Whether you are a staff nurse considering taking the leap or a seasoned traveler wondering if you should continue with your journey, you’re probably wondering, is travel nursing worth it still in 2024?
I say yes, travel nursing is still worth it.
As a career travel nurse currently on assignment in California, I can say that the travel nursing career boom has not fizzled out.
If you’re wondering if there are enough travel nurse jobs in the US, Zippia.com states there are over 585,000 currently in 2024.
And as far as travel nurse pay goes, even though it isn’t at a record high like it was during the pandemic, I can personally vouch that the pay is still decent (I wouldn’t still be doing this if it weren’t).
Post-pandemic travel nursing is still very active and lucrative and 100% still worth it.
Here are eleven reasons why travel nursing is still worth it, from the eyes of a current travel nurse.
(For a more inside look at what life is like, check out my post, “Life As A Travel Nurse” for more)
TL;DR
- Travel nursing in 2024 offers high pay, with an average of $2135 per week.
- There are over 585,000 travel nurse jobs, indicating strong demand.
- Benefits include living a nomadic lifestyle, escaping workplace politics, and stepping outside your comfort zone.
- Travel nursing provides opportunities for meeting new people and exploring the country.
- Skills increase with each new assignment in different healthcare settings.
- Offers significant financial freedom compared to staff nursing roles.
- Despite challenges, the pros of adventure, skill enhancement, and financial benefits make it worthwhile.
Is Travel Nursing Worth It?
The following are all things that make travel nursing worth it.
- The money
- The job market
- The nomad life
- No drama
- Getting uncomfortable
- Make new friends
- Travel
- Up your skills
- Time freedom
- Escape burnout
- Financial freedom
1. The Money Remains High
According to Vivian.com, the average travel nurse pay for the week that I am writing this article is $2135 per week.
This equals out to a salary of $102,480 per year. Keep in mind that this is the national average — if you primarily work on either the West or East Coast where pay is higher, that number is significantly more.
This number also assumes you work 36 hours per week. Many nurses choose to pick up shifts or 48 hours a week. And then, of course, there are always opportunities to pick up extra shifts to get overtime pay.
Compared to staff registered nurses who make an average of $1405 per week, travel nurse pay is still significantly higher.
2. There Are Still Plenty Of Jobs
As I mentioned above, there are currently over 585,000 travel nurse jobs as of February 2024.
Even though the number of travel nurses in the country has dramatically increased since the pandemic, this means you just have to be more proactive and quick to apply when a desired job opens.
I have yet to experience not being able to find a job with my minimum requirements.
This isn’t to say the way that I search for jobs hasn’t changed. I now tell my recruiter exactly what I want, where I want it, and what my minimum pay is, and she has my permission to submit me to anything that opens up that would fit my criteria before consulting me on it.
3. You Get To Live A Nomad Lifestyle
This is one of my favorite things that travel nursing allows me to do.
I get to live a life that is always changing, both geographically and physically.
Before I started this career, I was in a rut. My weeks were starting to blend together; doing the same tasks, going to the same restaurants, and seeing the same people over and over.
Now when I go out I get to try a new restaurant, check out a new bar, and go on a new adventure every time.
It is also sort of a thrill to tell people that I travel for a living and get to live somewhere new, somewhere of my choosing, every four months. People are amazed that a career like that even exists.
This isn’t to say I don’t get lonely, but I try to make the best of it knowing that I’m not going to be doing this forever.
4. Escape Workplace Politics & Drama
When asking myself if travel nursing is still worth it, this is a big one. It is also one of the pros of travel nursing that I am so thankful for.
Workplace bullying, politics, and drama were a big part of the culture at my staff job and my mental health was in the toilet.
Now that I only spend 13 weeks at a time at each job, there is hardly time for the politics and drama to affect me — I haven’t been there long enough to get involved.
Also, if the facility I am working at is super busy or there is a big lack of support (staff or otherwise), I know that I am only there for a limited amount of time and that anyone can do anything for 13 weeks.
5. Step Outside Your Comfort Zone
Even though this can be a huge challenge for some people, being able to step outside of your comfort zone and then seeing that you can thrive, is a huge win.
Trust me, starting a new job every few months is not easy.
In fact, those first couple of weeks tend to suck. But at the same time, personal growth is hard. And if you are able to succeed and make new friends and learn new skills, then that makes everything worth it.
6. Meet New People
Being able to meet new people from all over the country and make new friends is a really great part of travel nursing.
Even if you aren’t the most outgoing person (where my fellow introverts at!) who isn’t the best at making new friends, this is pretty much guaranteed to happen.
