A career in nursing is quite rewarding, and when you add the element of travel, it becomes more than a job; it turns into an exciting lifestyle. There are over 65 specialties to choose from when considering travel nurse jobs. It can be overwhelming, so Cross Country is here to answer your questions and share important information as you decide your future in the travel nursing field.

From learning what it means to become a travel nurse, if it's the right career move for you, how much you can earn, where to stay, and how to incorporate seeing the world, welcome to your guide to travel nursing.

What Does a Travel Nurse Do?

The term alone will tell you that a travel nurse is a health professional in a location other than your home state or country. As a travel nurse, you will work one short-term contract at a time, usually 12-14 weeks each, at multiple hospitals. These contracts could get extended, so you may stay in a city and hospital longer than expected. In this scenario, you will average about four contract travel nurse assignments annually.

How Does Travel Nursing Work?

Travel assignments are full-time, which can be 36 or 40 hours per week plus overtime, depending on the hospital or healthcare facility. As a travel lover, you may prefer to explore new cities and clinical settings and be on the go. Travel nursing provides flexible options, a nice perk of the profession.

Most hospitals and healthcare facilities prefer travel nurses to have at least one year of experience in their contracted specialty. Qualifications vary by assignment and hospital, so the best way to determine if you will qualify for a specific position is to contact your recruiter. When it comes to travel nurse agencies, Cross Country can guide you in the right direction.

As mentioned, nursing covers a broad spectrum of specialties, and there is something for everyone, depending on your interests. We've organized this extensive list of specialties within three primary nursing professions; Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), and Registered Nurse (RN).

Administration
Behavior Health Assistant
Behavioral Health
Bone Marrow Transplant Unit
Coronary Care Recovery
Cardiac Cath Lab
Coronary Care Unit
Charge Nurse
Clinic (No Specific Specialty)
Call Center Telephone Triage Nurse
Case Management Exp
Case Management Int
Dialysis Unit
Endoscopy Lab
Endocrinology RN
Endoscopy Tech
Electrophysiology Lab
Emergency Room
Emergency Room Pediatric
Emergency Room Trauma
Emergency Room Urgent Care
Gastroenterology Laboratory
Home Healthcare
Home Health Hospice
Home Health Pediatrics
Hospice
House Supervisor Level 1
Intensive Care Unit
Intensive Care Cardio Thoracic
Intensive Care Unit Burn
Intensive Care Unit Float
Intensive Care Interventional
Radiology
Intensive Care Unit Medical
Intensive Care Unit Neurological
Intensive Care Unit Cardiovascular
Intensive Care Unit Surgical
Intensive Care Unit Trauma
Intermediate Care Unit
Telemetry/Progressive Care Neuro
Infection Control
Interventional Radiology
Medical Surgical Clinic Position
Mother/Baby Couplet Care
Postpartum Floor
Long-Term Acute Care
Monitor Tech
Medical Surgical Floor
Ambulatory Care Medical Surgical Skilled
Medical Surgical Cardiac Floor
Medical Surgical Clinic Position
Otolaryngology / Ear Nose Throat (ENT)
Medical Surgical Float Position
Medical Surgical Geriatric Floor
Medical Surgical Gynecology Floor
Medical Surgical IV Therapy
Medical Surgical Medical Floor
Medical Surgical Neurology Floor
Medical Surgical Oncology Floor
Medical Surgical Chemotherapy Certified
Oncology
Medical Surgical Orthopedic Floor
Medical Surgical Pulmonary Floor
Medical Surgical Rehabilitation Floor
Medical Surgical Urology/Renal Floor
Medical Surgical Skilled Nursing
Medical Surgical Surgery Floor
Medical Surgical With Telemetry
Medical Surgical Transplant Floor
Medical Surgical Vascular Floor
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Nurse Manager Critical Care Unit
Nurse Manager Skilled Nursing
Newborn Nursery
Ophthalmology Assistant
Operating Room
Operating Room Ambulatory
Operation Room Circulate Only
Operating Room Open Heart
Pediatric Operating Room Open Heart
Operating Room Pediatrics Only
Operating Room Scrub Only
Operating Room Surgical Assistant
Operating Room (First Assistant)
Certified First Surgical Assistant
Operating Room First Assist Open Heart
Surgical Technician/Operating Room Tech
Post-Anesthesia Care Unit
Post-Anesthesia Care Ambulatory Unit
Recovery Room Pediatrics
Progressive Care Unit
Pediatric Floor
Pediatric Clinic
Pediatric Float
Pediatric Intermediate Care
Pediatric Medical Floor
Pediatric Hematology Oncology
Pediatric Chemotherapy Certified RN
Pediatric Psychology
Pediatric Surgical Floor
Phlebotomy
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Covid 19
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Open Heart
Pre Op Registered Nurses
Psychiatric Unit
Nurse Educator
Occupational Employee Health
Nurse Manager
Nursing Supervisor
Step Down Unit
Transitional Care Unit
Telemetry
Ambulatory Care Telemetry Skilled
Telemetry Medical Surgical Float
Wound Care

