4 ways travel nurses can increase their salary

The average salary of a travel nurse at Nomad Health is $2,677 per week in gross earnings. While we know that travel nursing salaries vary greatly by the state a nurse is working in and their specialty, these numbers are by no means a barrier.

In fact, travel nurses are in a unique position because they have so many options at their disposal to further their career and increase their salary as a result. In this guide, we’ve identified 4 ways travel nurses can increase their salary, including useful resources to help you do it.

Get a compact license

The Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) allows travel nurses with multistate licenses to practice in any of the 29 (soon to be 30) eNLC states. The purpose of this compact is to allow travel nurses to more quickly and effectively provide care to patients in the locations most in need. By getting a compact license, you can more easily find a new assignment in a new location. As a travel nurse with a compact license, the whole country is your oyster without the need to worry about getting a new license every time you take on a new travel assignment.

Learn more about the eNLC and find out if your state is part of the compact. If you have questions about whether you qualify and how to get licensed, check out the eNLC FAQs.

Become certified in a new specialty

Some of the highest in-demand specialties for travel nurses are critical care (ICU, CICU, CVICU), labor & delivery, operating room, cath lab, and oncology. And with demand, comes an increase in salary to attract qualified candidates.

Additional certifications

Getting an additional certification can help you secure one of these high-paying travel nurse positions. Here are some resources for getting some of the most in-demand additional certifications:

CCRN certification for acute and critical care is granted by the AACN Certification corporation.

CNOR certification for operating room nursing is granted after a qualification exam. Read the steps to CNOR certification here.

If you are interested in becoming a labor and delivery travel nurse nurse, you can apply for certification through the National Certification Corporation (NCC). While this isn’t required, it can open new doors for you in the future. Read the steps to become an L&D nurse here.

Earn a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN)

BSN-educated travel nurses tend to fall in the top 25% of the salary range for every specialty. While this salary boost is definitely a perk, the bigger opportunity for BSN-educated nurses comes in the form of managerial roles within a facility. These supervisory roles tend to be more reserved for nurses for BSNs so furthering your education could make you a quality candidate for these positions.

The best part is that there are a number of BSN programs that can be completed online while you continue working. Check out one of these affordable online RN to BSN programs or search for BSN programs to find the best option for you.

Get creative

While all of these options fall into the category of your day-to-day work, there are also ways you can bolster your travel nurse salary outside of your normal work day.

If you are interested in expanding your horizons for other earning opportunities, look to your local community for nursing needs. Some nursing training programs will be looking to hire tutors to help students who are learning to be nurses. Community events may also be hiring nurses for a few days to help out during events that are being held.

By looking outside of your normal work environment, you might find a cause that you are passionate about and help out your community while also making a little extra income.

If you’re looking to increase your travel nursing salary, we hope that you felt inspired by one of these tips! As a travel nurse, you have many options at your disposal. It’s up to you to decide which one is the best for you!