How much do travel nurses make

Travel nurses typically make significantly higher salaries than staff nurses. Here are some key things to know:

• Salaries: Travel nurse salaries can range from $75-175+ per hour, compared to $30-50 per hour for staff nurses. Exact pay depends on the specialty, experience, and demand. Critical care and emergency nurses often make the most.

• Tax implications: Since travel nurses are technically independent contractors, they have to pay self-employment taxes on their income. This includes both the employee and employer portions of Social Security and Medicare taxes, totaling around 15%.

• Benefits: Travel nurses typically don’t get health insurance or retirement benefits through their assignments. They have to purchase their own health insurance and save for retirement.

• Lifestyle: For many nurses, the higher pay of travel nursing makes up for the lack of benefits and job security. It allows them flexibility to take assignments when and where they want. The work is usually contract-based, lasting 13 weeks on average.

• Demand: There has been growing demand for travel nurses in recent years due to hospital staffing shortages. This has driven up their salaries. The demand is expected to remain strong for the foreseeable future.

• Assignments: Travel nurses work for travel nurse agencies that find and place them on assignments with hospitals and other facilities. They have the option to choose from available listings that match their preferences.

So in summary, while staff nurses tend to have more stable employment with benefits, travel nurses generally command much higher hourly wages. The choice comes down to priorities around compensation, benefits, job security and flexibility.