Travel nurses in the USA can plan on about $1,944 to $2,165 a week on average in 2027, based on the latest 2026 data. Standard assignments typically pay $2,000 to $3,200 a week, or roughly $26,000 to $41,600 for a 13-week contract, before taxes.
Your pay depends on your specialty, your location and how urgently the hospital needs staff.
AdvertisementWeekly pay also combines taxable base pay with stipends, so two offers with the same total can look very different. This guide uses dated sources and a pay grid you can use to check any offer.
No official 2027 travel nurse pay scale exists as of November 2, 2026, so this guide uses the newest dated figures plus an industry forecast for 2027 instead of guessing a number.
If you are getting ready to apply, see our travel nurse resume examples.
Travel Nurse Salary in the USA at a Glance
| Measure | Reported pay | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Average travel nurse pay | $1,944 a week ($48.62 an hour, $101,132 a year) | ZipRecruiter, as of October 13, 2026 |
| Average travel nurse pay | $2,052 a week, typical range $1,563 to $2,695 | Indeed, updated September 28, 2026 |
| Average travel nurse pay | $2,165 a week, typical $2,000 to $3,200 for standard assignments | TLC Nursing (staffing agency), updated October 19, 2026 |
| Staff registered nurse (median) | $97,550 a year ($46.90 an hour) | BLS, May 2025 |
These sources use different methods, so their numbers differ. ZipRecruiter and Indeed show reported pay, TLC Nursing is a staffing agency and the BLS figure covers all registered nurses, not only travelers. The BLS does not publish travel nurse pay.
What to Expect for Travel Nurse Pay in 2027
The Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) September 2026 forecast projects travel nursing to grow 2% in 2026 and 3% in 2027. It says travel nurse orders began increasing in the second quarter of 2026 and strengthened further in July and August, with demand concentrated in critical care, emergency room, operating room and labor and delivery. It adds that placements have lagged orders because access to available clinicians is a constraint.
On pay, SIA says pricing has normalized from the high levels reached during the pandemic, and that record strike staffing lifted 2026 revenue and is assumed to be lower in 2027. It also says there is upside if demand holds and bill rates begin to rise. In plain terms, steady demand supports current pay levels, but no source promises a raise.
The safest way to plan for 2027 is to use today’s weekly rates, then treat any increase, strike pay or crisis pay as a possible extra.
How Travel Nurse Weekly Pay Is Built
TLC Nursing explains that gross weekly pay is usually taxable base pay for about 36 to 48 hours plus tax-free housing and meals and incidentals stipends. Travel reimbursement and bonuses may also be included. This example shows how a $2,800 week is built.
| Part of weekly pay | What it is | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Taxable base pay | Hourly wage for about 36 to 48 hours a week | $1,400 |
| Housing stipend | Tax-free money meant for rent and utilities | $700 |
| Meals and incidentals | Tax-free, based on federal per diem rates | $700 |
| Gross weekly total | Base plus stipends | $2,800 a week, or $36,400 over 13 weeks |
Stipends are described as tax-free when a nurse has a legitimate tax home. The rules are detailed, so ask a tax professional how they apply to you before you accept an offer.
Travel Nurse Pay Grid: Contract Earnings by Weekly Pay
Earnings below are weekly gross pay times the number of weeks, before taxes. The 48-week column is an example for a nurse who works most of the year with a few weeks between contracts.
| Weekly gross pay | 13-week assignment | 26 weeks | 48 weeks in a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,800 | $23,400 | $46,800 | $86,400 |
| $2,000 | $26,000 | $52,000 | $96,000 |
| $2,200 | $28,600 | $57,200 | $105,600 |
| $2,400 | $31,200 | $62,400 | $115,200 |
| $2,600 | $33,800 | $67,600 | $124,800 |
| $2,800 | $36,400 | $72,800 | $134,400 |
| $3,000 | $39,000 | $78,000 | $144,000 |
| $3,200 | $41,600 | $83,200 | $153,600 |
For example, a $2,600 weekly package grosses $33,800 over 13 weeks and $124,800 over 48 weeks.
