[hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]In the United States, travel registered nurses (RNs) make on average $43,020 more per year than staff RNs.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Travel RN pay is affected by many factors including location, specialty, living arrangements, and contract negotiations.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Boosting your travel RN pay is a matter of knowing how to leverage your travel nursing career.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]As a travel nurse, you can make a considerable amount of money, more than you would as a staff nurse. Explore tips from travel nurses on ways to bring home even more pay while on and off assignments.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Salary Comparison: Travel Nurses vs. Staff Nurses[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]When comparing the salaries of both travel and staff RNs in the U.S., travel nursing could be an option if you want to boost your nursing pay overall. According to ZipRecruiter, as of March 2023 the average travel RN salary is $118,400 in comparison to $75,380 for staff RNs. That’s a $43,020 pay differential.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-sm text-right”]*Average Salary in the United States (2023)Sources: ZipRecruiter.com; ZipRecruiter.com[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Alaina Ross, BSN, RN, a postanesthesia care unit travel RN, typically makes between 30-50% more as a travel nurse (includes housing stipend) than as a staff nurse. She says, “You have much more leverage in negotiating pay as a traveler, and as such, it generally pays better.”[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Lack of benefits is also a factor. You get a higher salary as a travel nurse because you typically do not receive the hospital or facility benefits that a staff RN would (for instance,. health insurance, retirement matching, bonuses, raises, and union benefits).[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]While travel RNs are reportedly paid a higher salary than that of staff RNs, there are specific factors that can have a direct impact on pay.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-flex gap=”xl” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-flex gap=”xs” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Popular MSN Programs[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ color=”subtext”]Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”belowTheFold” /][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Factors That Affect Travel Nurse Pay[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Location[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Where you work can have a significant effect on your pay. Ross mentions that her California contracts have paid twice as much as her Texas contracts. Due to staffing shortages and higher cost of living, some states and cities simply pay more. It’s also important to take into account how you will be taxed for working in a state.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]According to ZipRecruiter as of March 2023, New York, New Hampshire, and Arizona are the highest-paying states for travel nursing.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]These are the top five highest-paying U.S. cities for travel nurses as of March 2023.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Nursing Specialty[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Travel nursing pay may be affected by your nursing specialty. ZipRecruiter reported that as of March 2023, travel RNs working in nursing speciality positions are paid between $50,630- $63,060 more than the average RN travel nurse salary of $118,400.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]These are the top five highest-paying travel nursing specialties as of March 2023.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Living Arrangements[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Your decision to take a housing stipend or the company-provided housing can affect your travel nurse pay. A housing stipend is the extra money that a travel nursing agency pays you to find a place to live while on assignment. Choosing the housing stipend option can significantly increase your overall pay, especially if you manage to find a very affordable living arrangement.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]4 Tips to Boost Your Travel Nurse Pay/Find High-Paying Assignments[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Boosting your travel nurse pay places extra cash in your pockets for exploring the new city on your days off, advancing your career, saving for retirement, or paying off debt. Here are four tips to help boost your pay.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]1 | Find a good recruiter.[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]A good recruiter goes above and beyond to find assignments that fit your specific needs. Tell your recruiter exactly how much you want to be paid. Ross advises, “Tell them your desired locations, contract lengths, minimum pay thresholds, and see what they can round up.”[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]A great way to locate good recruiters is to join online travel nursing communities (e.g.,[hen-ui-link href=”https://www.thegypsynurse.com/”] The Gypsy Nurse[/hen-ui-link]) and social networking groups (e.g., LinkedIn or Facebook) to connect with other travel nurses for recommendations.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]2 | Choose assignments that are in high demand.[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You can receive a higher salary if you choose assignments in states that have a [hen-ui-link href=”/articles/the-us-nursing-shortage-state-by-state-breakdown//”]high nursing shortage[/hen-ui-link]. You can also work in geographically remote or unpopular locations.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Ross says, “I cannot tell you how many texts I get from travel nurse recruiters who offer ungodly amounts of money to go work in undesirable locations.”[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4”]High-demand crisis assignments are another way to increase your travel nurse pay. According to March 2023 Ziprecruiter data, crisis travel RNs make an average of $150,560 per year.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]3 | Be selective with the assignments you take.[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You have a right to decline an assignment if it does not meet your pay expectations. Ross says, “Travel nurses today have a lot of power and you can afford to be choosy.”[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4”]Work with several recruiters and choose from a variety of assignments offered to you. Remember that recruiters are working for you. Ross notes, “I just sit back and review text messages when they find contracts that might fit.”[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3”]4 | Take the housing stipend and find cheaper housing.[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Ross recommends taking the housing stipend if given the choice. She states, “Stipends can make a big difference in net pay as you can usually find housing for cheaper.” For half of her assignments, she lived in an RV with her husband to save on housing costs.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]While you may not own an RV, you can rent a room in someone’s home or stay in extended-stay hotels. You can also work with a short-term housing rental company like Airbnb or Vrbo to save on housing costs.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]How to Make Extra Money as a Travel Nurse[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]A great way to make extra money as a travel nurse is to work a part-time or [hen-ui-link href=”/articles/how-to-become-a-nurse-freelancer/”]freelance nursing job[/hen-ui-link] on the side or in between assignments. You can find these positions on job boards (e.g., Indeed, LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter, and Glassdoor). Here are five ways to make some extra cash.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Overall, maximizing your pay as a travel nurse can have excellent personal and professional benefits. Choose your path, weigh your options, and enjoy your assignment.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Meet Our Contributor[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”lg”][hen-ui-expert-bio name=”Alaina Ross, RN, BSN” img-src=”https://res.cloudinary.com/highereducation/image/upload/e_grayscale,c_fill,h_300,w_300,g_face/v1682629520/NurseJournal.org/Headshots/Alaina_Ross.png” img-alt=”Alaina Ross, RN, BSN” layout=”horizontal” background=”white” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ slot=”contentRight” class=”text-base”]Alaina Ross has 10 years of experience as a pre-op and PACU nurse. Ross is also an expert contributor for [hen-ui-link href=”https://testprepinsight.com/”]Test Prep Insight[/hen-ui-link], a test prep company that helps nursing students prepare for exams like the TEAS and NCLEX.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex]