Following months of anticipation, the average travel nursing salary nationwide has finally stopped decreasing for the first time in 2023, according to September wage data from Vivian Health. Starting in our June 2023 travel nurse wage report and again in our July report and August report, we noted that the pace of travel RN wage decreases was moderating during the summer months. Autumn is here, and now national average wage decreases have ended – at least for the time being. 

Nationwide, average weekly travel nurse pay was virtually unchanged throughout the month of September compared to the rates paid in the month of August. Both months recorded average weekly wages of $2,430, representing a 0.0% change month over month. 

Travel nursing still commands a 7.6% premium compared to the prevailing travel nurse wage before the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2020, when average wages were $2,257 adjusted for inflation. Of course, the situation varies by state. For instance, as of September, California’s average travel nurse wages of $2,946 per week is the highest in the nation. Alternately, Alabama's weekly travel RN salary is the lowest at just $2,062, with the remaining states falling somewhere in between.

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States with Travel Nursing Salary Increases

September saw 11 states record travel nurse pay increases of 1.0% or more. New Jersey stands out with the most significant percent increase of 3.9%, rising to $2,769 per week. Not far behind was the 3.2% increase in Alaska, with weekly wage climbing to $2,771 per week. These increases give Alaska and New Jersey the second and third-highest travel nurse wages in the nation, respectively, behind California. We’ve noted in recent months that high energy prices and record oil royalty payments may be boosting the Alaskan economy and contributing to wage growth there.

States Where Travel Nurse Pay Decreased

Only 12 states recorded travel RN salary decreases of 1.0% or more in September, a distinct drop from the 22 last month and 26 the month before.

The greatest wage decrease occurred in Delaware, which has exhibited some wage whiplash lately. In August, Delaware saw the largest increase in wages of any state, climbing 3.9% from $2,669 per week to $2,772. In September, Delaware lost all those gains and then some, having the largest wage decrease of any state, falling 8.7% to $2,530 per week.

As a state with a relatively small population, Delaware may be prone to more significant swings in average wages due to fewer travel nurse positions posted each month.

Most States Record Roughly Flat Travel RN Salaries 

With overall national average wages unchanged month over month, it isn’t surprising that more than half the states, 27 to be exact, experienced wage changes of less than 1.0% up or down in September. States in this category ran the gamut from higher-wage states like California to lower-wage states like Arkansas.

Future Travel Pay Rates Impact on Recruiting

Now that travel RN wages are relatively flat, the question remains where they’ll head for the rest of 2023. Rising interest rates, which historically can slow economic growth, and the end of the pandemic health emergency may have contributed to falling travel nurse wages earlier this year.  Now, some economists anticipate the Federal Reserve may stop raising interest rates. We wonder if the coming months could see travel RN salaries remain relatively flat.

If travel nurse salaries remain flat and only marginally higher than before the pandemic, it would be a great time for health systems to consider other ways to stand out and recruit candidates. One tool is to use pay transparency when listing jobs to attract more qualified candidates. Candidates are more likely to respond to job listings with pay posted upfront.

Vivian can provide guidance to your organization about hiring best practices and tools for both staff and travel recruitment.

Schedule a demo to learn more today.

All average salary data based on travel RN jobs posted on Vivian Health during the complete month of September 2023 compared to the jobs posted during the complete month of August 2023.