Traveling Nurse Salary Calculator

Below is a complete guide to traveling nurse compensation, structured around the most common salary questions and how the calculator addresses each one.

1. What Are the Salary Ranges for a Traveling Nurse?
2. What is the entry level salary for a Traveling Nurse?
3. How Much Does a Traveling Nurse Earn at Entry Level vs Senior Level?
4. Where Are the Best Job Markets for Traveling Nurses?
5. Which Employers Hire Traveling Nurses and What Do They Pay?
6. What Job Responsibilities Affect Traveling Nurse Salary?
7. What Factors Push Traveling Nurse Salary Higher?
8. What Factors Reduce Traveling Nurse Salary?
9. What Benefits Do Traveling Nurses Typically Receive?
10. What Skills Affect Traveling Nurse Salary?
11. How Does Traveling Nurse Salary Vary by Different States and Cities?

The salary calculator uses $46.75 per hour as the national median hourly base for traveling nurses. Under a standard full-time assumption of 36 hours per week (the typical travel nursing schedule based on three 12-hour shifts), this translates to roughly $1,683 per week, $7,293 per month, and approximately $87,516 per year at the midpoint. However, the calculator produces low and high ranges to reflect real-world variation.

These ranges shift when you change hours per week, select part-time status, adjust your years of experience, modify your education level, or choose a different metro size. A nurse working 48 hours per week with overtime-eligible contracts in a large metro will see the annual estimate climb well above the high end shown here. The calculator lets you model each of these variables to match your actual assignment parameters.

Most travel nursing agencies require a minimum of one to two years of acute care experience before placing a nurse on assignment. In the salary calculator, entry level is defined as a nurse with limited years of experience and a baseline education credential, typically an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a recently completed Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no specialty certifications. When these inputs are selected, the calculator applies downward adjustments from the $46.75 median base.

An entry-level traveling nurse can expect the calculator to produce hourly estimates in the range of $38.00 to $44.00. On a full-time 36-hour week, that translates to an annual range of approximately $71,136 to $82,368 before taxes. Selecting a small metro job market will push estimates toward the lower boundary, while a large metro assignment in a high-demand state will pull them toward the upper boundary. After-tax estimates will further vary depending on whether the nurse is classified as W-2 or 1099 and the state income tax rate at the assignment location.

The salary calculator illustrates a meaningful gap between early-career and senior-level traveling nurses. Entry-level nurses, as described above, typically fall in the $38.00–$44.00 hourly range. Senior-level traveling nurses—those with 8 or more years of experience, a BSN or MSN, and specialty certifications such as CCRN, CEN, or CNOR—can see calculator estimates in the $54.00 to $62.00+ hourly range.

The calculator allows you to set exact years and education level to see where your profile falls. Senior nurses working crisis or rapid-response assignments in large metros can exceed these ranges. Adjusting the hours-per-week slider to 48 (common during high-demand surges) further amplifies annual totals for experienced nurses.

The strongest job markets for traveling nurses combine high patient volume, large hospital systems, persistent staffing shortages, and competitive pay scales. Large metro areas with multiple Level I trauma centers and teaching hospitals consistently generate the most contract openings and the highest bill rates.

The salary calculator applies a market-size adjustment factor, so selecting "large metro" for any of these cities will automatically shift your estimated range upward compared to a small or mid-sized market. Nurses targeting assignments in California or Massachusetts should note that high cost of living is partially offset by elevated bill rates from agencies.

Traveling nurses are placed by staffing agencies that contract with hospitals, health systems, and government facilities across the country.

Pay packages from these agencies typically include a taxable hourly rate plus non-taxable stipends for housing, meals, and incidentals when the nurse maintains a tax home. The salary calculator's W-2 vs 1099 toggle helps model the difference in take-home pay, since some nurses work through their own LLC or per-diem arrangements classified as 1099.

A traveling nurse's responsibilities directly influence the bill rate an agency can negotiate with a facility, which in turn determines the hourly rate the nurse receives. At every assignment, traveling nurses perform patient assessments, administer medications, monitor vitals, coordinate with physicians, and document care according to facility-specific electronic health record (EHR) systems. Beyond bedside care, travel nurses are expected to orient quickly—often within one to two shifts—to an unfamiliar unit, charting platform, and team.