Explore trending jobs with Cross Country all over the U.S. that fall into the specialties above.

What Is the Average Travel Nurse Salary and Pay?

It’s possible to earn six figures as a traveling nurse, and the great news is healthcare jobs, in general, are expected to grow 16% through 2030, with job and salary growth expected to be much higher than most other occupations.

Cross Country understands the importance of feeling valued and paid at competitive rates and can help guide you on payment trends per state. Compensation varies by hospital, geographical location, and of course experience. For those states who pay a higher salary, the cost of living is typically higher. You will also receive possible sign-on, completion, and referral bonuses.

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average travel nurse salary in 2023 sits at about $51 per hour.

Do Travel Nurses Get Paid Weekly?

Cross Country pays their travel nurses on a weekly basis, which is standard in the industry.

What Is the Average Travel Nurse Salary by State?

During the COVID pandemic, travel nurses were in high demand, and therefore, salaries were extremely high. The demand is still high, and depending on your source, it could vary quite a bit. Therefore, we have taken information from multiple sites to answer your question.

ZipRecruiter reports that the states that offer the highest pay for travel nurses include:

New York: $123,171 annually or $59.22/hr
New Hampshire: $115,566 annually or $55.56/hr
Wyoming: $107,459 annually or $51.66/hr
Arizona: $106,942 annually or $51.41/hr
Tennessee: $105,401 annually or $50.67/hr
Massachusetts: $104,684 annually or $50.33/hr
Hawaii: $104,542 annually or $50.26/hr
Montana: $104,250 annually or $50.12/hr
Indiana: $103,777 annually or $49.89/hr
West Virginia: $103,675 annually or $49.84/hr

Another source shows Idaho as the highest-paying state for travel nurses at $151,203 annually, which is not at the top of the list above. As always, salary depends on the marketplace, location, cost of living, nursing specialty, and experience. Someone working long overnight hours at a trauma hospital would earn more than someone working a shorter shift in a more relaxed setting.

How Much Does Travel Nursing Pay in California?

On average, the annual pay is $177,040, mainly in two of the most populated cities, Los Angeles and San Diego. Why? Due to a nursing shortage in the state, travel nurses are in high demand. It's also a beautiful and costly place to live. Another source mentions that California is in the top five highest-paying states for travel nurses as of August 2022.

If you are interested in pursuing a career in travel nursing, it helps to know which parts of the country offer the highest-paying opportunities. When deciding where you’d like to relocate for travel assignments, you’ll want to consider all your lifestyle expenses. Do you have student loans? Do you have a mortgage or car payment? Considering these long-term expenses can help you determine how high a salary you’ll require to meet all your needs.

Speaking of expenses, let’s talk about expense reimbursements which are known to be confusing in this industry.

How Do Expense Reimbursements Work for Travel Nursing?

Expense reimbursements refer to the amount of tax-free money an agency provides to a travel nurse for housing expenses while working in a specific location. It can also cover transportation and meals depending on what is in your contract, which is a really nice addition to your weekly salary.

Why the Confusion About Travel Nurse Housing Reimbursements?

Some agencies quote monthly reimbursements, while others may quote weekly or hourly. In addition, the amount of reimbursement can differ based on who you are working with. There is the option to accept housing that comes with the job versus a lodging reimbursement. Which one is better?

Company housing is a favored choice because everything is taken care of. If you prefer to rent something independently, locating the property and payment are handled by you. If you're traveling to a new area, you may need help finding where to look, and it can be a busy time getting settled.

How Do Travel Nurses Save Money on Housing?

The positive of choosing a housing reimbursement is if you find a rental cheaper than what you are getting, you get to pocket the difference, which is tax-free. The negative? You may choose to keep the refund and secure your own housing. You may be going to a location where a family member or friend lives, and you will be staying with them. If that’s the case, the reimbursement amount will go to you.

