The United States is experiencing a nursing shortage – and with health care workers facing burnout due to staffing issues that arose during the pandemic, the situation is getting worse. According to a survey from AMN Healthcare, an executive search company serving the medical profession, 30% of nurses are planning on leaving their jobs for alternate careers – which is bound to exacerbate the burnout rate in those remaining in the field. (It’s not only nurses who are in short supply in some places. These are the states with the fewest doctors per person.)
The shortage of nurses hits some areas harder than others. According to predictions from the Health Resources and Services Administration, for instance, California will be short over 44,000 nurses by 2030. That’s one reason why staff nurses in California make some of the highest average wages in the country.
However, traveling nurses – those who take temporary positions in places where nursing professionals are most needed – can earn much higher wages than even the best-paid nurses on staff. According to HealthJob – which compares salaries, education requirements, and responsibilities across health care careers – travel nurses earn an average yearly salary of $116,116, compared to $77,600 for the average registered nurse on staff.
To identify the states where travel nurses make the most money, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data from the HealthJob, a job board for healthcare professionals. Data on wages and employment of registered nurses by state came from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment Statistics database.
Click here to see what travel nurses get paid in every state
The average hourly wage for travel nurses is $2,233 per week, and in 29 states, their average hourly wage exceeds the national average. Even in South Carolina – the state that pays travel nurses the least – the average yearly salary is $94,744 – over $15,000 higher than the average annual salary for registered nurses.
Alaska – a state that has struggled to train in-state nurses and relies on health care workers from other states to fill positions – is the highest paying state for travel nurses. Other states that pay the highest wages include Arizona, New Jersey, North Dakota, and Massachusetts. Here are 65 jobs with six figure salaries.
50. South Carolina
> Median salary for travel nurse: $1,822 per week (Annual: $94,744)
> Compared to national median: -18.4%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $74,330 — 11th lowest
> Employment of registered nurses: 20 per 1,000 people — 19th lowest (total: 44,030)
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49. Alabama
> Median salary for travel nurse: $1,855 per week (Annual: $96,460)
> Compared to national median: -16.9%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $66,910 — 3rd lowest
> Employment of registered nurses: 25 per 1,000 people — 8th highest (total: 49,370)
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48. Florida
> Median salary for travel nurse: $1,860 per week (Annual: $96,720)
> Compared to national median: -16.7%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $79,910 — 23rd lowest
> Employment of registered nurses: 21 per 1,000 people — 25th lowest (total: 197,630)
47. Kansas
> Median salary for travel nurse: $1,872 per week (Annual: $97,344)
> Compared to national median: -16.2%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $71,990 — 7th lowest
> Employment of registered nurses: 22 per 1,000 people — 21st highest (total: 30,520)
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46. Georgia
> Median salary for travel nurse: $1,911 per week (Annual: $99,372)
> Compared to national median: -14.4%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $85,180 — 17th highest
> Employment of registered nurses: 18 per 1,000 people — 6th lowest (total: 82,970)
45. Delaware
> Median salary for travel nurse: $1,934 per week (Annual: $100,568)
> Compared to national median: -13.4%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $85,020 — 18th highest
> Employment of registered nurses: 25 per 1,000 people — 6th highest (total: 11,490)
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44. Oklahoma
> Median salary for travel nurse: $1,958 per week (Annual: $101,816)
> Compared to national median: -12.3%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $76,920 — 16th lowest
> Employment of registered nurses: 19 per 1,000 people — 10th lowest (total: 30,320)
43. Texas
> Median salary for travel nurse: $1,970 per week (Annual: $102,440)
> Compared to national median: -11.8%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $84,320 — 19th highest
> Employment of registered nurses: 18 per 1,000 people — 4th lowest (total: 231,060)
42. Mississippi
> Median salary for travel nurse: $1,988 per week (Annual: $103,376)
> Compared to national median: -11.0%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $67,930 — 4th lowest
> Employment of registered nurses: 26 per 1,000 people — 5th highest (total: 29,370)
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41. Tennessee
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,007 per week (Annual: $104,364)
> Compared to national median: -10.1%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $72,480 — 9th lowest
> Employment of registered nurses: 19 per 1,000 people — 16th lowest (total: 60,840)
40. Missouri
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,049 per week (Annual: $106,548)
> Compared to national median: -8.3%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $71,860 — 6th lowest
> Employment of registered nurses: 25 per 1,000 people — 7th highest (total: 70,440)
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39. North Carolina
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,076 per week (Annual: $107,952)
> Compared to national median: -7.0%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $77,420 — 18th lowest
> Employment of registered nurses: 22 per 1,000 people — 19th highest (total: 104,300)
