best travel nurse agencies for california

21 Best Travel Nursing Agencies Ranked [Updated For 2023/2024]

• Kimberly Hennerfeind
• Last Updated: November 2, 2023

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Looking to start your journey as a travel nurse and want to explore all of the best travel nursing agencies? Then we’ve got you covered!

While there are an overwhelming number to choose from, we aggregated data from Indeed and Glassdoor in order to determine the top-rated travel nursing agencies for 2023/2024. Best of all, the ratings on these sites come from real travel nurses who have actually worked with these companies.

So, in this post, you’ll see the top-rated travel nursing agencies and learn a little more about each one. If you want to explore an agency further, just follow the links to read our full, in-depth reviews.

We’ll also start with some recommendations based on our research to help you find companies with the best benefits, support, and more.

By the end, you’ll have a good idea of what each company offers, so you can choose the right travel nursing agency for your career goals.

Table of contents

What is the best travel nursing agency, best travel nursing agency for support, best travel nursing agency for benefits, biggest travel nursing agency, 1. axis medical staffing, 2. host healthcare, 3. triage staffing, 4. fusion medical staffing, 5. travel nurses inc., 6. atlas medstaff, 7. prime time healthcare, 8. medical solutions, 9. rnnetwork, 10. onestaff medical, 11. aya healthcare, 12. fastaff travel nursing, 14. aureus medical, 15. travel nurse across america, 16. krucial staffing, 18. totalmed, 20. trustaff, what is the highest-paying travel nursing agency, start working with the best travel nursing agencies.

Axis Medical Staffing is the best travel nursing agency based on ratings from travel nurses on Indeed and Glassdoor.

However, always remember that while one agency may be a perfect fit for one travel nurse, it may be a different story for someone else.

For example, while one travel nurse may value a close relationship with their recruiter, another might be more concerned with salary or benefits.

Host Healthcare is the best travel nursing agency for those looking for robust support from recruiters. As soon as you start working with this company, you’ll have access to 24/7 support.

So, anytime you have a question or concern, you can call, text, or DM to get a quick answer. This makes it a great option for those who are new to travel nursing and might need a little extra guidance.

Of course, whether you’re a new travel nurse or a seasoned pro, there will always be times when you need to get in touch with your agency quickly.

Additionally, Host gives you access to jobs in all 50 states. All you need to do is select your desired contract location, and the company will help you find placements.

If you’re looking for a travel nurse agency with great benefits, you should check out RNNetwork . The company offers Day One benefits, meaning you’ll have access to them on the first day of your contract.

They offer a host of benefits including:

• Zero-Premium Health Insurance: Fully paid by RNnetwork, with dependant and life partner coverage.
• Prescription Pay: No-deductible for medications.
• Dental Plan: 100% coverage for preventive services and children’s orthodontic coverage.
• Vision Benefits: Coverage for lenses, glasses, frames, and exams nationwide.
• Continuing Education: Access to free, unlimited courses and licensure assistance.
• Credentialing Assistance: Full support and substantial cost coverage for licensing and certifications.
• Employee Assistance Program: Access to expert advice for financial, mental, behavioral, and legal issues.
• Life and AD&D Insurance: $50,000 coverage without requiring enrollment in a medical plan.
• Teladoc: 24/7 physician consultation services over the phone.
• Sanvello: Free access to a mindfulness app for stress, anxiety, and depression relief.
• Talkspace: 24/7 access to licensed therapists online.

We discuss some of the other reasons to choose RNNetwork later on in the complete rankings.

The largest travel nursing agency is AMN Healthcare . In fact, they owned nearly 20% of the entire market share of the industry according to a report from a few years ago.

Working with the largest agency comes with a number of advantages, like the number and diversity of available job opportunities. Additionally, you’ll receive robust support and comprehensive benefits, like free housing, 401(k), and life insurance.

Given that AMN is such a big company that’s been around since 1985, you also know they have an established reputation. The company even has exclusive deals with healthcare facilities, giving you access to even more jobs.

Overall, AMN healthcare is a option for those looking for a large travel nursing agency with access to lots of resources.

21 Best Travel Nursing Agencies Ranked

Below we ranked the best travel nursing agencies based on reviews left on Indeed and Glassdoor. In instances where there was insufficient data on these sites, we substituted Facebook reviews.

Axis Medical Staffing earned the title of best travel nursing agency for 2023 based on our aggregated data from ratings by travel nurses.

This agency was founded in 2004 and boasts lots of benefits, including:

• Assignment opportunities in every state
• A “personal touch” unrivaled by other agencies
• A nice payment structure

Though it’s a highly-rated company and travelers are eligible for healthcare benefits the first of the month following their date of hire but it is something to be aware of as there is a month wait. If this is key in your decision, there are other options that offer day-one benefits.

However, if you’re in it for the adventure, this is a great agency to work with.

We mentioned earlier that Host Healthcare is one of the best travel nursing agencies when it comes to support. You can contact them with questions 24/7, and their recruiters will try to find your ideal placement.

However, Host offers a number of other great benefits too. For example, the company provides access to thousands of exclusive contract positions all across the country. Some other amazing benefits they provide include:

• Day one medical coverage that lasts up to 30 days between assignments
• 401(k) matching
• Travel reimbursements
• A dedicated housing support team

Overall, because Host Healthcare offers such comprehensive support, it’s a great option for those who are new to travel nursing. However, experienced travel nurses can also benefit from working with them.

Triage Staffing operates by the motto of “real and ready.” There are tons of great reviews from their employees, and they emphasize clear and open communication.

If you’re looking to build long-term relationships and communicate with your recruiter regularly, this may be a perfect option.

Just keep in mind that they do promote a more fun and casual culture, which may not be suitable for everyone.

Also, you’ll need two years of experience if you want to work with them. However, if you don’t have the experience yet, they still encourage you to get in touch and build a relationship while you gain that experience.

Fusion Medical Staffing is the next company on our list of best travel nursing agencies.

It began as a small business in 2009, but since then has grown rapidly. They’ve even won awards for being one of the fastest-growing companies and having an excellent workplace culture.

Some of the reasons to choose Fusion include:

• They accept new graduates and provide a mentorship program
• An emphasis on social responsibility and volunteering
• An inclusive culture; for example, participating in LGBTQ+ pride events, disability fundraisers, and more

While the company does hire new graduates, the information on their website isn’t all that thorough. This can be a little scary for new travel nurses, so make sure you ask the right questions so you can decide if Fusion meets all of your needs.

Travel Nurses Inc. has been in business for over 30 years and features 24/7 clinical support. They also won the ClearlyRated Best of Staffing in both 2021 and 2022.

The agency has a robust job board, and even features a “Furnished Finder” tool that allows you to book housing options right on their website.

They provide day-one healthcare coverage and make contract transparency a priority. Your recruiter will schedule a review of your contract before you begin an assignment, ensuring all your needs are met.

While the ratings for this company on Indeed and Glassdoor are a bit sparse, this agency has lots of glowing reviews on Facebook and Google that are worth checking out.

The only thing to keep in mind is that you will need one year of experience to work TNI.

Atlas MedStaff is next in our rankings of the best travel nursing agencies, and has been around for over three decades. They place a focus on working closely with travel nurses and tailoring their contracts to fit their needs.

For example, each contract includes an “ Atlas Adventure ,” which is a unique experience that could include anything from skiing to going to see your favorite professional sports team.

Other reasons to work with this agency include:

• Great insurance and benefits options
• Paid private housing options
• Transparent and long-term relationships

Just make sure you get set up with and develop a good relationship with your recruiter. As with many other of the best travel nursing agencies, this could make or break your experience.

Prime Time Healthcare has been recruiting healthcare professionals for over 15 years.

If salary is a top priority, this may be a good agency to work with. Their travel nurse salary tends to go above average and offer great secondary perks, like:

• An excellent range of benefits
• Referral bonuses
• Paid travel

Keep in mind that Prime Time tends to work with elite-level healthcare professionals.

Also, this agency doesn’t only find placements for travel nurses. They also fill positions for per diem nursing and permanent positions.

If you want an agency solely focused on travel nursing, you may want to look somewhere else. However, if you want to build a long-term relationship with a company and eventually move out of travel nursing, this could be a perfect fit.

Medical Solutions is an agency that focuses on custom-tailored contracts for their travel nurses.

In fact, before a nurse agrees to a contract, a consultant from the agency will speak with them about what is most important to them.

While each contract will be different depending on the needs of each nurse, you can expect:

• An excellent 401(k) plan
• Loyalty bonuses
• Health benefits
• Employee assistance program

While the contract flexibility and customization can be great for travel nurses who know exactly what they want, all the options could be overwhelming if you’re not sure.

If you’re new to travel nursing, it may be better idea to go with an agency offering standard contracts that have been tried and tested by lots of nurses before you.

RNnetwork ranks number four on our list of best travel nursing agencies.

This agency gives you the best of both worlds. While they have a personal and friendly approach to working with travel nurses, they also have the resources of a huge staffing company. This is because they are owned by a parent company called CHG Healthcare Services.

Other benefits of working with RNnetwork are that they:

• Only focus on travel nursing
• Provide great compensation and benefits
• Have an easy-to-use job search platform

Just be wary of the fact that your experience may vary depending on the recruiter you are matched with. The wrong recruiter could leave you with a subpar experience.

OneStaff Medical boasts experienced recruiters and dedication to the nurses they work with.

If you choose this agency, you’ll be able to contact a representative 24/7, 365 days a year. This way, if any problems come up, you can start finding solutions immediately.

They also provide communication on assistance with career goals and help in meeting your travel expectations.

