The State of Travel Nursing in 2024 · The Gypsy Nurse (2024)

Medelyprovided this article.

The travel nursing industry has gone through significant transformations in the past few years, and as we get further into 2024, we thought it was important to explore the current state of this dynamic career path.

Rising demand for travel nurses

Despite the end of “the travel nurses’ gold rush,” the travel nursing industry is still going strong and continues to be a viable option for skilled nurses, says TravelNursing.org.

In the past several years, the travel nursing industry has grown by more than 600%, according to Supplemental Health Care. This is due to various factors, including the ongoing strain on healthcare facilities and the need for specialized skills in different regions, especially more rural areas. This has led hospitals and healthcare facilities to fill staffing gaps with travel assignments and book travel nurses to maintain quality patient care.

The State of Travel Nursing in 2024 · The Gypsy Nurse (1)

Changing demographics of travel nurses

The demographics of travel nurses are evolving, reflecting a diverse and dynamic workforce. Many younger professionals are entering the field, drawn to the flexibility, professional growth, and unique experiences that travel nursing offers. Additionally, more experienced nurses looking for a change or seeking adventure contribute to the growing diversity within the travel nursing community.

However, there is a projected nursing shortage in the U.S., according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, due to more and more baby boomer-generation nurses retiring, adding to the many RNs who left the profession due to pandemic burnout. This is a good opportunity for travel nurses to make the most of the situation as hospitals and facilities look to them to fill those staffing gaps.

Technological advancements in travel nursing

More and more, the travel nursing industry has embraced technological advancements to streamline processes and enhance communication. Mobile apps and online platforms like Medely connect healthcare facilities with travel nurses, making it easier for professionals to find assignments and for facilities to secure qualified staff quickly. These innovations have contributed to the efficiency and accessibility of the travel nursing marketplace and made it easier for travel nurses to not only find the travel assignments they’re looking for but also pick up local shifts in between. Check out this travel nurse’s story here on how she became a travel nurse to see the world and uses Medely to find the shifts she needs.

Salary trends and perks

Compensation for travel nurses has seen ebbs and flows over the past few years, especially when it peaked during the pandemic, but pay still remains high and competitive, according to Health eCareers. Plus, all the perks of travel nursing are still available and enticing to RNs considering this career path, like flexible schedules, benefits, stipends, higher pay, flexibility, exploration, and career growth.

Challenges and opportunities

As the healthcare landscape continues to shift and evolve in 2024, travel nurses continue to play a critical role in healthcare across the U.S. The demand for highly skilled professionals, technological advancements, and the changing demographic landscape show that this resilient and adaptable workforce can grasp many opportunities this year. Navigating the challenges and embracing opportunities will be key to ensuring the continued success and growth of travel nursing in the years to come.

Want to use Medely to sign up for your next travel assignment? We’ve got you covered. Medely works with thousands of the best facility partners across the U.S.

Check out our app here.

Facts about travel nursing

During the COVID pandemic, travel nursing experienced a significant increase in demand as healthcare facilities urgently sought more nurses to fill critical needs. This led to a surplus of high-paying contracts that attracted many nurses who may not have previously considered travel nursing. Now, as the travel pay begins to find a new baseline, some nurses are now questioning whether travel nursing will remain a favorable option in the future.

Post-pandemic travel nursing remains one of the most rewarding and fulfilling career moves you can make, and we’re going to break down exactly why that is! While the pandemic presented unique challenges and opportunities, the pulse of travel nursing remains strong. The essence of this career choice—higher pay, flexibility, new connections, adventure, a politics-free environment, and professional growth—continues to thrive.

In the past several years, the travel nursing industry has grown by more than 600%, and some estimates expect that around 10% of working nurses will remain in contract roles long-term. The foundational shifts driving both the support and demand for healthcare professionals won’t be settled any time soon.

Travel Nurse Pay Remains High

From March 2020 to July 2022, Trusted Health saw travel nurses across all specialties and states making an average gross weekly income of $3,668! Though the average gross weekly income has decreased slightly since then, Trusted is still seeing an impressive average gross weekly of $3,206. This amount is leaps and bounds beyond the national average of $1,711 earned by staff nurses and is still higher than the pre-pandemic average of $2,273 gross weekly for travel nurses.