Travel Nurse Pay by Specialty
TLC Nursing reports these weekly ranges for 2026, the latest available. Treat them as one agency’s estimates and compare them with real offers.
| Specialty | Weekly pay | Hourly equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Travel CRNA | $4,500 to $6,000 | $85 to $120 |
| NICU | $2,800 to $3,800 | $55 to $70 |
| ICU | $2,600 to $3,500 | $52 to $65 |
| Emergency room | $2,500 to $3,700 | $50 to $62 |
| Cath lab | $2,500 to $3,400 | $50 to $63 |
| Operating room | $2,400 to $3,200 | $48 to $60 |
Travel Nurse Pay vs Staff Nurse Pay
The BLS median for all registered nurses is $97,550 a year, or $46.90 an hour. At 40 hours a week that is about $1,876 a week. Reported travel averages of $1,944 to $2,165 a week are higher, but travel work often has gaps between assignments and benefits that work differently from a staff job, so compare the full package.
TLC Nursing lists hourly bands of $41 for a staff RN, $49 for a mid-range travel RN and $55 or more for a crisis travel RN.
What Changes Travel Nurse Pay
- Specialty. CRNA, NICU and ICU roles are reported at the top of the range.
- Location. Indeed’s top cities were Bronx, NY at $2,368 a week, Rochester, NY at $2,251 and Oklahoma City, OK at $2,239. ZipRecruiter’s top cities included Berkeley, CA at $123,830 a year.
- Urgency. TLC Nursing says crisis roles can exceed $3,500 a week.
- Hours. Base pay is based on about 36 to 48 hours a week, and overtime may add to it.
- Agency. Packages and benefits differ from one staffing agency to another.
Questions to Ask Before You Sign
- What is guaranteed? Ask for the guaranteed hours and the weekly gross.
- What if a shift is cancelled? TLC Nursing advises checking whether cancelled shifts reduce your stipends.
- What are the notice terms? Ask how much notice each side must give to end the contract.
- When do benefits start? Ask what they cost and what they cover.
- What is the pay on overtime and holidays? Get the rates in writing.
Registered Nurse Job Facts From the BLS
| Fact (BLS, registered nurses) | Figure |
|---|---|
| Median pay (May 2025) | $97,550 a year ($46.90 an hour) |
| Lowest 10% earned less than | $68,940 a year |
| Highest 10% earned more than | $137,470 a year |
| Median in hospitals | $100,220 a year |
| Median in nursing and residential care | $84,300 a year |
| Jobs in 2025 | 3,465,400 |
| Job outlook, 2025 to 2035 | Grows 6% (194,700 jobs) |
| Openings each year | About 180,800 |
The BLS says a state-issued license and a qualifying exam are required, and that some registered nurses travel frequently. These are national figures for all registered nurses.
How to Earn More as a Travel Nurse
- Choose a high-demand specialty. Build solid experience before you apply.
- Keep credentials current. Licenses, BLS, ACLS and specialty certifications help recruiters place you quickly.
- Consider a multistate license. The Nurse Licensure Compact lets a nurse with a multistate license practice in all compact states.
- Compare offers. Ask several agencies for a written breakdown of base pay and stipends.
- Write a strong resume. Show your ratios, assignments and contract extensions.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Trusting one number. Compare several sources and real offers.
- Judging by hourly pay only. The taxable rate can be low even when the weekly total is high.
- Ignoring gaps. Weeks between contracts lower your yearly total.
- Skipping the tax questions. Ask a tax professional how stipends apply to you.
- Forgetting cancellations. Ask for the terms in writing.
Travel Nurse Offer Checklist
Tick each item as you finish. You are ready to accept when the counter reaches 10.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do travel nurses make a week in 2027?