Like most of the agencies on this list, you’ll have access to standard benefits and plenty of housing options.

However, OneStaff tends to work with travel nurses with at least two years of experience.

There have also been complaints of lack of cooperation between the agencies’ departments. Though they may be isolated instances, it’s a good idea to be wary.

Aya Healthcare is one of the biggest and best-known travel nursing agencies in the United States.

Due to their size and reputation, they feature a huge selection of assignments to choose from.

Other advantages of working with this agency include:

• Day-one benefits
• Credentialing and paperwork support
• Scholarships and education assistance

If you want to work with an agency with lots of resources, you should definitely consider Aya.

However, just remember that their size may mean you can’t build the same type of relationship you could with a smaller agency.

If having a “personal touch” is important to you, this may not be the best option.

Fastaff Travel Nursing specializes in “Rapid Response” healthcare staffing. This means they staff facilities in desperate need of nurses during times of crisis, like environmental disasters or extreme staffing shortages.

This agency offers some of the highest pay rates to travel nurses. However, this is largely because the assignments tend to be more difficult given their “Rapid Response” specialization.

If salary is top priority, this may be just the agency for you.

However, keep in mind that you’ll likely need to be ready to start working within 48 hours of accepting a position.

These more difficult assignments also tend be a better fit for more experienced nurses. Their culture is more professional and less friendly because of the urgent nature of most of their placements.

We mentioned earlier in this article that AMN is the largest travel nursing agency, giving you access to a bigger pool of exclusive jobs and resources.

However, there are lots of other great things about this travel nursing agency too. For example, they offer a host of benefits, like:

• Free and high-quality private housing
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) and flex spending accounts
• Life insurance
• Free continuing education courses
• Discounts on things like computers, cell phones, hotels, car rentals, gym memberships, and more

Perhaps most noteworthy is their mobile app. With the AMN Passport app, you can receive personalized job alerts, view time and pay details, and organize your credentials.

Overall, AMN is likely best for travel nurses with a bit of experience under their belt. However, if you’re looking for an agency with robust resources and great benefits, this could be the right fit.

Aureus Medical has been around for over 35 years, and they promote a highly-personalized approach to travel nursing.

Every nurse has a dedicated recruiter. However, if the recruiter is unavailable, there is always someone to offer support 24/7.

The agency also boasts:

• Long-standing relationships with healthcare facilities
• A dedicated housing and travel department
• Robust benefits

One thing to keep in mind, however, is that the agency is rather large. So, despite having a dedicated recruiter, you may have to deal with a number of different staff members.

Unfortunately, this means information can sometimes slip through the cracks, meaning you may have to repeat yourself if your information isn’t passed along by their staff members.

Travel Nurse Across America has been around since 1999. They’ve often been featured in top ten lists for travel nursing agencies, and they’re considered one of the most reputable in the nation.

The agency boasts great relationships with its client facilities and a clear and transparent company culture.

One of the best things about TNAA is their benefits. They send an Assignment Benefit Summary before each assignment begins.

If you’re looking to put in some extra hours, you may also be able to take advantage of “TNAA Boost Pay.” This is a special rate you receive if you work an extra shift.

The agency also features other typical benefits, and even pay protection if one of your shifts gets cancelled.

While the company does boast a robust job board, it doesn’t publish pay rates on third-party sites when promoting job opportunities. This could be frustrating when looking for a position that fits your compensation needs.

Krucial Staffing specializes in staffing healthcare facilities in urgent need of nurses.

This means the assignments tend to be in more high-risk, emergency areas. It also means you’ll typically need to be ready to start working within 48 hours.

While these assignments are certainly more challenging, you’ll also be compensated for that extra difficulty.

Additionally, you’ll receive:

• Extra benefits through Krucial’s partnerships
• Excellent housing options

If you’re up for a challenge and want access to a wide variety of assignments that tend to be shorter in length, this may be the right option for you.

NuWest has been around for about 25 years and prides itself on the quick deployment of travel nurses. In fact, they typically send nurses to an assignment within 72 hours.

This agency has a smaller feel and a more personal touch. It also offers competitive pay rates and all the benefits you’d expect from a travel nursing company.

The downside is that they have a smaller number of available assignments compared to some other agencies. They mainly staff facilities in:

However, if you’re a travel nurse looking to work in one of these states and you’re prepared for quick deployment, NuWest may be a good fit.

TotalMed Staffing provides healthcare facilities travel nurses and helps nurses find local jobs.

If you’re a travel nurse looking to cover all your basics, this agency may be a good option. They have a large network and robust online job board, meaning you’ll have lots of assignments to choose from.

The company also provides:

• Day one benefits
• Credentialing and paperwork assistance
• Educational and professional support

One thing to be wary of is that some nurses have complained about a long onboarding process. However, for most nurses, the process has not been a problem.

Maxim Healthcare Staffing has been around for over three decades. In addition to travel nurses, they also staff for home healthcare and wellness services. The company employs more than 65,000 healthcare professionals in the United States.

The agency offers competitive pay rates and placements at some of the best facilities in the country.

Like some of the other travel nursing agencies on this list, a lot of the travel nursing assignments tend to be in high-stress, high-volume areas.

While this will earn you a higher paycheck, it may not be the best fit for newer nurses.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the agency has been a bit slow to resolve paycheck issues in the past. While the problems were always resolved, it could add more stress to an already stressful placement.

Trustaff has been matching travel nurses with hospitals for over two decades.

One thing that makes this agency stand out is their superb communication and helpful staff. They have an active support line with people ready to help you out.

They offer everything you’d expect from a travel nursing company, including:

• Health insurance
• Start and completion bonuses

However, assignment length can be inconsistent when working with Trustaff. Most assignments last 13 weeks, but they could end up being shorter or longer.

If you need a more consistent schedule, this may not be the best fit.

Nomad boasts one of the best and most streamlined digital marketplaces for finding travel nursing assignments. Also, their pay packages tend to be on the higher end of the spectrum.

A few other upsides to working with this agency include:

• Licensure reimbursement
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits

However, some travel nurses that worked with the company reported that there was poor communication. This could be a huge problem, especially if you’re new to travel nursing.

Nomad Travel Nursing is part of the broader Nomad Health platform, so it may be easy to get lost in the shuffle of such a big company.

It’s worth noting that there are plenty of both 5 and 1 star ratings, so it may just depend on the recruiter you end up working with.

There is no single travel nursing agency that pays the most. In fact, all the agencies on this list provide competitive rates.

If you’re looking to make as much money as possible from your contract, you should focus on factors like location and the type of contract.

For example, travel nurses have a much higher earning potential in states like California or New York compared to states like Arkansas or Kentucky. Just keep in mind that the cost of living is also greater in the former states than the latter.

Additionally, a more specialized nursing role will typically pay more than a general RN role. So, if you want to make more money, consider earning certifications or getting an advanced degree.

Whichever agency you choose, travel nursing salaries are much higher than resident registered nursing salaries. The average annual salary for a travel nurse is $106,030 per year, compared to resident RN salaries at $82,750 per year.

While Axis Medical Staffing is the top-rated travel nursing agency in 2023, the company that’s right for you will depend on your priorities.

Don’t be afraid to explore multiple options before making your final decision. This will ensure you secure the best contract possible.

If you’re reading to start working as a travel nurse, then start traveling now !

Kimberly Hennerfeind is a freelance writer and registered nurse with expertise in health, medical and legal content at Nursing Notes, LLC. Her almost 30 years of nursing include neonatal/pediatric critical care, and legal nurse consulting. She spent several years as a travel nurse in Tennessee and Texas in large children’s hospitals. She lives near Nashville, TN with her family and beloved dogs.

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The Best Traveling Nurse Services to Work for in 2023

The travel nursing agencies we recommend for your next short-term post

Traveling nurses often find working in different parts of the country, or even the world, exhilarating and fulfilling. Many agencies focus on matching registered nurses (RNs) with short-term working opportunities in a variety of healthcare specialties and settings across the United States and internationally. Healthcare facilities in the U.S. rely on travel nurses to meet the demand for nurses, which is expected to soar by 275,000 between 2020 and 2030.

"Being able to explore other healthcare systems and connect with other providers can help give a travel nurse new experiences and perspectives," says Rachel Norton , BSN, RN, a clinician support manager at Vivian Health , a national travel nurse hiring marketplace.  We reviewed more than 20 agencies and studied hundreds of reviews to create this list of the best travel nursing agencies. We considered factors such as company quality, customer service scores, company reputation, wage ranges, housing options, and benefits.

• Best Overall: Triage Staffing
• Best for Sick Pay: Aya Healthcare
• Best for Education: Travel Nurse Across America
• Best Customer Service: Axis Medical Staffing
• Best Track Record: FlexCare Medical Staffing
• Best Newcomer: Advantis Medical
• Best for Benefits: RN Network
• Best Recruiters: Host Healthcare
• Best for Recent Graduates: Fusion Medical Staff
• Best Job Board: TotalMed
• Our Top Picks

Triage Staffing

Aya Healthcare

Travel Nurse Across America

Axis Medical Staffing

FlexCare Medical Staffing

Advantis Medical

Host Healthcare

• Fusion Medical Staff
• See More (7)

Final Verdict

• Compare Providers
• Guide to Choosing

Best Overall : Triage Staffing

• Pay: Hourly wage paid weekly, overtime, bonuses, per diem
• Housing: Tax-free stipend or company-secured housing for 13 weeks
• Benefits: Health coverage, dental and vision coverage, life insurance, 401(k) with company match, vacation, education reimbursement
• Contracts nationwide: Yes

Triage Staffing tops our list because it provides a higher hourly wage and more frequent bonuses than its competitors. Additionally, the agency offers extensive perks, like tuition reimbursement and 401(k) on the first day.

