High RN, higher travel RN pay reflect post-pandemic demand

Editor's Note

Heightened demand has made nursing lucrative relative to other professions, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a May 9 report from healthcare job marketplace Vivian Health.

Based on the firm’s proprietary salary data as well as information from the Bureau of labor Statistics, Vivian estimates registered nurses now earn over $45 per hour on average, significantly more than the national average wage. Travel nurses earn an additional $16 per hour on average compared to staff nurses, with contracts typically lasting 13 weeks.

Pay differences between staff and travel nurses are particularly pronounced in the Midwest, where cost of living is relatively low. Conversely, the smallest pay gaps are found in high-cost, high-pay regions like Hawaii and the West Coast, Vivian reports.

Findings also show the pandemic exacerbated nursing shortages, boosting demand for travel nurses, who remain essential despite easing COVID-19 pressures.

Travel nursing offers high pay and the opportunity to explore new locations, but comes with drawbacks like lack of stability and limited relationship-building, the article notes.