Compare travel nurse compensation by specialty with real-time pay intelligence, staffing demand trends, and specialty market forecasting.
Average contracts reaching $5,400/week
Critical staffing shortages nationwide
Labor & Delivery market expansion
California premium specialty contracts
| Rank | Specialty | Typical Weekly Pay | Demand Level | Market Trend | Top Paying States |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cath Lab | $4,900 – $5,400+ | Extreme | Rapid Growth | CA, WA, MA |
| 2 | CVICU | $4,700 – $5,200 | Extreme | Rising | CA, AZ, WA |
| 3 | ICU | $4,500 – $5,000 | Extreme | Strong Growth | CA, TX, WA |
| 4 | Labor & Delivery | $4,400 – $4,900 | High | Rising | CA, MA, CO |
| 5 | ER | $4,300 – $4,800 | High | Stable Growth | AZ, CA, FL |
| 6 | Operating Room (OR) | $4,200 – $4,700 | Moderate | Stable | CA, TX, WA |
| 7 | Telemetry | $3,900 – $4,400 | Moderate | Stable | TX, FL, AZ |
| 8 | Med-Surg | $3,700 – $4,200 | Moderate | Stable | TX, FL, MO |
Higher-acuity specialties such as ICU, CVICU, Cath Lab, and Labor & Delivery typically command significantly higher compensation due to severe staffing shortages, patient acuity requirements, certification requirements, and limited experienced candidate pools. Regional demand fluctuations, seasonal census changes, and hospital competition can also cause substantial weekly pay differences between contracts.
Use the free Travel Nurse Intel analyzer to estimate whether your current travel nurse contract is above or below market compensation.
Analyze Your ContractTravel nurse compensation ranges, specialty comparisons, and market analysis estimates shown on this page are based on market trends, publicly available compensation data, recruiter submissions, and aggregated healthcare staffing analytics. Actual contract compensation may vary depending on specialty, certifications, geographic demand, recruiter margins, shift differentials, hospital systems, housing stipends, contract structures, and experience levels.
This information is provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as legal, tax, financial, employment, or investment advice. Users should independently verify all compensation packages and consult qualified professionals before making employment, tax, or financial decisions.