Contracts available in all 50 states

Insurance available on first day

Paid by direct deposit each week

Dedicated support team available 24/7

Reports of poor weekend support for billing issues

Must have 2 years experience for most positions

Triage Staffing , founded in 2006, is considered by industry professionals as one of the most well-rounded travel nurse agencies among the companies listed here and in general. The company was recognized in 2023 by Inc. Magazine and Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA).

The company, which currently has about 1,500 employees, is based in Omaha, Nebraska, and has an impressive rating on Glassdoor .

Triage Staffing specializes in helping nurses and healthcare professionals find 13-week assignments across the U.S. The company strives for transparency and "to build relationships deeper than simple business transactions." Those who are hired are paid weekly (based on an hourly wage) via direct deposit.

The benefits package includes a wage, overtime, bonuses, per diems, and a housing stipend. Triage will also help its travel nurses find housing, if that's their preference. Health insurance is provided by Blue Cross Blue Shield, and those hired get dental insurance, vacation time, and a 401(k) plan.

Best for Sick Pay : Aya Healthcare

• Pay: Hourly wage, overtime, bonuses, per diem, stipends when called off
• Housing: Tax-free stipend or company-secured housing
• Benefits: Health, dental, and vision coverage; life insurance; 401(k) with company match; sick pay; wellness and fitness programs; employee assistance programs; tuition reimbursement; loan forgiveness options

Of the many benefits Aya Healthcare offers, one makes it stand out from other agencies: providing sick pay should you become ill during an assignment. You can rest assured knowing if you get sick, Aya will support you through recovery.

Benefits include sick pay (after 90 days)

Offers local and nationwide travel assignments

Requires only 1 year of experience

Insurance coverage for you and your dependents from day 1

Complaints about communication during recruitment

Large agency size might be challenging

401k eligibility begins after 4 consecutive months of work or 1 year after hiring

Aya Healthcare is one of the most talked-about travel nursing agencies around, literally. A 2017 independent study analyzed the frequency of top travel nursing companies mentioned by users on social media sites. The study concluded Aya Healthcare is the most frequently referenced in user comments.

Aya Healthcare is also one of the only travel nursing agencies that have sick pay, which begins accruing on the first day of an assignment. Nurses can earn one hour for every 30 hours worked, but it can't be used until after at least 90 days after their start date.

In addition to its rare sick pay policy, the company boasts comprehensive benefits. Travel nurses working for Aya Healthcare can start contributing to a company-matched 401k plan after four consecutive months of work for the agency, or one year after their hiring date. It also promises to cover or reimburse nurses for the cost of licensure and help them navigate and expedite the process in the states where they are assigned. Aya Healthcare offers discounts, wellness, and nutrition plans in addition to its medical, vision, and dental benefits, which are available to nurses (and their spouses and children) from their first day with the company.

Aya Healthcare has a strong online presence, including a blog and active social media accounts on nearly every contemporary platform. Its website proudly displays several company awards and accolades, including the Joint Commission's Golden Seal of Approval. The agency has placed thousands of travel nurses and allied workers nationwide and offers a program for  travel nursing from Canada .

Best for Education : Travel Nurse Across America

• Pay: Hourly wage paid weekly, overtime, bonuses, per diem (guaranteed)
• Benefits: Health, dental, and vision coverage; liability insurance; 401(k) with company match; sick pay; travel reimbursement; free continuing education; mental health resources; employee assistance program; chaplain assistance program

Travel Nurse Across America (TNAA) offers comprehensive benefits; however, its continuing education programs are what really sets the agency apart. Thanks to a partnership with Aspen University, the agency helps you earn your BSN with tuition reimbursement upon completion.

RN to BSN tuition reimbursement

RN specialty exam/recertification reimbursements

Insurance coverage available on first day

Offers free mental health resources

Per diem guarantee

Unable to see pay rates on the site

Large agency size might feel less supportive

Travel Nurse Across America (TNAA) had the highest average score when analyzing the top 10 travel nurse agency lists across several well-known sites.

Founded in 1999 in North Little Rock, Arkansas, this company was present on three "Top 10" lists in 2019, a notable feat that speaks to its history of satisfaction. According to BluePipes, TNAA was among the top 10 travel nursing agencies, one of the biggest (in terms of company size) on its 2022 list.  

TNAA uses a full-team approach to assist travelers, with specialty staff equipped to handle a variety of needs, including housing experts and clinical leadership, This agency also offers a wide array of benefits, such as low census pay, tuition reimbursement, and paid licensure fees prior to travel. Overtime is included in the payment for any extra hours worked and in every state, paid sick leave starts to accrue from day one.

TNAA also partnered with Aspen University, so individuals can get their Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 12 months. Upon completion, TNAA will even reimburse tuition expenses. It also offers reimbursements for recertification fees to certain eligible nurses.

Best Customer Service : Axis Medical Staffing

• Benefits: Health, dental, and vision coverage; 401(k) with company match; state license reimbursement; transportation stipends; continuing education

With around-the-clock support 365 days a year, Axis Medical Staffing has one of the best customer service reputations in the industry. It offers a wide array of benefits, including healthcare coverage and company-matched 401(k) plans.

Dedicated support team available 24/7/365

Wide variety of specialty contracts

Offers company matching 401(k) with immediate vesting

Can submit questions to real travel nurses

Provides quick email responses

Pays for housing and assists in securing it

Not transparent about pay rates

Doesn't include paid sick leave in benefits

User reviews for Axis remain the highest on this list. Formed in Seattle, Washington, in 2004, Axis provides several coveted benefits, including payment of paid personalized housing options (with pet deposit costs covered by the agency), as well as immediate vesting in its company-matched 401(k) plan.

This agency regularly features a new  Traveler of the Month nurse on its blog. Additionally, the Axis website has a page dedicated to Ask an Axis Travel Nurse , which features an easy submission form where a nurse can answer all your questions.

This encouraging way of connecting can provide novice or even seasoned travelers with a trusted source in the form of a nursing peer who has traveled with this specific agency several times, instead of hosting an impersonal message board. Axis also offers a live chat feature that's easily accessible on the homepage. These features earned Axis the top spot on BluePipes Best Travel Nursing Companies list in 2022.

Axis promises reimbursements and benefits similar to other companies, but it is not immediately clear from the company's website whether it offers paid sick leave.

Best Track Record : FlexCare Medical Staffing

• Benefits: Health coverage, dental and vision coverage, 401(k) with company match, state license reimbursement, transportation stipends, meals and incidentals stipend, rental car, travel reimbursement, continuing education, license reimbursement

Boasting more than 50 industry awards, including BluePipes’s 2022 Best Travel Nursing Companies list, FlexCare Medical Staffing has a track record of exceeding expectations and fulfilling its promises to traveling nurses.

Award-winning, highly reputable agency

Single point of contact for all your needs

Outstanding benefits

Features a referral program

Have to make an account to view wages

BluePipes refers to FlexCare Medical Staffing as the "most decorated travel nursing agency of all time," with more than 1,727 reviews reported. This agency obtained a gold finish on Travel Nursing Central’s 2019 list of top travel nursing companies and has consistently placed since 2014. FlexCare has also been on the Highway Hypodermics list since 2011.

FlexCare’s website touts its  Premier Traveler Access program, offering prospective travel nurses the opportunity to unlock and view pay ranges for a wide variety of open jobs, in addition to personalized alerts via text and email. This agency explains its mission to support travelers by providing a single recruiter who is able to meet every need (termed “S1NGLEPOINT” on the website) and help simplify the entire process.

This one point of contact can advocate for the traveler, assist in searching for jobs and housing, provide a transparent and competitive salary rate, as well as ensure timely payment.

Best Newcomer : Advantis Medical

• Benefits: Health coverage, dental and vision coverage, 401(k) without company match, transportation stipends, partial license reimbursement

Advantis Medical has a nurse care team available to help you every step of the way—from setting up your profile and walking you through the onboarding process to helping you find your next assignment—making it an excellent choice for those just starting out.

Excellent reviews from its travel clinicians

Quick response times from trained care team

Has a great reputation in the industry

Site offers several communication methods

Site lacks information on benefits package

No company match for 401(k)

Founded in 2018 as a subsidiary of Advantis Global, Advantis Medical's user reviews are limited in number but are glowing regarding people's experiences with the company.

Advantis Medical recruits travel nurses and places them in top institutions across the United States. The agency offers client connections with hospitals, outpatient clinics, same-day ambulatory surgical centers, as well as skilled nursing facilities.

Advantis Medical’s specialization opportunities include placements in divisions like medical-surgical (M/S), emergency department (ED), intensive care unit (ICU), labor & delivery (L&D), and more. Its benefits include highly competitive compensation packages, direct deposit available from day one, assistance with housing options, health insurance (medical, dental, vision), and a 401(k) option.

The agency also has payment incentives for referrals. To make the process as seamless as possible, Advantis Medical has a one-minute application form which could not be any easier, especially for a traveling nurse who is always on the go.

Best for Benefits : RN Network

• Benefits: Health, dental, and vision coverage; life insurance; employee assistance program; Sanvello membership; Talkspace membership; Teladoc access; credentialing assistance; continuing education; traditional and Roth 401(k); travel reimbursement; loyalty program

RN Network provides a comprehensive benefits package that includes day-one health insurance and 401(k) options, plus additional perks like access to virtual therapy and medical care.

24/7 clinical support

Transparent about pay rate

Provides access to virtual therapy and medical care

Weekly pay via direct deposit

Completion, extension, and referral bonuses

No paid time off

Complaints of lower-paying contracts

Founded in 1998, RN Network has over two decades of experience in the travel nursing industry. Its experience shows in the company's user reviews, many of which highlight its great communication, support, and benefits.

The agency provides an impressive benefits package that includes day-one health insurance with a zero-premium option, as well as a 401(k) with company match, both traditional and Roth options. RN Network also offers access to Talkspace, Teladoc, and Sanvello's mental health app—ensuring its healthcare professionals have the mental health resources they need while on assignment.

Available contracts and pay rates are transparent on their user-friendly website, which can be a rarity in the industry. The company hires RNs, LPNs/LVNs, PCTs, and surgical techs for a variety of specialties throughout the country. Only one year of clinical experience is required, and the company offers a comprehensive onboarding program to help simplify the transition.

Best Recruiters : Host Healthcare

• Pay: Hourly wage paid weekly, plus overtime, bonuses, per diem, COVID quarantine pay
• Benefits: Health, dental, and vision coverage, life insurance; 401(k) with company match; travel reimbursement

Host Healthcare recruiters are some of the best in the business, according to clinician reviews. With exceptional customer service , the company strives to make the job hunt and placement process as smooth as possible for its candidates.

Excellent customer service

Straightforward job hunt and placement process

Offers a variety of housing options, including pet-friendly

24/7 support via multiple channels

COVID-19 quarantine pay available

Can’t view facility or pay without an account

Site lacks information on reimbursement offers

Founded in 2012, Host Healthcare is a travel healthcare staffing agency that works with some of the nation's top facilities. The company has earned multiple awards over the years, including being named one of the Top Travel Nursing Companies by BluePipes.

What sets Host Healthcare apart from other agencies are its recruiters, who are consistently praised by clinicians for their exceptional customer service. In reviews, nurses rave about their recruiters being responsive, receptive, and thorough in their onboarding and placement processes. The company also offers a variety of housing options, including pet-friendly ones, to ensure you have a comfortable place to call home while on assignment.

In addition to its comprehensive benefits package, which includes health insurance, dental, and vision coverage, Host Healthcare also offers a 401(k) with company match and COVID-19 quarantine pay. If your facility quarantines you due to possible COVID-19 exposure, the company will compensate you for the duration of your time off work.

One drawback is that the company requires users to sign up for an account before viewing facilities and estimated weekly pay . However, it hires across multiple specialties and licensure types, including nursing professionals, therapy professionals, and other allied health professionals.

Best for Recent Graduates : Fusion Medical Staff

• Pay: Hourly wage paid weekly, plus overtime, per diem, and bonuses
• Benefits: Health coverage, dental and vision coverage, life insurance, 401(k) with company match, short-term disability, travel and transportation per diem

Fusion Medical offers competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and transparent information about opportunities, and welcomes new graduates to sign up.

Transparent information for each job posting

Nationwide network

Attentive recruiters

Competitive pay and benefits

Open to new graduates

Per diem reimbursements may be less convenient for expenses like travel

Past complaints from LGBTQIA employees

Fusion Medical Staffing urges applicants to "choose your own adventure." With thousands of travel nursing positions across the U.S. available on its website, Fusion will definitely give you a lot to choose from.

Founded in 2009 in Omaha, Nebraska, Fusion doubled its size by 2016. The company racked up awards from Inc., People, and Staffing Industry Analysts for being among the best places to work and is rated 4.7 out of 5 on Indeed.com .

Assignments through Fusion Medical typically run 13 to 26 weeks and are available across a broad spectrum of nursing specialties. We particularly like how transparent the pay, terms, and benefits for each opportunity are on Fusion's website.

But what really makes the company stand out is its recruitment. Fusion offers 24/7 support and many of its travel nurses rave about their attentive recruiters. Fusion has a new graduate traveling medical job program recruiting nurses who have just finished training. Most travel nursing agencies require at least two years of experience, so Fusion may be a great choice if you're about to finish school and eager to see the country or aren't sure of where you want to call home yet.

Of note: Some LGBTQIA+ travelers and employees have complained of inclusivity issues and unsupportive leadership. In 2021, the company published a blog post about forming an oversight group dedicated to LGBTQIA+ inclusivity and support and alluded to its efforts to "grow" and "learn."

Best Job Board : TotalMed

• Pay: Hourly wage paid weekly, plus overtime, bonuses, and guaranteed hours
• Housing: Company-provided housing or stipend
• Benefits: Health insurance, dental and vision coverage, life insurance, 401(k) with company match, short-term disability up to 12 weeks plus up to 60% of monthly earnings

TotalMed is one of the biggest agencies in the business and has the job board to match. The company is known for making it easy for travel nurses to quickly find a new post in any state.

Large, well-connected agency with huge job board

Solid day-one benefits

Flexible housing options

Pay guaranteed

Generous short-term disability policy

Some nurses complain of long onboarding process

Pay is competitive, but perhaps not the highest of any agency

Focus on placing nurses in areas of urgent need

Few travel nursing agencies have a job board as full as TotalMed 's. The company leverages its wide network of partner hospital systems to offer nurses a plethora of assignments to choose from.

TotalMed prides itself on placing nurses and other medical workers in new postings quickly and prioritizes assigning workers to places urgently in need of additional staff. It offers a standard array of benefits, plus a pay guarantee and a generous short-term disability policy that covers up to 12 weeks of injury or illness with up to 60% of your pay.

Some travel nurses have complained of a protracted onboarding process, but once the initial paperwork is out of the way, most seem very happy with the company's efficiency and the quality of its recruiters. Its pay may not always be the highest of any agency, but travel nurses working with TotalMed still enjoy the benefit of payment guarantees and the confidence that a new job will almost always be available, and fast. TotalMed also goes a long way to smooth out the transition process by organizing and covering the cost of any licensing and certifications its travel nurses may need, as well as offering reimbursement for pesky costs like new scrubs.

Even though some agencies on our list require account registration to access pay rates, each one offers competitive benefits and wages. Triage Staffing is our choice for best overall travel nursing agency because of its positive reviews, superior customer service, and competitive wages. Day one 401(k) and tuition reimbursement are just a few ways it provides long-term support for travelers. 

Compare the Best Travel Nursing Agencies

Guide to choosing the best travel nursing agencies.

Travel nursing agencies are  staffing agencies  that place registered nurses and healthcare professionals in hospitals and clinics with short-term staffing needs. They often send individuals to national or international locations where there are nursing shortages.

Here are a few tips for choosing the best travel nursing agency to meet your needs.

Is a Travel Nursing Agency Right for You?

There are many advantages to working with a travel nursing agency in addition to the obvious benefit of being able to travel and explore new places. Some of the other advantages of working with a travel nursing agency include:

• Competitive pay: Travel nursing agencies offer competitive pay rates that are often higher than what you would make as a staff nurse and recruiters can help you find lucrative positions.
• Benefits : Health insurance, retirement plans, and other benefits are typically included in a travel nursing agency's compensation package.
• Housing: Travel nursing agencies often provide housing or help nurses find housing in their assignment location.
• Specialty assignments based on nursing field: Agencies can help place you in an assignment that matches your specialty, interests, and skills . Some facilities accept travelers into new specialties or a float pool that covers multiple units, as long as they have prior travel nursing experience. This is an added bonus for those who wish to explore new areas of nursing.
• Flexibility: Agencies offer a variety of assignment lengths and locations, so you can choose an assignment that fits your lifestyle.
• Perks and discounts : Free or reduced-cost continuing education courses, travel expenses, gym memberships, completion bonuses, and other perks are often available through travel nursing agencies.

How to Choose a Travel Nurse Agency

Consider the following when choosing a travel nursing agency:

• Average pay rates: Pay rate varies by agency, location, and assignment. Travel nurses often work with multiple agencies at the same time to find the best assignments and pay rates.
• Benefits package: Make sure the agency's benefits are comprehensive and meet your needs. Benefits may include health coverage , dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, 401K, vacation time, and education reimbursement.
• Housing options: Determine if the agency provides housing or assists with finding housing. Some nurses prefer to find their own housing, while others prefer the convenience of having the agency secure housing for them.
• Reputation: Check out online reviews and ratings to get an idea of the agency's reputation. Talking to other travel nurses who have worked with the agency is also a good way to get first-hand information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which travel nurses are most in demand.

Staffing agencies report that demand is high for critical care and medical-surgical nurses. Emergency room staff and labor and delivery staff are also in great demand.

Do Travel Nursing Agencies Pay for Housing?

Your agency will either have housing available for you or will reimburse you for your housing expenses. If you choose to secure your own housing, most agencies will give you a stipend to help offset the cost of rent and utilities. Talk with your agency recruiter about your housing options and what will work best for you.

How Long Are Travel Nursing Assignments?

Some travel nursing opportunities can be as short as eight weeks, while others can last for up to six months at a time. There are often options and offers to extend assignments, too.

What Experience Do You Need to Be Recruited by a Travel Nursing Agency?

Most agencies require new travelers to have recent experience as a nurse—meaning you can't become a travel nurse right out of nursing school. A year or two of experience is commonly required. A qualified nurse may also need more experience to work in the intensive care unit (ICU) or another specialty area.

Can Travel Nurses Choose Where They Work?

Yes, and that's generally a benefit of the job. Some agencies work to assign candidates throughout the United States, while others place travel nurses internationally. Before deciding to work with an agency, it makes sense to find out where they place travel nurses if you have a specific placement location in mind.

Methodology

We reviewed more than 20 agencies and studied hundreds of reviews from travel nurses around the country to identify the best travel nursing agencies. We then analyzed company quality and customer service scores across multiple sources to determine which companies are most reputable. Wages, housing options, and benefits were also a top priority. We reviewed the range of assignments, as well as the quantity and quality of each agency's listings in all 50 states.