Nurses assigned to intensive care units (ICU), emergency departments (ED), or operating rooms (OR) carry heavier acuity loads and are responsible for managing ventilators, titrating vasoactive drips, performing triage, or scrubbing into surgical cases. These high-acuity responsibilities command higher bill rates and translate to higher hourly pay in the calculator. A nurse selecting 8+ years of experience and advanced education will see the calculator reflect the premium that facilities pay for nurses capable of functioning independently in critical care settings from day one.

Charge nurse duties, precepting other travelers, and floating to multiple units within a single assignment are additional responsibilities that some contracts include. Facilities that require this flexibility often attach differential pay, which pushes the hourly rate toward the upper range in the calculator.

Several concrete, measurable factors raise the salary estimates produced by the calculator for traveling nurses. Specialty certification is the most reliable lever: holding a CCRN (critical care), CEN (emergency), or CNOR (perioperative) certification signals competency that facilities will pay a premium for, and the calculator reflects this when you increase the education/credential input. Years of experience beyond five years consistently unlock higher-tier contracts, especially for ICU and ED assignments in large metros.

Assignment location has an outsized effect. States such as California enforce mandated nurse-to-patient ratios, which increases demand and bill rates. Selecting California or a large metro in the calculator applies upward market-size adjustments. Shift differentials—nights, weekends, and holidays—are standard in travel nursing contracts and can add $4.00 to $10.00 per hour on top of the base rate. While the calculator uses a base hourly figure, nurses working primarily night shifts should mentally add these differentials when interpreting results.

Crisis and rapid-response assignments during seasonal surges (flu season, respiratory virus season) or staffing emergencies can push hourly rates 30–50% above standard contract rates. Nurses willing to accept short-notice placements in underserved or rural facilities in states like Michigan or North Carolina often find premium pay packages that exceed large-metro averages. Finally, holding a compact nursing license (Nurse Licensure Compact) expands the number of states where a nurse can accept assignments without additional licensing delays, increasing access to the highest-paying contracts.

Certain factors will pull the calculator's estimates toward the low end. Limited experience is the primary driver: nurses with only one to two years of bedside experience are restricted to med-surg or telemetry units where bill rates are lower than specialty units. Selecting minimal years of experience and a baseline education level in the calculator will produce hourly estimates closer to $38.00.

Small metro or rural assignments outside of crisis periods typically carry lower bill rates. The calculator applies a downward market-size adjustment when you select "small" market. Working part-time or reduced hours—selecting fewer than 36 hours per week—reduces weekly, monthly, and annual totals proportionally. Some nurses accept part-time extensions at lower rates to remain in a preferred city, which the calculator can model.

Choosing 1099 classification without proper tax planning can result in a lower effective take-home pay due to self-employment taxes (Social Security and Medicare), which the calculator's after-tax module helps illustrate. Nurses who do not maintain a qualifying tax home lose eligibility for non-taxable stipends, effectively reducing total compensation even if the posted hourly rate looks competitive. Assignments in states with higher state income tax rates—visible when you select the state in the calculator—will also reduce net pay compared to assignments in states with no income tax, such as Texas or Florida.

Benefits for traveling nurses depend heavily on whether the nurse is classified as W-2 or 1099, and the salary calculator's after-tax module accounts for this distinction. W-2 traveling nurses employed through major staffing agencies typically receive health insurance (medical, dental, vision), a 401(k) plan with employer match (often 1–4%), paid sick leave in states that require it, and non-taxable stipends for housing, meals, and incidentals. These stipends are a critical component of total compensation and can add $1,500 to $3,000+ per month tax-free when the nurse maintains a qualifying tax home.

Agencies such as Aya Healthcare and Fusion Medical Staffing offer licensure reimbursement, continuing education credits (CEUs), and referral bonuses that can reach $1,000–$2,000 per successful referral. Some agencies provide company-arranged housing as an alternative to the housing stipend, though most experienced nurses prefer to take the stipend and arrange their own accommodations.

1099 traveling nurses (those working through their own LLC or independent contractor arrangements) typically receive higher gross hourly rates but no employer-sponsored benefits. They are responsible for their own health insurance, retirement contributions, and self-employment taxes. The calculator's 401(k) contribution slider and W-2 vs 1099 toggle allow you to compare net take-home pay under both models to determine which structure is more advantageous for your situation.

