How Much Do Travel Nurse Practitioners Make?
How Much Does a Travel Nurse Practitioner Nurse Make?
While the earning potential for travel nurse practitioners can vary between states, there is opportunity to earn some real money as a travel NP. The average travel nurse practitioner salary is $131,543 per year according to ZipRecruiter, with the highest-paid travel nurses earning $218,000 per year!
Continue reading as we spotlight how much travel nurse practitioners make in each state.
>> Click here to see available high-paying travel nurse opportunities!
Travel Nurse Practitioner Salary by State
|
State |
Mean Annual |
Avg Hourly |
|
Alabama |
$121,692 |
$59 |
|
Alaska |
$132,047 |
$63 |
|
Arizona |
$139,706 |
$67 |
|
Arkansas |
$115,075 |
$55 |
|
California |
$123,848 |
$60 |
|
Colorado |
$121,518 |
$58 |
|
Connecticut |
$115,737 |
- |
|
Delaware |
$109,692 |
- |
|
Florida |
$114,621 |
$55 |
|
Georgia |
$111,957 |
$54 |
|
Hawaii |
$112,666 |
|
|
Idaho |
$119,202 |
$51.09 |
|
Illinois |
$113,468 |
$55 |
|
Indiana |
$134,894 |
$65 |
|
Iowa |
$123,244 |
$59 |
|
Kansas |
$117,121 |
$56 |
|
Kentucky |
$120,990 |
$58 |
|
Louisiana |
$106,327 |
$51 |
|
Maine |
$117,788 |
$57 |
|
Maryland (Baltimore) |
$137,969 |
$66 |
|
Massachusetts |
$139,403 |
$67 |
|
Michigan (Detroit) |
$146,126 |
$70 |
|
Minnesota |
$132,807 |
$64 |
|
Mississippi |
$114,905 |
$55 |
|
Missouri (St. Louis) |
$124,027 |
$60 |
|
Montana |
$133,420 |
$64 |
|
Nebraska |
$124,345 |
$53.29 |
|
Nevada |
$138,652 |
$67 |
|
New Hampshire |
$148,471 |
$71 |
|
New Jersey |
$115,484 |
$56 |
|
New Mexico (Santa Fe) |
$140,105 |
$67 |
|
New York |
$159,672 |
$77 |
|
North Carolina |
$99,638 |
$48 |
|
North Dakota (Burlington) |
$122,829 |
$59 |
|
Ohio |
$125,446 |
$60 |
|
Oklahoma (Thomas) |
$120,694 |
$58 |
|
Oregon |
$131,890 |
$63 |
|
Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh) |
$119,628 |
$58 |
|
Rhode Island |
$110,649 |
$47.42 |
|
South Carolina (Charleston) |
$119,369 |
$57 |
|
South Dakota |
$123,656 |
$59 |
|
Tennessee |
$138,524 |
$67 |
|
Texas |
$111,465 |
$54 |
|
Utah (Salt Lake City) |
$132,885 |
$64 |
|
Virginia (Richmond) |
$124,654 |
$60 |
|
Vermont |
$103,410 |
- |
|
Washington (Seattle) |
$156,671 |
$75 |
|
West Virginia (Lavalette) |
$132,885 |
$64 |
|
Wisconsin |
$106,070 |
$51 |
|
Wyoming |
$98,771 |
- |
Source: ZipRecruiter
Travel Nurse Practitioner Salary by Work Setting
From acute care to family practice, psychiatric to pediatric, travel NPs specialize in various medical areas. Keep reading as we review several travel NP specializations and their earning potential.
Travel Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner: $130,216
Travel psychiatric nurse practitioners provide mental health care temporarily across various healthcare settings. They assess, diagnose, and treat individuals with psychiatric disorders, prescribe medications, and offer therapy.
Their mobility allows them to provide expertise to underserved communities and gain diverse clinical experiences.
International Travel Nurse Practitioner: $131,543
International travel NPs provide medical care across borders. These workers possess diverse clinical experience and can adapt to work in different healthcare systems and cultural contexts.
Alongside clinical skills, these NPs have the communication and language skills necessary to work in an international setting.
Travel Pediatric Nurse Practitioner: $123,014
Travel pediatric nurse practitioners are compassionate healthcare professionals specializing in providing comprehensive care for infants, children, and adolescents in various healthcare settings. They assess and diagnose patients, prescribe treatments, administer vaccinations, and provide health education to families.
How to Make More Money as a Travel Nurse Practitioner
While compensation depends on various factors such as location, experience, and specialization, there are several ways for travel NPs to maximize their income.
1. Specialize in High-Demand Clinical Areas
By specializing in high-demand areas like critical care, emergency medicine, or specialized pediatric or psychiatric care, travel nurse practitioners can command higher pay rates.
These specialized roles often require specific skills and expertise, making them more sought after by healthcare facilities. By gaining experience and training in these areas, NPs can increase their market value and negotiate higher salaries.
2. Pursue Advanced Certifications
Obtaining advanced nursing certifications can significantly enhance a travel NP's earning potential.
Certifications such as Family Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, or Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner demonstrate expertise and proficiency in these sought-after, specialized areas of nursing practice.
These certifications not only broaden the scope of practice but also provide leverage when negotiating higher compensation.
3. Work in High-Paying Locations
Location can be crucial in determining compensation for travel nurse practitioners. Some regions and cities offer higher pay rates due to factors like higher cost of living and shortage of healthcare professionals.
Travel NPs can research and target assignments in areas that offer the most competitive salaries or work in underserved regions where compensation may be higher to attract competent and compassionate healthcare providers.
4. Work off Shifts
While working day shift or a 9-5 gig might be ideal for life and exploring new locations. The real money is on the off shifts.
Travel NPs can earn a higher wage by working evenings, nights, and weekends. If you are working travel positions solely for the money and highest wage, explore contracts that offer off-shift premiums and bonuses.
Is Becoming a Travel Nurse Practitioner Worth it?
Becoming a travel nurse practitioner can be worth it for many healthcare professionals seeking a bit of adventure, flexibility, and higher earning potential. Travel nurse NPs have the chance to work in diverse healthcare settings, experience new locations, and expand their clinical expertise.
In addition to higher-than-average salaries, travel NPs may receive additional benefits such as housing allowances and travel reimbursements. These perks, combined with the potential for high pay rates and the ability to explore new locations, can make the career financially rewarding. You may also get license renewals and continuing education paid for by the staffing company.
To become a travel nurse practitioner, individuals typically first secure an RN or BSN degree and gain clinical experience in nursing. From there, working nurses must complete either a master's of science in nursing (MSN) or a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree and obtain nurse practitioner certification. While this does require substantial academic work and clinical experience, the end result is significantly higher wages.
>> Click here to see available high-paying travel nurse opportunities!
Salaries of Related Nursing Careers
Travel Nurse - $105,021
Similar to travel NPs, travel nurses offer their services within and beyond their region in various healthcare settings.
Travel Radiologic Technologist - $92,237
These healthcare professionals operate diagnostic imaging equipment, including X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs, in various healthcare settings.
Travel Licensed Practical Nurse - $74,611
Like other traveling healthcare professionals, licensed practical nurses provide direct patient care, administer medications, assist with treatments, and collaborate with healthcare teams.