VERYWELL Health / Design by Amelia Manley

U.S. Department of Labor. U.S. Department of Labor announces $80M funding opportunity to help train, expand, diversify nursing workforce, address shortage of nurses .

Healthcare Research & Analytics. Social listening: Evaluation of travel nurse companies: Analysis of travel nurse sentiment towards travel nurse companies .

BluePipes. Best Travel Nursing Companies 2022 .

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• What to Buy

Best Travel Nursing Agencies

Triage Staffing is the best travel nursing agency

For more than 10 years, Cathy Cassata has written stories about health, mental health, medical news, and inspiring people.

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more .

For registered nurses (RNs) who want to explore the country while practicing their skills at numerous healthcare facilities, travel nursing could be the perfect fit. Travel nursing typically includes short-term assignments that range from about eight to 36 weeks. Health practitioners receive assignments through agencies that place them based on their specialty. A traveling nurse's salary is often significantly higher than a staff nurse's and includes overtime bonuses for working weekend, night, and holiday shifts.

Adventure and higher pay are what attracted Nicole Watkins, RN, to travel nursing. After working for four years at a Chicago-based hospital in the operating room, emergency room, and neonatal ICU, she began to feel burnout from the intensity of COVID. Due to many nurses quitting, her hospital ended up hiring travel nurses to fill shortages.

"I was working next to travel nurses who were making more than double what I was making and we were doing the same work. And I thought, 'Wow, they got to travel to Chicago to do this,'" Watkins said.

After some research, she decided to join AMN Healthcare , which placed her on her first assignment in February 2022. Nicole worked at an Arizona hospital in the neonatal ICU for 13 weeks and then extended her contract for an additional eight weeks. She said the recruiter at her agency makes the process easy.

"Your recruiter can make or break your experience with traveling based on how enthusiastic and responsive they are. My recruiter has been great. There have been no hiccups regarding getting licenses in each state setup, knowing my start date, where to go, and what to do during my first week. It's been really smooth sailing," she said.

Most travel nursing agencies match nurses with recruiters who help them find jobs and walk them through getting hired and ready to start working. Many agencies give nurses the option to accept and decline opportunities. Additionally, most agencies offer the option to search for jobs on their website. Here are our picks for top travel nursing agencies hiring nurses today.

• Best Overall: Triage Staffing
• Best for Nurse Pride: Axis Medical Staffing
• Best Backstory: Advantis Medical
• Best for Education: Travel Nurse Across America
• Best Customer Service: AMN Healthcare
• Best for Social Responsibility: Fusion Medical Staffing
• Our Top Picks
• Triage Staffing
• Axis Medical Staffing
• Advantis Medical
• Travel Nurse Across America
• AMN Healthcare
• Fusion Medical Staffing
• See More (3)

Final Verdict

• Compare Providers
• Guide to Choose

Best Overall : Triage Staffing

• Pay: Hourly wage paid weekly, overtime, bonuses, per diem
• Housing: Option for company secured housing or Tax-free stipend
• Benefits: Health coverage, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, 401(k) with company match, vacation, education reimbursement

Why We Chose It

Triage Staffing wins best overall for its solid pay, bonuses, and benefits, including tuition reimbursement, 401(k) with company match, vacation, and education reimbursement, as well as the guidance it provides to its nurses.

Pros & Cons

Offers insurance as soon as you start work

Paid weekly via direct deposit

Easy to onboard

Great communication from a recruiter who helps with each step along the way

Weekend support regarding payment may be lacking

Sometimes Triage is not the direct holder of an assignment contract

Contract allows for changes to job and pay at any time

Triage staffing is dedicated to ensuring nurses receive help with onboarding, onsite assistance, finding their next assignment, and everything in between.

The company has been honored with many accolades, including being named Best Overall Staffing Agency 2021 by The Gypsy Nurse, Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America for 2020, Bluepipes' Top 5 Best Travel Nursing Companies, and Staffing Industry Analysts' Largest Healthcare Staffing Firms in America 2018-2021.

"I have worked for four other agencies in the past, and Triage and my recruiter has been the best all around," says Natasha Wynn, BSN, RN, who has been a traveling nurse for eight years. "The insurance, pay, and locations of assignments are competitive with even the bigger companies. But, at the end of the day, personally, the communication from Triage is what makes it stand out."

While the company specializes in placing nurses in 13-week assignments across the U.S, it also finds jobs of varying lengths. On its website, Triage Staffing states, "We shoot you straight, speaking with honesty and candor" and that it listens to its nurses "so we are ready to meet your needs."

Those who decide to onboard with them are paid a competitive hourly wage weekly via direct deposit. Overtime pay, bonuses, per diems, and a housing stipend are also part of the package, as well as Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance, dental insurance , vacation time, and a 401(k) plan. Plus, the company offers a mentoring program that is run and managed by actual clinicians.

Best for Nurse Pride : Axis Medical Staffing

• Housing: Tax-free stipend or company secured housing
• Benefits: Health coverage, dental, vision, 401(k) with company match, state license reimbursement, transportation stipends, and continuing education

Axis makes a point of recognizing its nurses and showing appreciation for the work they do. On its website, the company names a Traveler of the Month and features photos of the nurse with a Q&A.

24/7/365 support team

Page dedicated to asking real travel nurses questions

Provides bonus and company matching 401(k) with immediate investing

Paid housing and help finding it

Pay is unclear

Have to apply for a job before creating an account

Doesn't offer paid sick time off

From the moment you click on Axis ' website, nurse pride and empowerment are clear. The home page states that the company only works with "frickin' rock stars." It also flaunts a talented Traveler of the Month nurse on its blog featuring a Q&A about their work experience.

To keep the supportive vibe going, Axis features a page where you can Ask an Axis Travel Nurse questions on a form, and they'll actually respond, which beats asking a customer service rep who may not have real-world nursing experience. You also have the option to ask questions through a live chat on the company's home page.

Established in 2003 out of Seattle, Washington, Axis has been honored with several awards including #1 Travel Nursing Agency 2022 by Bluepipes, Best Travel Nursing Company 2022 by Betternurse.org, and Top Travel Nursing Company 2022 by Travel Nursing Central.

Best Backstory : Advantis Medical

• Housing: Tax-free stipend or company-secured housing
• Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, 401(k) without company match, referral program

Advantis Medical was started by a man who values healthcare providers like no other. When his young son needed medical attention for a rare disease , the compassion and care he received from those in the medical field inspired his dad to found Advantis Medical. In turn, dedication to those working in the medical field is the company's priority.

Values the nursing field

Well-respected in the industry

Access to AI to help with logistics

No company match for 401(k)

Website lacks specifics about pay and benefits

Avantis Medical was founded by a co-founder of Advantis Global, a tech staffing agency, after he witnessed extraordinary care given to his son who has Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD). The company became his way of giving back to the medical field for all the support his family received. The website states, "Now we're trying to return the love the best way we know how–by connecting Travel Nurses and Allied Health professionals to their dream assignments at top medical facilities across the U.S."

To do that, Advantis Medical has representatives who guide nurses through setting up their profile and onboarding to landing desired assignments. It also offers AdvantisConnect, which it calls "cutting-edge AI" to help with all the logistics. This portal lets you job search, but it's not clear what else the app offers.

Additionally, the company embraces an inclusive culture stating, "Your gender, your beliefs, your preferences, your skin color, or your bigshot friend make no difference to us. Advantis Medical is a progressive and open-minded collective. If you're smart, optimistic, and care about being awesome at what you do, come as you are!"

While the company is ranked highly by third-party reviews and has an appealing, inclusive message, information about pay and benefits isn't easily found on its website, which might be a deterrent for people looking to quickly compare agencies.

Best for Education : Travel Nurse Across America

• Benefits: Health coverage, dental, vision, liability insurance, 401(k) with company match, sick pay, travel reimbursement, free continuing education, mental health resources, employee assistance program, and chaplain assistance program

Continuing education is a top priority for Travel Nurse Across America (TNAA), and its dedication to learning no matter where you are in your career makes it unique among its competitors. The agency has a partnership with Aspen University to help nurses obtain their BSN with tuition reimbursement.

Tuition reimbursement for obtaining BSN

Reimbursement for RN specialty exam/recertification

Mental well-being resources through Cigna

Pay range isn't listed on website

Lengthy application required to create account

Travel Nurse Across America (TNAA) is a great agency for nurses who value furthering their education. TNAA has a partnership with Aspen University that offers a 12-month program to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and TNAA reimburses tuition costs when the program is completed.

The agency also reimburses students up to $400 for RN specialty exams or recertification fees. Other benefits like low census pay, paid licensure fees before travel, overtime, and paid sick leave that starts accruing from day one, make the agency even more attractive.

TNAA uses a full-team approach to help travelers, by employing specialty staff like housing experts and clinical leadership. Rodney Sasse, RN, for example, traveled as a nurse with the agency for four years, and now acts as one of the agency's ambassadors in addition to his full-time job as a manager of the neurocritical care department at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

The fact that TNAA was founded in 1999 in North Little Rock, Arkansas, initially attracted Sasse to the company.

"A mutual non-nursing friend who worked for the agency recommended them, but I really liked that they were local to where I was based at that time, so it was nice for me to be able to drive by the headquarters of TNAA and drop off documents during that initial process of onboarding, which can be very extensive," he says.

However, the agency's priority of ensuring its nurses are supported is what kept him working with them. The pay is average, but Sasse says its emphasis on taking care of its travelers, being transparent with contracts, making sure that nurses have all the resources they need, and its willingness to pay for necessary certifications made his time with them pleasant.