The skills a traveling nurse brings to an assignment directly determine which contracts are accessible and at what pay rate. EHR proficiency across multiple platforms—Epic, Cerner, MEDITECH—is essential because facilities expect travel nurses to chart competently within the first shift. Nurses who list multiple EHR systems on their profile are submitted to more contracts, increasing their chances of securing higher-paying assignments.

Critical care and emergency nursing skills (ventilator management, hemodynamic monitoring, rapid sequence intubation assistance, triage) unlock access to the highest-paying specialties. The calculator reflects this when you input higher experience and education levels, as these skills are acquired over years of practice and often validated through certifications.

Adaptability and rapid orientation are non-negotiable in travel nursing. Nurses who can function independently on an unfamiliar unit within 24–48 hours are more likely to receive contract extensions and be offered premium-rate assignments. IV therapy and PICC line management, charge nurse capability, and bilingual fluency (particularly English-Spanish in states like Texas, California, and Florida) are concrete skills that expand the range of available contracts. When higher-paying contracts are accessible, the inputs you select in the calculator—especially metro size and state—will produce estimates at the upper end of the range.

What Does a Traveling Nurse Earn in New York?

New York is one of the highest-paying states for traveling nurses due to the density of major hospital systems (NYU Langone, Mount Sinai, NewYork-Presbyterian) and persistent nursing shortages, particularly upstate. The state has a relatively high income tax rate, which the salary calculator factors in when you select New York. Strong union presence in many NYC-area hospitals also influences base rates. Expect the calculator to produce hourly estimates well above the national median when you combine New York with a large metro selection.

What Does a Traveling Nurse Earn in California?

California consistently offers the highest gross pay for traveling nurses in the country. Mandated nurse-to-patient ratios (Title 22) create continuous demand, and the state's large population drives high patient volume. However, California also has among the highest state income taxes, which the calculator's after-tax module will show when you select California. Nurses considering assignments in Los Angeles or San Diego should use the calculator to compare gross vs net pay against lower-cost states.

What Does a Traveling Nurse Earn in Florida?

Florida has no state income tax, which makes it attractive for take-home pay despite gross rates that often run slightly below the national median. The state experiences seasonal demand spikes during winter months as the population swells with seasonal residents. The calculator's after-tax output for Florida assignments will show a noticeably smaller gap between gross and net pay compared to high-tax states, making Florida contracts more competitive than they appear on paper.

What Does a Traveling Nurse Earn in Texas?

Texas offers no state income tax and has an enormous healthcare infrastructure. The Texas Medical Center in Houston alone is the largest medical complex in the world. Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio all generate a high volume of travel nursing contracts. The calculator will reflect Texas's tax advantage in after-tax estimates. Large metro selections in Texas produce competitive hourly ranges that rival higher-cost states when net pay is considered.

What Does a Traveling Nurse Earn in Michigan?

Michigan's travel nursing market is driven by major health systems like Beaumont, Spectrum Health, and the University of Michigan. Detroit and Grand Rapids serve as the primary assignment hubs. The state has a moderate state income tax, and the cost of living is below the national average. The calculator will show that Michigan assignments yield solid purchasing power relative to gross pay, especially for nurses comparing offers against coastal metro areas.

What Does a Traveling Nurse Earn in Georgia?

Georgia's travel nursing demand centers on the Atlanta metro area, home to Emory Healthcare, Grady Memorial, and Piedmont Healthcare. Atlanta qualifies as a large metro in the calculator, which applies an upward adjustment. Georgia's moderate state income tax and lower cost of living outside Atlanta make it a balanced market. Rural assignments in south Georgia may carry crisis-rate premiums during shortages, pushing hourly rates above the metro average.

What Does a Traveling Nurse Earn in Ohio?

Ohio has a deep network of hospital systems including Cleveland Clinic, Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, and UC Health in Cincinnati. Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati are all mid-sized to large metros that generate steady travel nursing contracts. Ohio's state income tax is moderate, and the cost of living is well below the national average. The calculator will produce favorable after-tax results for Ohio, particularly when compared against equivalent gross rates in high-tax states.

