Travel nursing is an exciting career opportunity with unlimited adventures, diversity, and high financial rewards for the nurses. Traveling as a nurse provides the opportunity to explore multiple healthcare delivery settings, meet new people, and immerse in diverse cultures, truly making a difference in patient care. This blog outlines the top ten highest-paying travel nursing jobs in terms of salary and specialty. In it, you will discover job descriptions, salary ranges, demand, and job outlook.
Overview of Travel Nursing jobs
Before we proceed to the most lucrative kinds, let us understand a little about what travel nursing jobs really are. Travel nurses are those RNs or NPs who are assigned to short-term work posts in other health facilities based at various locations. The assignments may be for a few weeks or even for some months; it all depends entirely on the needs of the health facility.
Travel nursing offers numerous advantages, ranging from attractive compensatory packages, allowances for housing, travel reimbursement, and flexible work arrangements. Valuable experiences coupled with increasing skills have also facilitated significant professional networking benefits for many nurses.
This blog will discuss in greater detail the ten most well-paid travel nursing jobs and specialties for further exploration of each area. Competitive salaries are why these specialties have come out as a highly desirable option by travel nurses when looking for maximum earnings, while taking on new adventures.
Ten highest-paid travel nursing jobs and specialties
1.Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) Nurse
CVICU nurses provide complicated cardiovascular patients with care, monitor vital signs, administer medication, and offer postoperative management services. Due to the specialized nature and high demand for CVICU-qualified nurses, CVICU travel nursing has proven to be one of the highest-paying travel nursing jobs that attracts some really good pay packages.
Salary range: $60 – $70 per hour
Demand and job outlook: High demand, particularly in large urban cities and academic medical centers.
2.NICU Nurse
NICU-specialized nurses care for newborn babies who are either gravely ill or premature. Their skills include ventilator administration, close monitoring of patient’s vital signs, and assistance with feedings. NICU is a highly valuable specialty in healthcare, resulting in a stable demand for NICU travel nurses and elevated compensation, making it one of the top paying travel nursing jobs.
Salary range: $55-$65 per hour.
Demand and job outlook: Very high demand, with opportunities in both cities and villages.
3.Operating Room (OR) Nurse
The OR nurse is a crucial member of the surgical team, assisting surgeons and maintaining a sterile environment for procedures. The demand for strong OR nurses is high, especially in urban areas and specialty hospitals, making it one of the best-paying travel nurse jobs.
Salary range: $50 – $60 per hour
Demand and job outlook: Strong demand, particularly in urban areas and specialty hospitals.
4.Intensive Care Unit(ICU) nurse
When patients finally reach a level of health where they can be treated in ICUs, the first hospital staff they are exposed to will be highly trained nurses. An ICU nurse will first take care of potentially fatal injuries or severe illnesses that may occur. Their activities are monitoring and managing medication, as well as being in constant consultation with a health team. These nurses are uncompromising, meaning their salaries should naturally be competitive due to high demand.
Salary range:$50 – $60 hourly pay.
Demand and job outlook: There is high demand, especially in large medical centers and trauma centers.
5.ER Nurse
ER nurses perform exceptionally well in crisis situations involving anything from accidents to sudden illness. The requirements are that ER nurses have their thinking done on their feet, pay close attention to triaging, and get the job done. The requirement for travel nurses in ERs stays consistent with good pay in a field that requires both urban and rural venues.
Salary range: $50-$60 per hour.
Demand and job outlook: Steady demand, with openings in either urban or rural locations.
Related: 5 Reasons Why Nurses Are The Backbone Of Healthcare?
6.Psychiatric nurse practitioner
Psychiatric nurse practitioners are primarily engaged in the mental health setting. They critically evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients who have been diagnosed with psychiatric illnesses. The high level of advanced specialization and expertise that characterizes psychiatric nurse practitioners contributes to their better-paid status; however, such an area entails close contact with every complex psychological disorder. Although the job is challenging, the satisfaction that the practitioners can accomplish for others cannot be measured by money.
