Top 10 Highest Paying Travel Nurse Specialties 2025: Salary & Demand Guide

Travel nursing offers excellent earning potential, but some specialties command significantly higher pay rates than others. This guide covers the top 10 highest paying travel nurse specialties, including average pay rates, demand, and requirements.

Factors Affecting Travel Nurse Pay

Several factors influence travel nurse pay rates:

• Specialty: Critical care and specialized units typically pay more
• Location: High-demand areas and states with higher costs of living pay more
• Experience: More experience generally means higher pay
• Demand: Specialties with high demand command premium rates
• Shift: Night shifts, weekends, and holidays often pay more

Top 10 Highest Paying Travel Nurse Specialties

1. ICU (Intensive Care Unit) Travel Nurse

Average Pay: $3,200-$4,500/week
Blended Rate: $85-$120/hour

Why It Pays Well:

• Critical patient care requires advanced skills
• High-stress environment
• 24/7 patient monitoring
• High demand nationwide

Requirements:

• BSN preferred
• 2+ years ICU experience
• ACLS certification
• Critical care experience

Best States: California, New York, Massachusetts, Washington

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2. ER (Emergency Room) Travel Nurse

Average Pay: $3,000-$4,200/week
Blended Rate: $80-$115/hour

Why It Pays Well:

• Fast-paced, high-stress environment
• Varied patient conditions
• High demand, especially in urban areas
• Requires quick decision-making

Requirements:

• 2+ years ER experience
• ACLS, PALS certifications
• Trauma experience preferred
• Ability to work in fast-paced environment

Best States: California, Texas, Florida, New York

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3. OR (Operating Room) Travel Nurse

Average Pay: $2,900-$4,000/week
Blended Rate: $75-$110/hour

Why It Pays Well:

• Specialized surgical knowledge required
• High-stakes environment
• Long, demanding shifts
• Consistent demand

Requirements:

• 2+ years OR experience
• CNOR certification preferred
• Knowledge of surgical procedures
• Attention to detail

Best States: California, New York, Massachusetts, Oregon

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4. Labor & Delivery (L&D) Travel Nurse

Average Pay: $2,800-$3,800/week
Blended Rate: $70-$105/hour

Why It Pays Well:

• Specialized maternal-fetal care
• High-stakes environment
• Emotional support required
• Consistent demand

Requirements:

• 2+ years L&D experience
• NRP certification
• Fetal monitoring experience
• Compassionate care skills

Best States: California, New York, Texas, Florida

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5. NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) Travel Nurse

Average Pay: $2,800-$3,700/week
Blended Rate: $70-$100/hour

Why It Pays Well:

• Highly specialized care
• Critical patient population
• Advanced certifications required
• High demand

Requirements:

• 2+ years NICU experience
• NRP certification
• Experience with premature infants
• Advanced assessment skills

Best States: California, New York, Massachusetts, Texas

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6. CVICU (Cardiovascular ICU) Travel Nurse

Average Pay: $2,700-$3,600/week
Blended Rate: $68-$98/hour

Why It Pays Well:

• Highly specialized cardiac care
• Complex patient conditions
• Advanced monitoring required
• High demand

Requirements:

• 2+ years CVICU experience
• ACLS certification
• Cardiac monitoring experience
• Post-operative cardiac care

Best States: California, New York, Massachusetts, Florida

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7. Telemetry Travel Nurse

Average Pay: $2,600-$3,500/week
Blended Rate: $65-$95/hour

Why It Pays Well:

• Cardiac monitoring expertise
• High patient acuity
• Consistent demand
• Requires specialized skills

Requirements:

• 2+ years telemetry experience
• ACLS certification
• Cardiac monitoring experience
• Medication administration skills

Best States: California, Texas, Florida, New York

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8. Med-Surg Travel Nurse

Average Pay: $2,500-$3,300/week
Blended Rate: $62-$90/hour

Why It Pays Well:

• Versatile skills required
• High patient loads
• Consistent demand
• Foundation for other specialties

Requirements:

• 1-2 years med-surg experience
• Strong assessment skills
• Time management
• Multi-tasking ability

Best States: California, Texas, Florida, New York

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9. PCU (Progressive Care Unit) Travel Nurse

Average Pay: $2,500-$3,200/week
Blended Rate: $62-$88/hour

Why It Pays Well:

• Step-down from ICU
• Moderate to high acuity
• Consistent demand
• Requires critical thinking

Requirements:

• 2+ years PCU experience
• ACLS certification
• Cardiac monitoring experience
• Critical care skills

Best States: California, New York, Texas, Florida

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10. Oncology Travel Nurse

Average Pay: $2,400-$3,200/week
Blended Rate: $60-$85/hour

Why It Pays Well:

• Specialized cancer care
• Emotional support required
• Chemotherapy administration
• High demand

Requirements:

• 2+ years oncology experience
• OCN certification preferred
• Chemotherapy certification
• Compassionate care skills

Best States: California, New York, Massachusetts, Texas

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Specialty Comparison Table

Specialty	Weekly Pay Range	Blended Rate	Demand Level	Experience Required
ICU	$3,200-$4,500	$85-$120/hr	Very High	2+ years
ER	$3,000-$4,200	$80-$115/hr	Very High	2+ years
OR	$2,900-$4,000	$75-$110/hr	High	2+ years
L&D	$2,800-$3,800	$70-$105/hr	High	2+ years
NICU	$2,800-$3,700	$70-$100/hr	High	2+ years
CVICU	$2,700-$3,600	$68-$98/hr	High	2+ years
Telemetry	$2,600-$3,500	$65-$95/hr	High	2+ years
Med-Surg	$2,500-$3,300	$62-$90/hr	Very High	1-2 years
PCU	$2,500-$3,200	$62-$88/hr	High	2+ years
Oncology	$2,400-$3,200	$60-$85/hr	Moderate	2+ years

Note: Pay rates are estimates and vary by location, experience, and demand.

How to Increase Your Pay

1. Gain Experience

• More experience = higher pay rates
• Specialize in high-demand areas
• Get additional certifications

2. Choose High-Paying Locations

• California, New York, Massachusetts typically pay more
• Urban areas often pay more than rural
• High-demand facilities pay premiums

3. Work Undesirable Shifts

• Night shifts often pay more
• Weekends and holidays command premium rates
• On-call shifts may offer bonuses

4. Get Certified

• Specialty certifications increase pay
• Examples: CCRN, CEN, CNOR, OCN
• Advanced certifications command higher rates

5. Negotiate Your Contract

• Research market rates
• Compare multiple offers
• Negotiate stipends and bonuses
• Use our Contract Comparison Tool

Choosing the Right Specialty

Consider these factors when choosing a specialty:

Your Interests

• Choose a specialty you enjoy
• Consider your strengths and preferences
• Think about long-term career goals

Demand

• High-demand specialties offer more opportunities
• More assignments = more flexibility
• Higher demand = better pay rates

Work-Life Balance

• Some specialties are more demanding
• Consider shift requirements
• Think about stress levels

Career Growth

• Some specialties offer more advancement
• Consider certification opportunities
• Think about future career paths

Using Our Tools

Our tools can help you maximize your earnings:

• Pay Calculator - Calculate your take-home pay
• Contract Comparison - Compare multiple offers
• State Comparison - Compare pay by state

Conclusion

The highest paying travel nurse specialties typically require advanced skills, certifications, and experience. ICU, ER, and OR nurses command the highest rates, but all specialties offer excellent earning potential.

Key Takeaways:

• Specialty choice significantly impacts pay
• Experience and certifications increase rates
• Location affects pay rates
• High-demand specialties pay more
• Negotiation skills matter

Choose a specialty that aligns with your interests, skills, and career goals, and use our tools to maximize your earnings potential.

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Last updated: January 2025