Another great bonus is that you now have contacts all over the country at all different facilities, which is great when you are in need of a recommendation or have questions about a certain area.
7. Explore The Country
One of the greatest things about travel nursing is the opportunity to explore the US and go places you never thought you would otherwise.
For example, I was born and raised in California and I never ever thought I would go to the mid-west, let alone have a reason to. Lo and behold I ended up spending a whole year in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and had a great time while I was there.
I urge you to be open to going to new places that aren’t on your radar — you might end up being pleasantly surprised.
And of course, this means you will be moving every few months, but you’ll be a travel nurse packing pro in no time.
8. Improve Your Skills
Each new assignment throws new challenges and learning opportunities our way, making travel nursing worth it for those eager to improve their skills.
No matter what your specialty is, travel nurses are constantly adapting to new protocols and ways of doing things, whether it’s at an urban hospital or a rural clinic.
This constant movement across facilities ensures that you don’t get stuck in a rut, let alone have only one way of doing something.
Another great part about this is learning new tricks and hacks.
I can’t tell you how many amazing (and sometimes life-saving) tips I have picked up over the years just by working somewhere new and working with some truly incredible nurses.
9. Time Freedom
Travel nurses still work normal hours — three 12-hour shifts per week.
The difference from working as a staff RN is that any vacation time requested before starting the job is guaranteed (as long as it is written in the contract), and when you have a break between assignments, you can take as much time off as you want.
You are a contract worker meaning you decide when you do and don’t want to work.
Some people take 1-2 months off in between jobs to travel to international countries while others, like myself, usually take 2-3 weeks off in between to give myself a break and to make sure I have enough time to find a new assignment, pack, and move to my new location.
If you are wondering if travel nurses can get unemployment while we aren’t working, the answer is yes. Personally, I do not know of anyone who has ever done this though because we are choosing to take that time off and it wouldn’t be ethical. But, if your contract got canceled, that could be a reason to seek out unemployment benefits.
10. Decrease In Burnout
As most of us know, burnout is real in the nursing profession.
However, in the travel nursing world burnout is significantly decreased. Think about it, all we have to do is get through 13 weeks of work, and then it’s time for a break.
Pro tip: Schedule a one-week break halfway through your contract, even if you don’t have anything planned. It’s nice just to have that little buffer in case you need it. Plus, you can schedule it so that you don’t miss any work!
11. Financial Freedom
The financial freedom that this career has afforded me to have is what has made travel nursing 100% worth it.
Believe me when I say that the money is life-changing.
The best part is, that what you do with the money is completely up to you.
Do you want to live a lifestyle that you have only dreamed of? Well, now you can.
Maybe you have a goal to pay off your car or your student loans years ahead of schedule. Now that’s a possibility.
I encourage you to set some sort of financial goal or at least start a High Yield Savings Account where you keep 3-6 months of living expenses just in case of a contract cancellation or unforeseen events.
Wrapping Up
Wrapping up, the question “Is Travel Nursing Worth It In 2024?” I can confidently be met with a resounding yes.
The world of travel nursing reveals a wide range of benefits and experiences that continue to attract many nurses.
From the competitive pay that you’ll make to the unique nursing experience you’ll gain, travel nursing allows for a career unlike anything else.
Each assignment brings its own set of pros and cons, but overall, the variety of nursing contracts offers an amazing chance to build a diverse skill set.
If you’re drawn to the excitement of new places and embracing the unique opportunities that travel nursing provides, consider the full picture, including the pros and cons of travel nursing.
Pro-tip: Work with the best travel nursing agencies to make sure you have the best experience possible.
The adventure of travel nursing, with the financial, location, and time freedom it affords is hard to turn down.
I say go for it—what have you got to lose?
FAQ
Is it hard being a travel nurse?
The answer to this question has a lot to do with how well you handle change. Travel nursing means constantly moving, being away from family and friends, and starting a new job in a new environment every few months. I suggest weighing the pros of the financial gains and freedom to travel with the cons mentioned above. Everyone responds differently and sometimes it’s just a matter of adjusting to your new life.
Do travel nurses really make that much money?
Travel nurses make anywhere between $1500 and $5000 per week with the current average at $2150 per week according to Vivian.com at the time of writing this. The pay all depends on the location of the job, the specialty, the hours worked, and how rural the facility is.
Is it worth it to be a travel nurse?
In my personal experience as a career travel nurse, I say absolutely. This career affords time, location, and financial freedom while doing the job I love. Sure, there are cons to the job such as being away from friends and family, but for me, the pros outweigh those cons.
Disclaimer: I may earn commissions from purchases made through the links in this post at no extra cost to you.