What is the Average Housing Reimbursement for a Travel Nurse?

When choosing a location, each state has a limit on the amount of tax-free money travel nurses can receive, which is decided by the General Service Administration (GSA). You can search by state to see what that rate is.

Do Travel Nurses Have to Claim Reimbursements?

To take advantage of these benefits, you must be well-organized when documenting expenses and keeping records. This task might seem tedious and overwhelming, but there are several things you can do to simplify the process.

To help you know which receipts to keep, learn the nuances of your contract for every assignment, making it easier to categorize your expenses at tax time. Understand taxable versus non-taxable income and which expenses can be taken as travel-related tax deductions. You always have support when you work with Cross Country to guide you through the process.

While each state has its own tax rules and regulations, across the board, nurses who receive a non-taxable travel reimbursement are required to show receipts to substantiate their traveling expenses to and from an assignment. These expenses include car rentals, gas mileage, transit fares, air travel, meals, and hotel stays.

Travel reimbursements only cover some of your job-related traveling expenses. Keeping an accurate travel record (and saving your receipts) allows you to deduct the extra expenses on your tax return. Conversely, if you don't keep a travel log, you must declare the tax-free reimbursements as income and pay taxes on it at tax time. No matter how you look at it, documenting your expenses with receipts maximizes your traveling perks and ensures you get what you are entitled to.

How Do Travel Nurses Find Housing?

Naturally, it makes sense to talk about housing now that you know how your reimbursements will work. Finding a place can be stressful, but Cross Country Healthcare makes it simple. When you find your job through Cross Country, we have an in-house team of travel healthcare professional housing experts who will set you up with free, private housing, often within walking distance of your travel assignment.

This usually consists of a move-in ready, furnished apartment with utilities up and running before you move in. Additionally, we may cover your moving expenses when you travel from one assignment to another. It's nice to have that support, especially in a new location.

What Is a Fair Price for Travel Nurse Housing?

The definition of a fair rate for accommodations will vary based on where you will be traveling. When you work with Cross Country, we have a whole division of professionals devoted to your needs when it comes to housing. They’re experts at securing housing accommodations during your assignment and can assist with understanding which locations are going to cost more to live and vice versa. They will also help you ensure you don’t get overcharged.

What Kind of Housing Do Travel Nurses Get?

Typically, it’s a one-bedroom, furnished apartment. We encourage you to bring those items that make it feel like home so you are comfortable in your space. You may also need dishes, kitchen items, toiletries, linens, and bedding.

Now that you have a place to live, how will you get around?

What Do Travel Nurses Do for Transportation?

Your reimbursement package may cover traveling to your new location. Once you arrive, you must consider whether you need a vehicle or can rely on public transportation. Depending on distance, you may already have a vehicle easily driveable to your new location. If this is the case, any reimbursement for your car is tax-free money in your pocket.

Do Travel Nurses Fly or Drive?

How a traveling nurse arrives at their new destination depends on where they started. A car may become more of a hassle if they’re heading into or close to a city. A rental, if necessary, may be built into the reimbursement package.

Should I Drive or Fly to My Next Travel Nurse Assignment?

As mentioned, several elements need consideration to answer this question. There is no right or wrong answer. Here are some questions to ask yourself:

Do I currently have a car?
Will I be driving it to my new location or shipping it?
Is it cheaper for me to rent a car once I fly there and ship my belongings?
Do I need a car while working in this new location?
Is there ample parking at the housing where I will be staying?

Do Travel Nurses Travel for Free?

Nurses can get reimbursed for their travel to their new job. Traveling to a new destination is negotiated as part of the pay package and can be part of the expense reimbursement. It's important to point out there isn't a refund for trips planned during time off or on the weekends to explore. Depending on if you have tax-free money left over for your compensation package, you're technically getting paid to travel for free.

Do Travel Nurses Get Paid for Where They’re Traveling To?

Travel reimbursements to and from your contracted assignment are non-taxable and can vary by agency. Flat-rate and per-mile reimbursements are the most common types. Flat-rate reimbursements typically range between $250 and $500, and the reimbursable amount is usually divided between your first and last paycheck.

However, some agencies will provide one lump sum upfront. Per-mile reimbursements pay you a specified mileage rate when using your own vehicle or a rental. This rate is generally lower than the GSA mileage rate and is usually capped by the agency.