Salary range: $45 – $55 per hour
Demand and employment outlook: High demand, especially in community mental health centers and private practices.
7.Oncology Nurse
Oncology nurses are responsible with caring for oncology patients. Psychologically, this care is administered with the treatments and education about their conditions.. The complexity of care calls for specialized nurses who ensure decent pay for travel nursing in oncology.
Scale of payment: $ 45- $ 55 per hour
Demand and job outlook: Stable demand, with opportunities in cancer centers and major healthcare facilities.
8.PICU Nurse
PICU nurses are responsible for caring for the most critically ill pediatric patients, from infants to adolescents. Their abilities in complex cases have led them to become a top choice in the field, making them part of the highest-paid travel nurse specialties.
Salary range: $55 per hour.
Demand and job outlook: High demand, especially at pediatric hospitals and children’s medical centers, due to their expertise in critical care.
9.Orthopedic Nurse
Orthopedic nursing specializes in patient care for musculoskeletal disorders, including fracture care and surgery on the knee and hip, among other musculoskeletal conditions. Orthopedic nurses are among some of the highest in-demand nurses in travel nursing, often featured in the highest paying travel nursing jobs.
Salary range: $55 per hour
Demand and Job Outlook: Consistent need at specialty hospitals and trauma centers for orthopedics, ensuring a steady demand.
10.Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
A Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) is an advanced practice nurse with highly specialized knowledge in the field of anesthesia. They provide anesthesia care for surgeries and other medical procedures. CRNAs are always in demand, as they are critical to patient care, making them part of the best-paying travel nurse jobs.
Salary range: $50 per hour
Demand and job outlook: Strong, with a significant need in various healthcare settings
Related: Most Common Registered Nurse Interview Questions, Answers, and Tips
Factors influencing Travel Nursing salaries
Location and Cost of Living
One of the most important factors affecting travel nursing salaries is the location of the assignment. Salaries could significantly change with the cost of living in different regions and cities. A higher pay rate can be seen in high-cost-of-living areas, for instance, large cities or popular tourist destinations, as they try to attract nurses to work there. Other benefits such as housing stipends or bonuses may, on the other hand, be offered by rural or lesser-desirable locations to compensate for lower salaries. Some of the highest-paying travel nursing jobs are often found in high-cost-of-living areas.
Experience and Credentials
The years of experience and qualifications of a travel nurse can impact his or her earning potential. More years of experience or even specialty certifications, such as specialty certifications or advanced degrees, increase the demand for these nurses since usually a higher rate of pay would generally be applicable as compared to their lesser-experienced counterparts. Travel nursing agencies and facilities value the importance of an experienced nurse who will be quick in adopting to new environments and handling complicated patient cases. Consequently, the most experienced nurses often secure the best-paying travel nurse jobs, especially those with specialty certifications, which place them among the highest-paying travel nurse specialties.
Type and Size of Facility
In addition, the compensation of a travel nurse may also vary with the kind and size of the healthcare facility to which the nurse is assigned. Large hospitals or medical centers that deal with large volumes of patients or have specific units will likely pay more to attract highly trained nurses who can fill critical gaps in their workforce. Along these lines, centers such as trauma centers or critical care units will tend to pay better because the nature of practice within these centers demands a very specialized set of skills. Such facilities often offer some of the highest-paid travel nursing jobs.
Shifts and Overtime Opportunities
Traveling nurses are often given the flexibility to choose their shift, but they may make far more on some shifts than others. Generally speaking, night shifts, weekends, and holiday shifts are paid with a differential that is above base pay. In addition, many assignments allow overtime, and the nurse would have an opportunity to make extra money over and above base pay. Opting for these shifts can turn good-paying assignments into the best-paying travel nurse jobs.
