TRUSTED HEALTH Salary guide
Travel NICU
AVERAGE WEEKLY
$2,268/WK
↑ 0% higher than the US average of $2,268.
Based on active jobs as of 05/02/26
AVERAGE HOURLY
$62.33/h
↘MIN
$47.67/h
↗MAX
$95.34/h
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FAQ
SEARCH QUESTIONS
Travel nurse weekly pay includes a taxable hourly base rate plus non-taxable stipends for housing and meals & incidentals (M&IE). The gross weekly total shown on Trusted Health salary pages combines all of these components. Actual take-home depends on your tax situation, contract length, and hours worked.
Travel nurses typically earn significantly more per week than staff nurses in the same specialty, largely because of the non-taxable stipend component. Travel roles trade off variable scheduling, frequent relocations, and limited benefits like PTO — the financial premium compensates for that flexibility and instability.
California consistently pays the highest travel nurse wages, followed by New York, Massachusetts, Washington, and Hawaii. These states combine high cost of living, chronic nursing shortages, and — in California's case — state-mandated staffing ratios that drive sustained high demand for travelers.
For many nurses, yes — travel nursing offers significantly higher weekly pay, location flexibility, and rapid career variety across different facility types. The trade-offs include no guaranteed PTO, frequent moves, variable schedules, and the need to maintain a tax home. Travel nursing tends to fit best for nurses with 1+ years of experience who value earnings and flexibility over long-term stability.