Unfortunately, flat rate and per-mile reimbursements will not cover your travel expenses, such as meals and hotel stays, if you are driving the distance to relocate from your home base to your travel locale. Be prepared to foot the bill for these extras, save your receipts, and take these added expenses as a year-end tax deduction.

Can You Be a Travel Nurse With a Family?

While traveling alone will always be easier and simpler to adjust to, bringing your family offers many advantages and exciting memories to last a lifetime. Your recruiter will work with you on finding family-friendly housing, educate you on nearby schools, and more. Of course, there are pros and cons to everything. Having a partner with a flexible position may not be realistic, and moving kids to a new place for a short time could be very disruptive.

We suggest sitting down as a family and considering everyone's viewpoints to make a decision that makes sense for everyone. Always remember just because you have a spouse or children, you should never be held back from building your dream career. At Cross Country Healthcare, one of our recruiters can help you understand the ins and outs of the travel nursing industry with a family in tow.

What Goes Into Pay Packages?

You'll enjoy high freedom and independence as a Cross Country Healthcare travel nurse. Your compensation package will often include a combination of the following:

Hourly rate
Assorted benefits
Medical and dental insurance
401(k)
Continuing education credits
Reimbursements
Travel
Housing expenses
Licensing costs
Professional liability coverage
Bonuses
Overtime
Referral rewards

There are a lot of perks that come along with becoming a travel nurse.

If you're wondering about continuing education, Cross Country has an in-house academic center, Cross Country University, that provides numerous educational opportunities, including free CEUs accepted wherever you travel. Additionally, as a member of the Cross Country family, you will receive up to 20% tuition reimbursement toward a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), or Doctor of Nursing (DSN) degree at a variety of colleges and universities throughout the country.

Travel nursing contracts can vary by agency and assignment, and the terms and conditions of reimbursement and compensation are not always clear. Working with an agency you trust and can ask questions to understand your contract is essential. To guarantee your pay package mirrors your expectations, ensure you fully grasp your written agreement's language before signing on the dotted line.

What Benefits Do Traveling Nurses Get?

If we're talking benefits, meaning advantages, the list is long. Some of the most significant benefits of travel nursing are its flexibility and the ability to travel and explore new places. From a career perspective, it's an opportunity to work with and learn new skills from medical staff and experience how different practices work. Travel nursing builds quite an extensive resume.

When you find a job through Cross Country Healthcare, you can access hospitals and healthcare facilities in all 50 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In addition, many of the nation's most prestigious healthcare organizations work exclusively with Cross Country, which is a significant reason to work with well-known and trusted recruiters.

As mentioned, medical, dental, and vision insurance with optional family coverage, 401K with company match, professional liability coverage, travel and temporary housing reimbursement, assistance with state licensing and certification, employee discounts, and sign-on, completion, and referral bonuses are just a few of the benefits of becoming a travel nurse with Cross Country.

From a personal perspective, the ability to do what you love and explore new places you may not have visited otherwise is priceless. It also lets you change the scenery often, which can be very exciting.

It all sounds impressive, yet some are skeptical about the future of traveling nurses. Why?

Is the Travel Nurse Pay Boom Really Over?

COVID created a surge of travel nurses, and the need is still strong. The mental aftermath of the pandemic for healthcare workers caused early retirement, and nursing shortages are still relatively high. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing reported 91,938 qualified nursing applications were turned away in 2022.

Full-time registered nurses have discovered a healthier work/life balance with a more considerable income by shifting to part-time and working with staffing agencies to find employment. Losing large amounts of nurses means hospitals and other employers have been forced to pay staffing agencies whatever rates are necessary to secure help. Nursing shortages will continue to create an abundance of travel nurse positions that offer competitive compensation and attractive work/life balances.

We hope we've answered all your questions and clarified the ins and out of the travel nursing industry. Whether you're looking to become a nurse or make a change and explore travel nursing jobs, it's rare to discover a career that provides so many personal and professional benefits.

Cross Country Healthcare prides itself on connecting people and jobs through intuitive technologies and innovative solutions. We enable healthcare practitioners and organizations to achieve their goals, always ensuring clinical excellence and exceptional patient care come first.

Cross Country Healthcare checks all the boxes and more when searching for travel nurse agencies. As the leading talent management solutions provider and trusted healthcare staffing services partner, we deliver end-to-end connectivity and best-in-class talent management experiences for healthcare professionals and organizations to help them succeed.

To learn more, click here.

The FAQs of a Career in Travel Nursing