter hours during dayshift in doctors’ offices. Other travel nurse specialties that pay higher include labor and delivery, emergency room, medical/surgical, intensive care unit, and operating room registered nurse.

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