Updated October 23, 2026
How much do travel nurses make? The national average travel nurse pay is about $2,233 per week, based on more than 300,000 active job listings on Vivian Health in the week to October 22, 2026. That works out to roughly $116,000 a year if you work every week. Pay depends heavily on state, specialty, shift and how urgently the hospital needs staff.
Travel nurse pay by state: top 20
| Rank | State | Average weekly pay | Highest weekly offer seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $2,816 | $4,436 |
| 2 | Alaska | $2,813 | $5,840 |
| 3 | California | $2,569 | $6,622 |
| 4 | South Dakota | $2,554 | $4,527 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $2,550 | $4,800 |
| 6 | New York | $2,483 | $5,736 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $2,468 | $4,364 |
| 8 | Vermont | $2,434 | $4,237 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $2,429 | $4,175 |
| 10 | Nevada | $2,419 | $3,522 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $2,413 | $3,692 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $2,401 | $6,776 |
| 13 | Washington | $2,380 | $15,409* |
| 14 | Maine | $2,378 | $4,211 |
| 15 | Hawaii | $2,371 | $4,100 |
| 16 | Illinois | $2,363 | $4,056 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $2,361 | $4,680 |
| 18 | Montana | $2,348 | $4,300 |
| 19 | Delaware | $2,346 | $4,032 |
| 20 | Idaho | $2,334 | $4,498 |
Highest-paying travel nurse specialties
| Specialty | Average weekly pay | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| CRNA | $4,994 | $3,663–$6,692 |
| Cardiac cath lab | $2,703 | $1,163–$3,856 |
| PACU | $2,520 | $1,346–$3,548 |
| NICU | About $2,450 | About $1,865–$2,981 |
| Oncology | $2,438 | $1,404–$3,413 |
| ICU | $2,426 | $769–$3,462 |
| CVICU | $2,391 | $1,067–$3,558 |
| Telemetry | $2,320 | $1,163–$3,231 |
| PCU / step-down | About $2,314 | About $1,962–$2,654 |
| Med-surg | $2,282 | $1,202–$3,048 |
How travel nurse pay actually works
- Taxable hourly wage: often lower than a staff rate.
- Tax-free stipends for housing and meals (M&IE). These make up a large share of your weekly pay. To receive them tax-free, you generally need a tax home: a permanent residence you maintain and pay for while you travel.
- Contracts usually last 13 weeks. Watch for cancellation clauses, guaranteed hours, floating rules and overtime rates.
- Extras: travel reimbursement, licence reimbursement, completion bonuses, and health insurance (check when it starts).
Requirements to become a travel nurse
- An active RN licence. A multistate Nurse Licensure Compact licence makes it far easier to work in more than 40 states.
- Usually at least 1–2 years of recent experience in your specialty.
- BLS, plus ACLS or PALS for most acute care roles. Specialty certifications help you get the best contracts.
- An agency (or several). Compare pay packages line by line.
Travel vs staff nursing pay
The median staff RN salary is $97,550 (see RN salary by state). Travel nursing can pay more, but it has gaps between contracts, less stable benefits, constant relocation, and the cost of keeping a tax home. Many nurses travel for a few years to pay off debt, then return to staff jobs.
FAQ
Which state pays travel nurses the most? Rhode Island and Alaska averaged about $2,815 a week in October 2026, followed by California at $2,569.
Do travel nurses still make good money in 2026? Yes, though rates are far below the pandemic peak. Specialty, flexibility and timing matter most. Crisis, rapid-response and strike contracts pay the most.
Can new grads become travel nurses? Rarely. Most agencies and hospitals require at least 1–2 years of experience.
Sources: Vivian Health travel nurse salary data (October 22, 2026); Medical Solutions, “Highest Paying Travel Nurse Specialties in 2026” (July 2026, ZipRecruiter data); BLS (May 2025). This is not tax advice. Speak to a tax professional who knows travel nurse stipends.