What Does a Traveling Nurse Earn in North Carolina?

North Carolina's growing population and expanding hospital networks (Duke Health, Atrium Health, UNC Health) fuel steady demand for travel nurses. Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham are the primary assignment markets. The state has a flat income tax rate that the calculator applies. North Carolina is a compact license state, which reduces onboarding time and allows nurses to accept contracts faster, indirectly improving access to higher-paying assignments.

What Does a Traveling Nurse Earn in Illinois?

Illinois travel nursing demand is concentrated in the Chicago metro area, where hospitals like Northwestern Memorial, Rush University Medical Center, and Advocate Health generate high contract volumes. Illinois has a flat state income tax that the calculator factors in. Selecting Chicago as a large metro produces hourly estimates in the upper portion of the national range. Downstate assignments in Springfield or Peoria are classified as mid-sized markets with somewhat lower rates.

What Does a Traveling Nurse Earn in Maryland?

Maryland's proximity to Washington, DC and its concentration of top-tier medical institutions (Johns Hopkins, University of Maryland Medical Center) create a premium travel nursing market. The state has one of the higher state income tax rates in the country, which the calculator will reflect in after-tax estimates. Nurses on assignments in the Baltimore-DC corridor should model both Maryland and DC to compare net pay, as the same commutable area spans two tax jurisdictions.

What Does a Traveling Nurse Earn in Indiana?

Indiana offers a flat and relatively low state income tax, and the cost of living is among the lowest in the Midwest. Indianapolis, home to IU Health and Community Health Network, serves as the primary travel nursing hub. The calculator's after-tax output for Indiana is favorable relative to gross pay. Mid-sized metros like Fort Wayne and Evansville produce lower hourly rates, but the purchasing power remains competitive.

What Does a Traveling Nurse Earn in Virginia?

Virginia's travel nursing market benefits from the Northern Virginia–DC corridor, where hospitals compete for staff alongside the massive federal healthcare system. Inova Health System and Sentara Healthcare are major contract sources. Virginia has a moderate state income tax. The calculator will show that Northern Virginia assignments classified under a large metro produce estimates that align closely with Washington, DC rates, while assignments in Richmond or Norfolk are slightly lower.

What Does a Traveling Nurse Earn in Connecticut?

Connecticut has a relatively high state income tax and a high cost of living, but travel nursing rates compensate accordingly. Yale New Haven Health and Hartford HealthCare are the primary contract generators. The state is compact geographically, and most assignments fall within a mid-sized to large metro classification. The calculator's after-tax module is especially useful here, as nurses need to weigh Connecticut's higher gross rates against the tax burden to determine real take-home pay.

What Does a Traveling Nurse Earn in New Jersey?

New Jersey's dense hospital network (Hackensack Meridian, RWJBarnabas Health) and proximity to the New York City and Philadelphia markets make it a high-demand state for travel nurses. New Jersey has among the highest state income taxes in the country, and the cost of living is elevated. The calculator will produce strong gross hourly estimates for New Jersey large-metro assignments, but after-tax results will be tempered by the tax burden. Nurses comparing a New Jersey contract against a similar-rate assignment in a no-income-tax state should run both scenarios in the calculator.

What Does a Traveling Nurse Earn in Chicago?

Chicago is one of the top five travel nursing markets in the country by contract volume. The concentration of academic medical centers, community hospitals, and VA facilities generates year-round demand. Selecting Chicago as a large metro in the calculator produces hourly estimates in the $48.00–$62.00 range, with after-tax results reduced by Illinois's flat state income tax. Winter-season demand in Chicago is particularly strong for ED and ICU travel nurses.

What Does a Traveling Nurse Earn in Los Angeles?

Los Angeles offers some of the highest gross pay for travel nurses nationwide. Cedars-Sinai, UCLA Health, and Kaiser Permanente facilities drive continuous demand. California's mandated ratios mean hospitals must fill vacancies quickly, giving staffing agencies leverage to negotiate high bill rates. The calculator will produce hourly estimates of $54.00–$70.00 for a large-metro Los Angeles assignment, but the after-tax module will show the impact of California's steep income tax on net pay.

What Does a Traveling Nurse Earn in New York City (NYC)?