Demand and labor market
Travel nurses’ demand in some specialties and locations might affect the salary offers. For instance, areas involving the specialties of high demand, such as critical care, labor and delivery, and the emergency room, get the best monetary terms because the skills they have are desperately needed. On the other hand, where a shortage of nurses exists or when volumes of patients increase, travel nurses may stand a better chance of obtaining competitive pay rates.
Top tips for maxing out on earning potential as a travel nurse
Choose high-paying locations
Traveling nurses fill vacancies in areas where the cost of living indices are higher or in areas with a deficiency of nurses where competition for traveling nurses and other offers, including remunerations, are competitive.
Recommended reading: Highest Paying States For Travel Nurses In The USA
Specialize and get certified
Specialized training and certifications might make you a precious asset for healthcare facilities, which translates to higher premium rates. Specialized nurses would mean certification in critical care, oncology, or neonatal care. These workers can command premium wages.
Negotiate with travel nursing agencies
It is perfectly acceptable to negotiate contract terms with travel nursing agencies; experienced nurses or those with highly specialized skills could easily and fairly ask for higher pay rates or bonuses or extra benefits.
Be flexible about your shifts
Perhaps flexibility in schedule, including working nights, weekends, or holidays, can place you in a better earning position simply because of shift differentials and overtime opportunities.
Seek out assignments with bonus incentives
Some incentives, such as sign-on bonuses or completion bonuses, may have a material impact on your salary.
Monitor job market demand
Be aware of the demand for travel nurses within your specialty areas and locations. Knowing if job market conditions are favorable to you may significantly help when you’re determining assignments and salary expectations.
Related: How to Become a Travel Nurse?
Conclusion
Travel nursing is a wonderful opportunity for adventurous nurses to earn big bucks while advancing professionally and getting exciting experiences. The highest paid of the top 10 in travel nursing specialties mentioned above opens the door to higher salaries and rich experience in some of the highest paying travel nurse specialties.
These positions not only pay well but also provide extremely rewarding experiences for the nurses because they have a chance to work in many different settings where they can have a positive influence on patients’ lives. In these specialties, as health needs continue to grow, travel nurses can expect to find fulfilling and financially rewarding career opportunities through some of the best paying travel nurse jobs.
Research, negotiation, and embracing the adventure of a rewarding healthcare career are things to keep in mind as you take the first step on your journey to securing one of the highest paying travel nursing jobs.
By understanding the landscape and making informed decisions, nurses can find the top-paying travel nursing jobs that best fit their professional goals and lifestyle preferences. These roles offer not only financial benefits but also the chance to grow and thrive in the diverse and dynamic field of travel nursing.
FAQs
What is travel nursing?
Travel nursing is a mode of staffing whereby RNs take short-term assignments elsewhere to fill up the gaps in hospitals. The assignments can run from weeks to several months and are an opportunity to see other places while gaining broader clinical experiences.
What qualifications do I need to become a travel nurse?
To become a travel nurse, you generally need to be a registered nurse with a valid nursing license in the state where you plan to work. Additional certifications in specialized fields (like ICU or pediatrics) can enhance your job prospects. Experience in your specialty area is also crucial for securing high-paying assignments.
What benefits does a travel nurse get?
Travel nurses mostly enjoy numerous benefits, these may include higher pay rates, flexible schedules, opportunities for professional growth, and the chance to travel and experience different cultures. Many travel nursing agencies also offer housing stipends, travel reimbursements, and health benefits.
How much do travel nurses earn?
According to recent data from Glassdoor, as of May 2023, the average annual salary for a travel nurse is $105,021 or $50 per hour. This is much more than the average registered nurse, who averages about $81,220 per year and $39.05 an hour, according to the BLS.
How do I find travel nursing jobs?
Travel nursing jobs are pretty easy to find; you simply contact specialized staffing platforms like MedCadre that provide travel nurses to medical facilities around the country. You can create a profile stating your experience and preferred locations and then apply for open positions to which your experience and preferences may attract you. Finally, you might also hear of an opportunity or two through fellow traveling nurses by participating in forums and through other social media.