Healthcare Worker Shortages

First and foremost, there are not enough RNs and other healthcare workers to meet the needs of patients. That goes back, in part, to a shortage of nursing school programs and educators to prepare incoming nursing students.

So, the RN workforce is growing in leaps and bounds, but the tools aren’t always available to train them. When healthcare facilities can’t find local candidates to fill RN positions, they turn to travel nurses to fill those spots.

According to Becker’s Hospital Review, the highest-paying jobs for travel nurses have been in intensive care units, emergency departments, medical surgery, and home health. Contract labor rates are expected to stabilize at 15% over pre-pandemic levels in 2023.

NBC News announced last fall that “the travel nurses’ gold rush” is over. Hospitals are now negotiating down contract rates with travel nurse agencies by as much as 50%. Though not what it once was, travel nursing is far from dead, and the pay is still above average. The mean travel nurse income has stabilized at around $3k per week in 2023. Given that compensation has fallen since the unprecedented pandemic pay, so have the number of travel nurses, making jobs less competitive.

Still, a number of factors, such as whether a hospital is dealing with a natural disaster or strike, as well as market demand in that region, can cause assignments to attract higher prices. According to ZipRecruiter, the average annual travel nurse salary in the United States is $105,021 or $50/hr as of May 2023. This is much higher than the national average for registered nurses, which is $77,600 per year or $37.31 per hour, according to the BLS.

Travel Nursing Is Still A Viable Option For Nurses

Travel nursing is still a viable employment choice for the nursing profession. Travelers can earn better salaries with stipends and bonuses than their counterparts, with benefits packages and affordable living arrangements. Another perk of travel nursing is schedule flexibility. Nurses enjoy the option to work 13-week assignments with breaks in between.

Another common attitude expressed by travel nurses is that contract work allows them to focus on patient care. They can avoid the bureaucracy of dealing with management and leadership that some face in staff roles. Travelers also choose which hospitals they will work in. They can refuse facilities that they’ve heard have dangerous conditions or too many patients per nurse. California is the only state to regulate nurse-to-patient ratios. It requires one nurse for every five patients in most departments and intensive care units to have a 1:2 ratio.

Travel nursing is perfect for those who want the freedom to choose the assignment and department that fits their lifestyle and interests. It allows nurses to obtain experience in a variety of settings while having the freedom to travel. Despite the current economic downturn, travel nursing remains a feasible employment option for healthcare workers with the right mindset and skills.

Industry analysis suggests that the US may face a shortage of up to 450,000 registered nurses by 2025. According to one nationwide assessment of the nursing workforce, nurses are retiring in greater numbers, with the typical nurse’s age rising from roughly 43 in 2000 to 52 in 2020. This reality, combined with the impending influx of elderly Baby Boomers who will require more care, is expected to exacerbate the situation. These facts suggest that there will always be choices for experienced nurses in all specialties who want to travel.

Travel nursing has been a part of the modern nursing workforce for decades, and it is now a strategic staffing solution. Healthcare systems can leverage this resource to ease the current burden and propel patient care into the next post-pandemic chapter without significant disruptions or serious consequences.

Find Your Next Travel Nurse Assignment with Our Job Board!

Are you on the hunt for yournext travelnurse gig? Look no further than our job board! Clickhereto explore all our current opportunities.

Discover the Perfect Housing for Your Next Assignment

Need somewhere tostay on your next travel nurse assignment? We’ve got you covered. Check out our housing page to find your ideal home away from home. Clickhereto start your search.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

START HERE

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

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The State of Travel Nursing in 2024 · The Gypsy Nurse (2024)

FAQs

What is the outlook for travel nurses in 2024? ›

As the healthcare landscape continues to shift and evolve in 2024, travel nurses continue to play a critical role in healthcare across the U.S. The demand for highly skilled professionals, technological advancements, and the changing demographic landscape show that this resilient and adaptable workforce can grasp many ...

What is the highest paying state for traveling nurses? ›

STATE #1: California

California, the Golden State, is the highest-paying state for travel nurses, with an hourly pay of $86.54. The typical weekly income of travel nurses surpasses what many make at $3,462. On average, for each month they work, California travel nurses earn $15,000.