38. Michigan
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,078 per week (Annual: $108,056)
> Compared to national median: -6.9%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $80,660 — 25th highest
> Employment of registered nurses: 24 per 1,000 people — 11th highest (total: 101,470)
37. Louisiana
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,089 per week (Annual: $108,628)
> Compared to national median: -6.4%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $75,920 — 14th lowest
> Employment of registered nurses: 24 per 1,000 people — 13th highest (total: 43,790)
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36. New Mexico
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,150 per week (Annual: $111,800)
> Compared to national median: -3.7%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $85,580 — 16th highest
> Employment of registered nurses: 19 per 1,000 people — 15th lowest (total: 15,910)
35. Arkansas
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,160 per week (Annual: $112,320)
> Compared to national median: -3.3%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $66,530 — 2nd lowest
> Employment of registered nurses: 23 per 1,000 people — 17th highest (total: 28,490)
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34. Virginia
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,182 per week (Annual: $113,464)
> Compared to national median: -2.3%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $81,860 — 22nd highest
> Employment of registered nurses: 18 per 1,000 people — 5th lowest (total: 69,510)
33. Illinois
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,215 per week (Annual: $115,180) (tie)
> Compared to national median: -0.8%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $82,220 — 21st highest
> Employment of registered nurses: 22 per 1,000 people — 22nd highest (total: 129,390)
32. Idaho
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,215 per week (Annual: $115,180) (tie)
> Compared to national median: -0.8%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $78,610 — 22nd lowest
> Employment of registered nurses: 17 per 1,000 people — 3rd lowest (total: 13,680)
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31. South Dakota
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,232 per week (Annual: $116,064)
> Compared to national median: 0.0%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $64,500 — the lowest
> Employment of registered nurses: 33 per 1,000 people — the highest (total: 14,360)
30. Iowa
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,233 per week (Annual: $116,116)
> Compared to national median: 0.0%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $69,370 — 5th lowest
> Employment of registered nurses: 22 per 1,000 people — 20th highest (total: 34,050)
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29. Indiana
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,243 per week (Annual: $116,636)
> Compared to national median: 0.4%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $75,580 — 13th lowest
> Employment of registered nurses: 22 per 1,000 people — 24th highest (total: 67,350)
28. Nevada
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,244 per week (Annual: $116,688)
> Compared to national median: 0.5%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $96,310 — 9th highest
> Employment of registered nurses: 17 per 1,000 people — 2nd lowest (total: 23,970)
27. Connecticut
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,258 per week (Annual: $117,416)
> Compared to national median: 1.1%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $94,260 — 10th highest
> Employment of registered nurses: 21 per 1,000 people — 24th lowest (total: 34,290)
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26. Nebraska
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,304 per week (Annual: $119,808)
> Compared to national median: 3.2%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $73,510 — 10th lowest
> Employment of registered nurses: 20 per 1,000 people — 21st lowest (total: 19,870)
25. Maryland
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,320 per week (Annual: $120,640) (tie)
> Compared to national median: 3.9%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $87,990 — 13th highest
> Employment of registered nurses: 19 per 1,000 people — 9th lowest (total: 49,790)
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24 .Hawaii
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,320 per week (Annual: $120,640) (tie)
> Compared to national median: 3.9%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $113,220 — 2nd highest
> Employment of registered nurses: 20 per 1,000 people — 18th lowest (total: 11,800)
23. West Virginia
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,338 per week (Annual: $121,576)
> Compared to national median: 4.7%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $72,230 — 8th lowest
> Employment of registered nurses: 31 per 1,000 people — 2nd highest (total: 21,110)
22. Maine
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,352 per week (Annual: $122,304)
> Compared to national median: 5.3%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $77,410 — 17th lowest
> Employment of registered nurses: 24 per 1,000 people — 10th highest (total: 14,610)
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21. Utah
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,355 per week (Annual: $122,460)
> Compared to national median: 5.5%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $76,400 — 15th lowest
> Employment of registered nurses: 14 per 1,000 people — the lowest (total: 22,830)
20. Oregon
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,359 per week (Annual: $122,668)
> Compared to national median: 5.6%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $106,610 — 3rd highest
> Employment of registered nurses: 20 per 1,000 people — 17th lowest (total: 37,400)
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19. Kentucky