Best Customer Service : AMN Healthcare

• Benefits: Health insurance, 401K matching, retirement planning, legal support

AMN Healthcare touts its specialized help team on its thorough website. The agency helps make the process a smooth one, from its recruitment team and 24/7 clinical team ready to answer questions anytime to its housing executives and extensive customer support.

Paid weekly

Health benefits and 401K matching

Suicide Prevention hotline, mental health crisis and counseling, doctor-on-demand

Large agency

Pay is not clear on website

AMN Healthcare 's support team is dedicated to making travel nursing a journey that goes smoothly. Its website calls out a recruitment team, a 24/7 clinical team ready to answer questions, a team of housing executives, and an extensive customer support team that focuses on helping nurses manage their time.

Nicole Watkins, RN, who onboarded with AMN in February 2022, says customer service, particularly from her recruiter, is what made her go with AMN.

"I started the process with another agency, but I got the feeling that the recruiter didn't have time for me and was just going through the motions. Then, some nurses I worked with in the NICU at the Chicago hospital I was employed at suggested AMN, so I started the process and really liked how responsive, enthusiastic, and helpful they've been from the start," says Watkins.

The agency offers health insurance, 401K matching, housing or a housing stipend, a debit and credit card, retirement planning, and legal support. Some special features not often seen with these agencies include a Suicide Prevention Hotline , mental health crisis and counseling, and doctor-on-demand.

Watkins said they also made sure she was licensed in the states where she was placed. As a resident of Illinois, which does not have a Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC)—an agreement between states that allows nurses to have one compact state nursing license so they can practice in other states that are part of the agreement—Watkins had to seek a license to work in states outside of Illinois.

"It's kind of confusing because Illinois is an outlier in most states in the country," she said, but she felt that AMN made the process easy.

Best for Social Responsibility : Fusion Medical Staffing

• Pay: Hourly wage, per diem
• Housing: Doesn't specify
• Benefits: 401K, liability insurance, certification reimbursement, dental and vision insurance, short-term disability insurance, health insurance, workers comp insurance

For those who want to travel and work as a nurse all while being part of a company that is socially responsible, Fusion Medical Staffing might be the right fit. The company has a Be The Change program, which consists of three components; Employee Volunteer Opportunities (Compassion Groups); Fusion Passions, and Employee Paid Volunteer Time Off (VTO).

High volume of jobs in different locations

Great Benefits

Volunteer opportunities

Doesn't give many details on website

No mention of help with housing

If the culture of a company is a top priority for you, Fusion Medical Staffing has an entire program focused on making a difference in its employees' communities. On its website, it says that community is "everything" and that it embraces social responsibility practices by giving its employees opportunities to engage in volunteer work. This is done through its Be The Change program. On the website, it's easy to find real organizations the company has impacted.

For example, it makes a contribution to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for every completed travel assignment, which helps NAMI serve four individuals impacted by a mental health condition. It also celebrates LGBTQ+ pride events and participates in fundraisers for disability awareness, multiple sclerosis, cancer, homeless shelters, and more.

While each agency listed above has its pros and cons, they all offer competitive benefits and wages. Triage Staffing stands out because it offers solid pay, bonuses, and benefits, including tuition reimbursement, 401(k) with company match, vacation, and education reimbursement. It also provides exceptional guidance to its nurses, making the process easy to onboard and desirable to stay on.

If continuing education is your priority, Travel Nurse Across America can help by providing tuition reimbursement when you obtain your BSN from Aspen University through its one-year program. And, for those who want to work for a company that embraces social responsibility, we recommend Fusion Medical Staffing due to its employee volunteer opportunities, as well as the company's commitment to contributing to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

Compare the Best Travel Nursing Agencies

Guide to travel nursing agencies, what are travel nursing agencies.

Travel nursing agencies place registered nurses in jobs around the country or world with short-term assignments that range from about eight to 36 weeks. The agencies bring on RNs, as well as other types of medical practitioners, and find work for them based on their specialty and the locations they want to work in.

How to Compare Travel Nursing Agencies to Pick the Right One for You

When looking to onboard with a travel nursing agency, consider its pay, benefits, whether it offers housing or helps find housing, sick pay, time off, help with obtaining licenses to work in the states you choose, supportive customer service, and attentive recruiters.

Rodney Sasse, RN, who was a traveling nurse with Travel Nurse Across America for four years and now helps manage travel nurses at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas, says if the highest pay is your priority, that's okay. But keep in mind that the facilities that are paying the most may do so because the facilities they place you in are struggling significantly.

"So you're going to be voluntarily walking into situations where, because you're getting paid as much as you are, the expectation is that you're going to be the nurse that goes up on ratio, or you're going to be the nurse that gets floated before the core staff does," he says.

If you're getting into travel nursing for the variety it can provide, he suggests considering agencies that have a large number of accounts and wide coverage across the country.

"Some agencies aren't able to list as many positions as others are," he explains.

He also suggests looking for agencies that focus on being transparent with their contracts and making sure travel nurses have all the resources they need to settle into the state they're working in.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a travel nurse do.

Travel nurses take on short-term assignments at hospitals and healthcare facilities throughout the country based on their specialty. They fill in for shortages and work side by side with staff nurses performing needed roles to ensure patients are well cared for.

What Are Some Typical Benefits Travel Nurses Can Expect?

Benefits nurses can expect to receive when working with a travel nursing agency include higher pay than staff positions, bonuses, overtime, health insurance, and help with housing, among others.

What Cities Pay the Most for Travel Nursing?

According to Trusted Health , the highest-paying cities for travel nursing is as follows:

Sacramento - $5,148/week

Imperial - $3,714/week

Moreno Valley - $3,504/week

Port Jefferson - $4,614/week

Valley Stream - $4,610/week

Astoria - $4,564/week

Can You Pick Where You Go as a Travel Nurse?

Yes. Most agencies have recruiters who will ask you if you'd like an assignment and you can take it or leave it. You can also search agency job listings by desired locations.

How Long Is a Typical Travel Nurse Rotation?

The typical range of assignments is between eight and 26 weeks. However, if the facility you are placed with needs you for longer, there are options to extend the assignment or even remain there permanently.

Methodology

We created this list by reviewing and evaluating over 13 travel nursing agencies. Factors that were considered during the analysis include benefits offered, pay, reputation, reviews, awards, ease of onboarding, and access to customer service. We referred to reputable review sites and sources, which helped us narrow down our list. We also considered input from current and past nurses who worked for some of the agencies.

1. National Association of Travel Healthcare Organizations. Top 5 benefits of being a traveling healthcare professional. Accessed August 18, 2022. https://www.natho.org/resources/Documents/Top_Five_Benefits.pdf

2. Inc Magazine. Triage Staffing is a 2022 Inc. 5000 honoree. Accessed August 21, 2022. https://www.inc.com/profile/triage-medical-staffing

3. Nurse.org. Compact Nursing States List 2022. Accessed August 15, 2022. https://nurse.org/articles/enhanced-compact-multi-state-license-eNLC/

4. Trusted Health. Highest Paying Cities for Travel Nurses 2020-2021. Accessed August 21, 2022. https://www.trustedhealth.com/blog/highest-paying-cities-for-travel-nurses-2020-2021

5. Nurse.org. Travel nurses & RTs are earning over $10K per week to work in NYC - Here's how to help. April 1, 2020. https://nurse.org/articles/new-york-travel-nurse-jobs-covid19-incentives/

Health / Design by Amelia Manley

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The Best and Worst Travel Nurse Agencies in 2023

When I decided that I wanted to become a travel nurse, I had zero ideas on where I should start.  I simply Googled “Travel Nurse Agencies” and clicked on the first two links I found – Medical Solutions and Travel Nurse Across America.  Blindly, I gave my information to these two agencies and quickly received a phone call from Medical Solutions.  Before I knew it I had interviewed for my first travel nurse job, accepted the job, quit my staff job, packed my apartment, and 6+ years later I was still travel nursing.

Throughout my years as a travel nurse, I have signed 15 contracts with multiple different agencies and have spent endless hours on the phone chatting with various recruiters, trying to iron out the nitty-gritty details of what their specific agency offers and how they differ from others.  Figuring all of this out was hard, stressful, and time-consuming.  So while I’m hesitant to put this all out there, after all… everyone has their own unique experiences; I’ve decided transparency is the best policy.  And while every agency has its pros and cons, there are still some that outrank others.  And I think it’s time to hear it straight from travel nurses themselves.

Before reading any further, PLEASE keep in mind that every person will have a unique experience.  You could have a truly fantastic recruiter in a terrible company, and love it because your recruiter has made your experience memorable.  Or you could have a terrible recruiter in an awesome company, and your experience is ruined because the recruiter was a nightmare and a half to deal with.  (Read about that here ).

Travel Nurse Agencies I’ve Personally Worked With (Ranked Best to Worst)

Before reading further, if you’re looking for more support when it comes to being a travel nurse I suggest purchasing “ The Ultimate Travel Nurse Bundle ” to get everything you need to know from start to finish about becoming a travel nurse!

Fusion Medical Staffing

I signed five contracts with Fusion Medical and by far, they were my favorite company to work with.  I’ve always felt that Fusion is acting in my best interest at heart, organized, transparent, and have had my back at every turn.  I’ve never felt taken advantage of and my recruiter is always easy to talk to, and easy to get in touch with if I have an issue.  (Please DM me on Instagram if you want her information!).