NYC is unique in that nurses face city-level income tax in addition to New York State income tax, which the calculator captures when you select New York. Despite this, NYC consistently ranks among the highest-paying markets because of the sheer volume of contracts across its public (NYC Health + Hospitals) and private hospital systems. Hourly estimates in the calculator for NYC assignments with senior-level inputs can exceed $65.00. The after-tax module is critical for NYC assignments to understand real take-home pay.

What Does a Traveling Nurse Earn in Houston?

Houston's Texas Medical Center is the largest employer of travel nurses in a single metro area. With no state income tax, Houston assignments deliver strong net pay relative to gross rates. The calculator produces hourly estimates of $46.00–$60.00 for a large-metro Houston selection. Nurses comparing Houston against Los Angeles or NYC will find that Houston's after-tax figures are often competitive or higher despite lower gross rates, and the calculator's side-by-side modeling makes this clear.

What Does a Traveling Nurse Earn in Phoenix?

Phoenix is a growing travel nursing market supported by Banner Health, Dignity Health, and HonorHealth. Arizona's state income tax is relatively low, and the cost of living is moderate. The calculator produces solid after-tax estimates for Phoenix, and the city's large-metro classification triggers an upward adjustment. Seasonal demand increases during the winter months when the metro-area population grows.

What Does a Traveling Nurse Earn in Atlanta?

Atlanta serves as the travel nursing hub for the Southeast, with Emory Healthcare, Grady Memorial Hospital, and Piedmont Healthcare generating a steady pipeline of contracts. The calculator classifies Atlanta as a large metro, applying an upward salary adjustment. Georgia's moderate state income tax and Atlanta's relatively affordable cost of living (compared to coastal metros) combine to produce favorable after-tax results. Nurses targeting the Southeast should use the calculator to compare Atlanta against Charlotte and Raleigh.

What Does a Traveling Nurse Earn in San Diego?

San Diego offers premium gross rates similar to Los Angeles but with slightly lower patient volume. UC San Diego Health, Scripps Health, and Sharp HealthCare are the primary facilities. California's state income tax applies, and the cost of living is high. The calculator's after-tax module is essential for San Diego assignments, as nurses must evaluate whether the high gross rate translates to sufficient net pay given local housing costs. Hourly estimates for San Diego in the calculator range from $52.00 to $66.00.

What Does a Traveling Nurse Earn in Washington, DC?

Washington, DC offers competitive travel nursing rates driven by MedStar Health, George Washington University Hospital, and the VA Medical Center. DC has its own income tax structure separate from Virginia and Maryland, and the calculator applies this when you select DC. Large-metro classification produces hourly estimates of $50.00–$64.00. Nurses on DC assignments should also model neighboring Maryland and Virginia in the calculator, as commuting across jurisdiction lines can change the applicable tax rate.

What Does a Traveling Nurse Earn in Boston?

Boston is a premium travel nursing market anchored by Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Massachusetts has a flat state income tax that the calculator applies. The concentration of academic medical centers means specialty assignments (OR, ICU, NICU) are plentiful and command hourly rates of $52.00–$66.00 in the calculator. Boston's high cost of living is a factor, but the strong gross rates and robust stipend packages from agencies partially offset it.

What Does a Traveling Nurse Earn in Dallas?

Dallas benefits from Texas's no-income-tax environment and a large, growing healthcare infrastructure including Baylor Scott & White, UT Southwestern, and Parkland Health. The calculator produces hourly estimates of $45.00–$58.00 for a large-metro Dallas selection, and after-tax results are strong due to the absence of state income tax. Dallas is slightly lower than Houston in gross rates but delivers comparable net pay, a comparison easily modeled in the calculator by switching the location while keeping all other inputs constant.

What Does a Traveling Nurse Earn in Seattle?

Seattle's travel nursing market is supported by UW Medicine, Swedish Medical Center, and Virginia Mason. Washington State has no income tax, which significantly boosts net pay. The calculator reflects this advantage in after-tax estimates, producing some of the highest take-home figures in the country for large-metro assignments. Hourly estimates range from $50.00 to $65.00. Seattle's cost of living is high, particularly housing, so nurses should weigh stipend amounts against local rental rates when evaluating contracts.