How much do travel nurses make in the States? ›

The average annual travel nurse salary in the US is $105,021 or $50/hr, according to ZipRecruiter as of May 2023.

What is the demand for nurses in 2024? ›

In contrast to the average for all occupations, the Bureau of Labour Statistics projects a 16 per cent growth in demand for nurses by 2024. Nurse shortages around the country have only gotten worse since the pandemic, which has infuriated hospitals all around the USA.

Are travel nurses getting paid less now? ›

Now, most travel nursing agencies provide their travelers with a stipend to cover their travel costs. Stipends put travelers in control of their own money - they get to choose what suits them best. Though are we not seeing the high rates of 2021, travel nurse (RN) pay has stabilized at around an average of $2,600/week.

Which states are capping travel nurse pay? ›

Some states, including Massachusetts and Minnesota, already had rate caps for temporary nurses before the pandemic, but raised and even waived their caps.

What kind of travel nurse is in most demand? ›

Here are some of the most in-demand specialties for travel nurses in 2024.
  • ICU Nursing. ...
  • Emergency Nursing. ...
  • NICU, MBPP, and L&D Nursing. ...
  • Medical Surgical Nursing. ...
  • Telemetry Nursing. ...
  • Psychiatric Nursing. ...
  • Home Health Nursing. ...
  • Oncology Nursing.
Mar 1, 2024

What state pays nurses better? ›

The states that pay nurses the most are California, Hawaii, and Oregon, with California paying the most with an average of $133,340 wage per year. When looking at this list, it's also helpful to know that all three are in the top 10 for the highest cost of living as well.

Is 63 too old to become a nurse? ›

Nursing is open to aspiring nurses of all ages; in this sense, it is never too late to pursue the profession.

Am I too old to be a travel nurse? ›

Travel Nursing Knows No Age Limits – Just because you're an older nurse doesn't mean you won't get anything less than what younger travel nurses experience.

How often do travel nurses leave? ›

When working with travel nursing agencies, the average travel nurse assignment is 13 weeks long. However, there are other travel nurse assignment lengths like eight, four, and even one- to two-week assignments. There are also longer travel assignments which can last 20 or 26 weeks.

What state hires the most travel nurses? ›

California has the highest demand for travel nurses, and med-surg was the specialty in highest demand, according to a Nomad Health report. The "Nomad Health Q4 2023 Healthcare Jobs Report" examined internal job data collected from Oct.

Can travel nurses make 200k a year? ›

The Average Pay For Travel Nurses

According to a report by Nurse.org, travel nurses can earn an average of $2,000-$3,000 per week, which translates to an annual salary of $104,000-$156,000. However, travel nurses typically earn more than staff nurses due to the nature of their work.

What city do travel nurses make the most money? ›

The 12 Highest Paying Travel Nursing Cities
  • San Bernadino, CA – $2,445.
  • Washington DC – $2,408.
  • New York, NY – $2,381.
  • Boston, MA – $2,298.
  • Anchorage, AK – $2,125.
  • Milwaukee, WI – $2,018.
  • Chicago, IL – $2,013.
  • Dallas, TX – $1,913.

What does the future look like for a travel nurse? ›

The future of travel nursing is bright and full of exciting opportunities. While there will be some challenges along the way, the innovations and progress we will make in 2024 will help travel nurses provide exceptional care for their patients while enjoying fulfilling careers.

Will travel nursing ever go away? ›

Travel Nursing Is Still A Viable Option For Nurses

Travel nursing is still a viable employment choice for the nursing profession. Travelers can earn better salaries with stipends and bonuses than their counterparts, with benefits packages and affordable living arrangements.

What is the job outlook for nurses in 2025? ›

By 2030, there will be a shortage of over 1 million registered nurses in the U.S. Projected demand for nurses in 2025: 3.4 million. Projected supply of nurses in 2025: 3.1 million. Projected demand for nurses in 2030: 4.0 million.

What is the projected growth for travel nurses? ›

The job outlook for travel nurses is very strong. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of RNs is projected to grow 6% between 2022-2032. Greater demand for healthcare and retiring nurses drive this growth. The flexibility of travel nursing is attractive to nurses seeking new experiences.

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