WHY I LIKE FUSION MEDICAL STAFFING

They prepare you well for your interview by sending along some questions to make sure to ask.  Plus they send a questionnaire once the interview is done, which leads me to believe that they want to make sure that you’ve had a good experience with the interview process.  Once you land a job they are organized and send over everything you need to get done in a timely fashion.  Plus they offer competitive pay packages and they allow you to accrue PTO.

WHAT I DON’T LIKE ABOUT FUSION MEDICAL STAFFING

They have a clause in their contract about you getting canceled from the hospital.  They state that if the hospital cancels you, they will withhold your stipend.  This is the type of clause you want to fight, and it’s something that is even on my “non-negotiable list” which you can read here .

WORK WITH FUSION MEDICAL STAFFING

Want more information on working with fusion.

• A Travel Nurse’s Review of Fusion Medical Staffing (What I Like & Dislike)
• Your Guide to Travel Nurse Pay + The Importance of Transparency in Travel Nursing

Host Healthcare

Just like Fusion Medical, another company that I love is Host Healthcare.  As cliche as it sounds… Host feels like a big, warm hug at the end of a tough day.  They have your back, are reliable, and easy to work with.  There isn’t much else to it!  You can fill out this form  to be paired with a Host recruiter!

WHY I LIKE HOST HEALTHCARE

Host really has your back in all scenarios.  When COVID was alive and rampant, Host had an incredible PAID sick leave policy that was difficult to find anywhere else.  (They still have a COVID policy regardless of your vaccination status).  This alone tells me that they truly care about their travelers and their well-being.

WHAT I DON’T LIKE ABOUT HOST HEALTHCARE

While I haven’t personally experienced this, I’ve heard from other travel nurses that it can at times, be difficult to get ahold of the recruiters at Host.  And this isn’t once you have a recruiter, but this is before you’re matched with a recruiter; it can take some time for someone to initially reach out.

WORK WITH HOST HEALTHCARE

Want more information on working with host.

• A Travel Nurse’s Review of Host Healthcare (What I Like & Dislike)

LRS Healthcare

I’ve liked LRS for years, but recently, when my brother started working for them – I started to like them more and more!  Not only does LRS believe in everything you’d want a company that you’re working for to believe in – it’s a team effort, they believe in following through with their word, they hold themselves accountable, etc; but I can tell you first hand that I know my brother goes above and beyond for the nurses he works with.

Not only is this because I’ve been a travel nurse for 5+ years and given him the run around about the pains of a bad recruiter and why it’s worth it to spoil your nurses, but it’s also simply because he’s an honest guy.  In fact, he recently signed a nurse and the hospital lowered her bill rate – TWICE.  Instead of cutting the nurses pay, he just took the pay cut himself and figured that he promised her a higher rate and he wasn’t going to go back on his word.

WHY I LIKE LRS HEALTHCARE

As mentioned earlier, there are many things that I like about LRS.  But truthfully, sometimes a recruiter makes a company (you can read about that here ), and my brother Sam is a truly amazing recruiter.  I’ve personally worked with him and have also referred other nurses to work with him and I’ve heard nothing but positive feedback about working with Sam.

WHAT I DON’T LIKE ABOUT LRS HEALTHCARE

The only thing I’ve found to be “wrong” with LRS is that if you are terminated your insurance ends on day of termination.  The positive is that if you aren’t terminated, you can keep insurance for up to 30 days as long as you’ve previously signed another contract and it starts within 30 days.

If this is something that you’re worried about, you could opt for private health insurance like I do.  Read this post for more guidance, and if you need a trusted resource, please reach out on Instagram .

WORK WITH LRS HEALTHCARE

The three travel nurse agencies listed above are on my “best list”.  the next two would rank lower down towards my “worst list”.  again, this has been my personal experience with each company.  to be referred to a recruiter, the easiest way is to reach out on instagram .  simply request to be connected with a recruiter, or if you want to work with a specific company, let me know, medical solutions.

I signed four different contracts with Medical Solutions, and have found them to be the easiest to work with.  The way that they get all of your paperwork together,  have you submit your timesheet, and make sure you’re ready to go is seamless.  I will say, however, that once you’re done working with them it is very hard to get ahold of anyone. If you need to access proof of employment history, Medical Solutions has made it nearly impossible.

WHY I LIKE MEDICAL SOLUTIONS

Working with Medical Solutions is just plain EASY.  Plus after so many hours worked, you get a $400 bonus that is deposited directly to your bank account!  The company staffs many different hospitals and even has “first rights” to hospitals in the Phoenix area.

WHAT I DON’T LIKE ABOUT MEDICAL SOLUTIONS

I personally found Medical Solutions to be low-paying.  This could be that I was a new travel nurse and didn’t know how to negotiate, but it felt like I had been taken advantage of and which is why I ultimately stopped working with them.

Every assignment I showed up to, I was always the lowest paid traveler on the floor.  Plus I felt as though I had to fight for every penny.  One contract I forgot to mention my travel stipend (which you shouldn’t even have to mention, it should just be in the contract), but because I hadn’t mentioned it… it wasn’t in my contract.  When I mentioned this to my recruiter she said, “Well that wasn’t something that we agreed on.”  And while I did end up receiving it, it’s not something that I should have had to argue about.  (If this has happened to you and your recruiter didn’t make it right, ditch him/her ASAP.  Most companies – including Fusion Medical – don’t require this to be a part of your contract; it’s just included!)

American Mobile

I signed two contracts with American Mobile and now avoid them at all costs.  From the beginning working with the company was a nightmare.  Nothing was organized or timely.  I didn’t receive my travel stipend on time because I didn’t take a picture of my odometer between leaving Nebraska and arriving in California.  Something they failed to mention I would need to do.  I was then shorted on almost every paycheck, and when I would call my recruiter to let her know… she wouldn’t answer.  Can you see why I avoid them at all costs?  (For more details on why I dislike American Mobile read:   The Worst Experience I’ve Had With a Travel Nurse Recruiter ).

WHY I LIKE AMERICAN MOBILE

They have essentially monopolized all hospitals in California.  If you’re wanting to get to a certain hospital in California, especially Northern California, your best bet is to have a profile with American Mobile.  However, there are ways around this.  If American Mobile isn’t able to fill those hospitals’ needs in a certain time frame, other companies are then allowed to start submitting travelers.  You can try to do it this way, but if you’re desperate to land a job in Northern California, submitting with American Mobile is unfortunately your best bet.

However, I would first have an open and honest conversation with the recruiter you’re already working with.  I would say something like “Hi X.  I want to go to X hospital (be specific which hospital) and was wondering if your company staffs there?  If you do staff there does American Mobile get priority?  What percentage of travelers do you end up getting placed in that hospital?”  I had this conversation with my recruiter at Fusion and she honestly told me that they are hardly ever able to staff travelers in the particular hospital I was asking about because American Mobile usually fills the positions.

WHY I DON’T LIKE WORKING WITH AMERICAN MOBILE

There are tons of reasons I don’t like American Mobile.  The main reasons are that I wasn’t paid on time, most of my paychecks were incorrect, the company makes it hard to claim your travel stipend, you don’t get your travel stipends on week one of your contract, the company generally doesn’t have your back, the recruiters are pushy, and the list goes on.

Read more here on why you should be cautious when working with American Mobile!

Travel nurse agency reviews from other trusted travel nurses.

Review from Jessica Eisenmann

Emerald Health Services

Review from Sarah Gaines at The 6 Figure Travel Nurse

“I’ve been a nurse for 7 years and a labor and delivery travel nurse for 4 years. I’ve officially been a travel nurse longer than I was a staff nurse! I heard about Emerald Health Services a few years ago when I attended one of their events in Los Angeles, California. I’ve been working with them ever since because they’ve always treated me like family and they’ve proven to be a company I can rely on. Not to mention, their top-notch benefits and high compensation makes it pretty easy to choose them over others.”

Find Sarah on Instagram @sarah_gaines

Aya Healthcare

Review from Leah Gnitka

“I started working with Aya Healthcare right away 3 years ago. I sent in my application to them and started talking to recruiters before I even graduated college. They told me they would be happy to accept my profile, but that they’d give me a call back in a year. So 9 months later, a recruiter from Aya Healthcare reached back out to me and helped me through the process of getting started on my first travel nurse assignment. Because they contacted me so early, I got the process rolling pretty quickly and started traveling right when I reached my 1-year. I have now been with Aya Healthcare for the 2 years of my travel career.

The reason why I stick with this company is because of how personal they are. From my recruiter down to my payroll representative, everyone I have worked with is so easy to get along with and has your back. They truly care about their nurses and want to get to know you as a person, not just get you to sign a contract with them.”

TO SUM IT UP…

Because travel nurse contracts are typically 13+ weeks, it would be impossible to work with every single agency out there!  And quite frankly, when you find a recruiter and an agency that you like… you hold on tight.  Even when you find a recruiter that you like, it’s oftentimes in your best interest to have a profile with more than one company (I suggest working with two to three companies at once).  This is because not every company staffs in every hospital.  Your chances of getting to where you want to go increase if you’re working with more than one person.

For two to three trustworthy recruiters, please reach out to me on Instagram and I will gladly send you their information.

Travel Nurse Essentials

For housing.

• Hello Landing – Use code “PassportsandPreemies” for $250 off your first standard Landing stay

FOR RECRUITERS

• Fill out this form to be matched with a senior level recruiter at Host Healthcare
• DM me on Instagram for my go-to recruiter at Fusion

FOR TRAVELING TO/DURING YOUR ASSIGNMENT

• To book a flight, I recommend Expedia or Skyscanner to compare options
• If you need to rent a car, I recommend Discover Cars
• Reusable water bottle
• Liquid IV for when you need extra hydration during a long shift
• Badge Reels

TO EXPLORE YOUR NEW “HOME”

• For tours I recommend Viator , Take Walks , & Devour Tours (available in select cities)

Need more guidance?  Check out the posts below!