No official 2027 figure exists yet. The latest reported averages are about $1,944 to $2,165 a week. ZipRecruiter reports $1,944 (October 13, 2026), Indeed reports $2,052 (updated September 28, 2026) and the staffing agency TLC Nursing reports $2,165 (updated October 19, 2026). Standard assignments are typically $2,000 to $3,200 a week.
How much does a travel nurse make in a year?
ZipRecruiter reports an average of $101,132 a year, with a range of about $40,500 to $139,000, as of October 13, 2026. Your yearly total depends on how many weeks you work, because travel contracts usually run 13 weeks and gaps between assignments reduce the total.
How much is a 13-week travel nurse contract worth?
At $2,000 a week the contract grosses $26,000, and at $3,200 a week it grosses $41,600. A $2,800 weekly package, such as $1,400 taxable pay plus $700 housing and $700 meals, grosses $36,400 over 13 weeks.
Why is travel nurse pay split into taxable pay and stipends?
Weekly pay usually includes taxable base pay plus tax-free housing and meals and incidentals stipends. Stipends are described as tax-free when a nurse has a legitimate tax home, so ask a tax professional how the rules apply to you.
Which travel nurse specialties pay the most?
TLC Nursing reports travel CRNA at $4,500 to $6,000 a week, NICU at $2,800 to $3,800, ICU at $2,600 to $3,500, ER at $2,500 to $3,700, cath lab at $2,500 to $3,400 and operating room at $2,400 to $3,200. That is a commercial source, so compare it with real offers.
Do travel nurses make more than staff nurses?
Often, in reported averages. The BLS median for all registered nurses is $97,550 a year, or $46.90 an hour, which is about $1,876 for a 40-hour week. Reported travel averages of $1,944 to $2,165 a week are higher, but travel pay can include stipends and gaps between contracts.
Can a travel nurse contract be cancelled?
Contracts can have cancellation terms and hours can change. TLC Nursing advises checking cancellation clauses, notice requirements and guaranteed hours, and confirming whether cancelled shifts reduce stipends. Ask for the terms in writing.
Will travel nurse pay go up in 2027?
No source promises it. The Staffing Industry Analysts September 2026 forecast projects travel nursing to grow 3% in 2027 and says pricing has normalized from pandemic highs, with upside if demand holds and bill rates rise. Plan with 2026 weekly rates and treat any increase as a bonus.
Does the BLS publish travel nurse pay?
No. The BLS reports pay for all registered nurses and says some nurses travel frequently, but it gives no separate travel nurse figures. Figures from ZipRecruiter, Indeed and staffing agencies are user-reported or commercial estimates, so they differ.
How can I earn more as a travel nurse?
Build experience in a high-demand specialty, keep your licenses and certifications current, hold a multistate license if you qualify, ask about overtime and shift differentials, and compare several agency offers. Your resume matters too, so see our travel nurse resume examples.
Conclusion
For 2027, plan on about $1,944 to $2,165 a week for travel nurses in the USA, with standard contracts at $2,000 to $3,200 a week. Use the grid to check any offer, ask how much of it is taxable pay and stipends and get the cancellation terms in writing before you sign.
Related Reading
- Travel nurse resume examples
- Registered nurse cover letter sample
- Charge nurse cover letter sample
- New graduate registered nurse cover letter sample
Sources: ZipRecruiter, Travel Nurse salary (October 13, 2026); Indeed, Travel nurse salary in the United States (September 28, 2026); TLC Nursing, Travel Nurse Salary Guide 2026 (October 19, 2026); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Registered Nurses (May 2025 pay; 2025 to 2035 outlook); Nurse Licensure Compact, FAQs; Staffing Industry Analysts, Healthcare staffing rebounds (September 8, 2026). ZipRecruiter and Indeed figures are user-reported and TLC Nursing is a staffing agency, so figures change and differ.