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,373 per week (Annual: $123,396)
> Compared to national median: 6.3%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $77,620 — 19th lowest
> Employment of registered nurses: 24 per 1,000 people — 14th highest (total: 44,970)
18. Montana
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,376 per week (Annual: $123,552)
> Compared to national median: 6.4%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $78,350 — 20th lowest
> Employment of registered nurses: 20 per 1,000 people — 21st lowest (total: 10,020)
17. Ohio
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,396 per week (Annual: $124,592)
> Compared to national median: 7.3%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $78,450 — 21st lowest
> Employment of registered nurses: 24 per 1,000 people — 9th highest (total: 130,370)
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16. Washington
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,448 per week (Annual: $127,296) (tie)
> Compared to national median: 9.6%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $101,670 — 6th highest
> Employment of registered nurses: 19 per 1,000 people — 14th lowest (total: 64,920)
15. New Hampshire
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,448 per week (Annual: $127,296) (tie)
> Compared to national median: 9.6%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $83,420 — 20th highest
> Employment of registered nurses: 20 per 1,000 people — 22nd lowest (total: 13,510)
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14. Vermont
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,513 per week (Annual: $130,676)
> Compared to national median: 12.5%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $79,990 — 24th lowest
> Employment of registered nurses: 24 per 1,000 people — 15th highest (total: 6,930)
13. Minnesota
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,522 per week (Annual: $131,144)
> Compared to national median: 12.9%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $88,860 — 11th highest
> Employment of registered nurses: 23 per 1,000 people — 18th highest (total: 63,800)
12. Colorado
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,540 per week (Annual: $132,080)
> Compared to national median: 13.7%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $86,590 — 15th highest
> Employment of registered nurses: 19 per 1,000 people — 12th lowest (total: 52,390)
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11. New York
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,545 per week (Annual: $132,340)
> Compared to national median: 14.0%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $100,130 — 7th highest
> Employment of registered nurses: 21 per 1,000 people — 23rd lowest (total: 190,470)
10. Wisconsin
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,548 per week (Annual: $132,496)
> Compared to national median: 14.1%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $81,000 — 24th highest
> Employment of registered nurses: 22 per 1,000 people — 25th highest (total: 61,100)
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9. Rhode Island
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,556 per week (Annual: $132,912)
> Compared to national median: 14.5%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $88,250 — 12th highest
> Employment of registered nurses: 23 per 1,000 people — 16th highest (total: 11,190)
8. California
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,563 per week (Annual: $133,276)
> Compared to national median: 14.8%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $133,340 — the highest
> Employment of registered nurses: 18 per 1,000 people — 7th lowest (total: 325,620)
7. Pennsylvania
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,569 per week (Annual: $133,588)
> Compared to national median: 15.0%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $80,630 — 25th lowest
> Employment of registered nurses: 24 per 1,000 people — 12th highest (total: 137,970)
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6. Wyoming
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,570 per week (Annual: $133,640) (tie)
> Compared to national median: 15.1%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $81,010 — 23rd highest
> Employment of registered nurses: 19 per 1,000 people — 11th lowest (total: 5,070)
5. Massachusetts
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,570 per week (Annual: $133,640) (tie)
> Compared to national median: 15.1%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $104,150 — 4th highest
> Employment of registered nurses: 26 per 1,000 people — 4th highest (total: 94,100)
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4. North Dakota
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,581 per week (Annual: $134,212)
> Compared to national median: 15.6%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $75,000 — 12th lowest
> Employment of registered nurses: 28 per 1,000 people — 3rd highest (total: 11,300)
3. New Jersey
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,595 per week (Annual: $134,940)
> Compared to national median: 16.2%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $96,670 — 8th highest
> Employment of registered nurses: 19 per 1,000 people — 14th lowest (total: 78,340)
2. Arizona
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,760 per week (Annual: $143,520)
> Compared to national median: 23.6%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $86,740 — 14th highest
> Employment of registered nurses: 18 per 1,000 people — 8th lowest (total: 56,040)
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1. Alaska
> Median salary for travel nurse: $2,851 per week (Annual: $148,252)
> Compared to national median: 27.7%
> Annual mean wage for registered nurses: $103,310 — 5th highest
> Employment of registered nurses: 22 per 1,000 people — 23rd highest (total: 6,730)
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