Travel Nursing in 2024: Pay Trends and What to Expect (2024)

FAQs

Will travel nurse rates increase in 2024? ›

However, travel nurse pay remains very strong. According to surveys by staffing agencies, the average weekly gross pay for travel nurse assignments in early 2024 is around $2,800 for a 48-hour week. This still represents a pay premium of 30-50% over commensurate permanent staff nurse positions at most facilities.

The average salary for a Travel Nurse in California is $2,395 per week. This is 12% higher than the US average of $2,101.

The future of travel nursing is bright and full of exciting opportunities. While there will be some challenges along the way, the innovations and progress we will make in 2024 will help travel nurses provide exceptional care for their patients while enjoying fulfilling careers.

Travel Nurse Pay Remains High

From March 2020 to July 2022, Trusted Health saw travel nurses across all specialties and states making an average gross weekly income of $3,668! Though the average gross weekly income has decreased slightly since then, Trusted is still seeing an impressive average gross weekly of $3,206.

While travel nurses once made up only 3-4% of the nursing workforce, this number surged during the pandemic to nearly 10%. Post-COVID, we've seen this settle back in around 5% in 2024. The world has indeed seen significant changes, but the demand for skilled and compassionate nurses within the US has not waned.

Decreased Demand

High unemployment meant fewer people with health coverage which resulted in lower patient populations. Many nurses who were expected to retire kept working, others picked up extra shifts. The number of travel nursing jobs declined dramatically. Many travel nurses took full time positions for stability.

So, is travel nursing worth it? Yes! With more money, flexibility, career options, travel perks, and personal growth, it's still one of the most exciting nursing opportunities in 2024. If you're thinking of level up in your nursing career now, travel nursing jobs might just be the adventure you're looking for.

What is the average stay of a traveling nurse? ›

When working with travel nursing agencies, the average travel nurse assignment is 13 weeks long. However, there are other travel nurse assignment lengths like eight, four, and even one- to two-week assignments. There are also longer travel assignments which can last 20 or 26 weeks.

The job outlook for travel nurses is very strong. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of RNs is projected to grow 6% between 2022-2032. Greater demand for healthcare and retiring nurses drive this growth. The flexibility of travel nursing is attractive to nurses seeking new experiences.

California has the highest demand for travel nurses, and med-surg was the specialty in highest demand, according to a Nomad Health report. The "Nomad Health Q4 2023 Healthcare Jobs Report" examined internal job data collected from Oct.

Travel nurses who work in high-demand specialties such as ICU, OR, and ER can earn significantly more than those in other specialties. Nurses in these specialties can earn up to $4,000 per week, which translates to an annual salary of $208,000 or more.

Travel nursing is still in-demand, but not quite the same way it was in the past. We know that rates have started to drop consistently and, in some cases, dramatically.

According to a Health Workforce Analysis published by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in November 2022, federal authorities project a shortage of 78,610 full-time RNs in 2025 and a shortage of 63,720 full-time RNs in 2030.

The job outlook for travel nurses is very strong. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of RNs is projected to grow 6% between 2022-2032. Greater demand for healthcare and retiring nurses drive this growth. The flexibility of travel nursing is attractive to nurses seeking new experiences.