• Not All Travel Nurse Companies are Created Equal – What to Know Before Signing Your First Contract
• Knowing When to Walk Away from Your Dream Travel Nurse Assignment
• How to Pick the Right Travel Nurse Recruiter For You

Disclosure:  This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to purchase through my link, at no cost to you.  Passports and Preemies is also a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees.

Kylee is a Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) nurse passionate about making travel affordable and accessible to nurses. Inspiring nurses to travel both near and far, Kylee began Passports and Preemies in 2017 while volunteering in Skopje, North Macedonia as a way to reach nurses and advocate for the prevention of nurse burnout by traveling. Kylee is the original creator of the “8 Day Vacay” – a vacation geared towards nurses who aim to take advantage of the potentially 8 days off between work weeks with no need to use PTO.

Find me on: Web | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

You may also enjoy:

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California Travel Nurse Jobs

Ca travel nursing by specialty.

The most popular nursing specialties with positions available in California include:

Cardiac Cath Lab Cardio ICU Cardio OR Case Management Emergency Room Intensive Care Unit

Interventional Radiology Labor & Delivery LTC/SNF Medical Surgical NICU Operating Room

PACU Psychiatric Unit Radiology Stepdown Telemetry Wound Care

We connect care by staffing amazing healthcare facilities in California with talented and dedicated Travel Nurses .

All about Travel Nursing in California

California is one of the highest paying states for travel nursing jobs. For this reason travel nursing jobs in California can be the most sought after with higher than average wait times for candidates. Medical solutions can help you cut through that red tape and expedite the process for travel nurses looking to work in the Golden State.

What Travel Nursing is like in California

California is the most popular state for travel nurse and travel allied health jobs with Medical Solutions! Travel nursing jobs here are as varied and abundant as the state’s many geographic features and attractions. All that variety makes The Golden State a consistent traveler favorite. California offers everything from beaches to skiing, plus some of the country’s most cosmopolitan cities and some its most unspoiled nature.

California boasts a population of more than 39 million yet has one of the nation’s lowest numbers of nurses per capita. California also has some of the country’s most stringent nurse-to-patient ratio laws. Combine this with overall staffing protections and the demand for healthcare travelers is always relatively high at California facilities.

Average Salaries for Travel Nurses in California

When it comes to travel nursing opportunities, California stands out not only for its diverse landscapes and lifestyles but also for its competitive compensation. Travel nurses venturing into the Golden State can anticipate an average weekly salary between $1,800 to $3,000, contingent upon their area of expertise, years of experience, and the specific contracts of healthcare facilities. Driving this lucrative pay range is California’s vast healthcare network, spanning from high-tech hospitals in Silicon Valley to community clinics in its agricultural heartland. Furthermore, California’s sheer population size, coupled with its progressive healthcare mandates, ensures a continuous demand for nursing professionals across specialties. While California’s cost of living is notoriously high, especially in cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles, the substantial salaries often make up for it, rendering the state a profitable choice for travel nurses. More on salary further down.

Best Hospitals in California

U.S. News & World Report ’s 2020/2021 Best Hospitals list evaluated 409 hospitals in California. The top three includes #1-ranked UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, #2-ranked Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, and #3-ranked UCSF Medical Center in San Francisco. There are many other hospitals and non-hospital healthcare facilities throughout the state as well. U.S. News & World Report ’s 2021 Best States list ranked California at #24 overall, #5 for healthcare, and #10 for economy. California is a top location for travelers to work in healthcare, explore exciting cities, enjoy beautiful nature, and earn great wages!

California Nurse Licensure

California is not currently in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) but had legislation pending in 2021. The NLC allows nurses to practice in other NLC states without having to get additional state licenses. New states are frequently joining so keep an eye on the latest NLC map . In the meantime, our team is happy to help you with any California state licensing questions.

To Do and See in California

There’s so much variety in California, your only problem will be trying to do and see it all!

Some of the more well known metropolitan attractions include the Golden Gate Bridge, Disneyland, Universal Studios, The Getty Center, San Diego Zoo, Hollywood, Venice Beach, Griffith Observatory, Santa Monica Pier, and Alcatraz.

If the great outdoors are more your speed there are so many beautiful sites to see such as Yosemite National Park, Death Valley National Park, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, Joshua Tree National Park, Lake Tahoe, the Big Sur coastline, Redwood National and State Parks, wine country in Napa and Sonoma Valleys, Lassen Volcanic National Park, La Jolla Sea Caves, and Catalina Island.

If architecture interests you there’s also Hearst Castle which is located off Highway 1 in San Simeon near Estero Bluffs State Park.

• Activity: Beach Exploration
• Description: Wander around Santa Monica Pier, shop at the Promenade, and sunbathe on the iconic beaches.
• Activity: Hollywood and Griffith Observatory
• Description: Discover Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, TCL Chinese Theatre, and get a panoramic view from Griffith.
• Activity: Wine Tasting
• Description: Explore California’s premier wine region with vineyard tours and tastings.
• Activity: Yosemite National Park
• Description: Dive into nature with hikes and sightseeing in this iconic national park.
• Activity: Golden Gate Bridge & Alcatraz
• Description: Walk the famous bridge and take a ferry to the historic Alcatraz Island.
• Activity: Coastal Drive
• Description: Experience one of the world’s most scenic drives along the Pacific Coast Highway.
• Activity: Surfing & Relaxation
• Description: Catch waves in the morning and relax in trendy cafes by the afternoon.

Due to California’s massive size and diversity of locations California is generally a great state for several fun activities. Shopping, dining, golf, wine-tasting, and relaxing at the beach are among some of the most popular choices. As an outdoor enthusiast you might enjoy hiking, biking, boating, skiing, kayaking, or camping along the coast or in one of Californias famous state parks. If sightseeing is more your speed whale watching, seaside drives, and road trips offer a great number of spectacles to behold. There’s a reason California is so popular. If you can imagine it, California probably has it.

Must Try Food

• Restaurant Name: Bay Cities Italian Deli & Bakery
• Cuisine Type: Italian Deli
• Description: Famous for its “Godmother” sandwich, a local lunch favorite.
• Restaurant Name: Guelaguetza
• Cuisine Type: Oaxacan
• Description: Award-winning restaurant celebrated for its authentic Oaxacan flavors and mole dishes.
• Restaurant Name: The French Laundry
• Cuisine Type: French
• Description: A three-star Michelin restaurant offering an exquisite tasting menu by Chef Thomas Keller.
• Restaurant Name: Ahwahnee Dining Room
• Cuisine Type: American
• Description: Enjoy fine dining with a stunning view of Yosemite’s granite cliffs.
• Restaurant Name: Swan Oyster Depot
• Cuisine Type: Seafood
• Description: A century-old seafood counter serving the freshest oysters, crab legs, and clam chowder.
• Restaurant Name: Nepenthe
• Cuisine Type: Californian
• Description: Known for its Ambrosia Burger and mesmerizing cliffside views of the Pacific.
• Restaurant Name: Las Cuatro Milpas
• Cuisine Type: Mexican
• Description: A popular spot for traditional tacos, tamales, and burritos in Barrio Logan.

With California growing so much of the nation’s fruits and vegetables, you know it’s going to be a great spot for foodies! Seafood is also big business here. California has many iconic foods, some more famous than others depending on region. Citrus fruits are big in the San Joaquin Valley. Boudin Bakery is known for their sourdough bread in San Francisco. Fish tacos and Cioppino are popular all along the coast but are especially appreciated by foodies in Monterey. The famous California cobb salad is a fan favorite in Los Angeles. There are so many delicious treats to taste. From mission-style burritos to fusion dishes. Artichokes and avocado everything. And, of course, do not forget the humble California roll and In-N-Out burgers. Wash it all down with a mimosa or a refreshing Arnold Palmer and you’ll be living the California dream.

California Travel Nurse Salary

Base salaries for Registered Nurses in California average about $2,196/week with an average of about $15,000 of overtime per year.

The median base salary for California Registered Nurses is about $71,500/year according to salary.com. The average hourly rate for Registered Nurses in California starts at $42.10/hr which is 14% higher than the national average according to Indeed.com.

There are many factors that can affect travel nurse salaries in California. First of all, not all travel nurses are registered nurses. Nurse practitioners, LVNs (Licensed Vocational Nurses), and other clinical care providers may have different average salaries. The hospital system where you get your travel nursing assignments can affect nurse pay.

Other major factors that affect nurse pay in California is location. Because the state is so massive and population density ranges so vastly demand also varies.  Salaries in Northern California could be very different from salaries in Southern California. Sometimes more remote locations pay higher than contracts near population centers like the Bay Area or Los Angeles. Many times the opposite is true as well.

Lastly, your nursing specialty also makes a huge difference in pay. Some specialties are more approachable requiring fewer certifications & less experience. These specialties, such as Medical Surgical Registered Nurses may have lower average salaries than specialties that require more certifications/experience. Working with a travel nursing agency you’ll be able to get a better idea about where you have the most opportunity to get the best base pay while travel nursing in California.

Quick Facts About California

• State Nickname : The Golden State
• Capital City : Sacramento
• Largest Cities : Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Fresno
• Charming Towns : Truckee, Arcata, Pismo Beach, Nevada City, Sonoma
• Random Trivia : California is the only state that’s hosted both the Winter Olympics and the Summer Olympics. This is a testament to the state’s geographic diversity.

Find Travel Nursing jobs in California

Frequently asked questions, find answers to your questions about california travel nursing jobs with medical solutions and travel nursing in general..