News outlets around the nation are full of stories about the cooling of travel healthcare wages, primarily for nurses. Travel nurse pay has indeed stabilized, dropping significantly since the pandemic highs. What a difference a year makes. All but seven states saw healthcare wages increase during July 2021, while July 2022 travel healthcare trends saw only Alabama post a slight increase of 0.3%, landing it on the unchanged list. August has an even bigger distinction. Stay ahead of wage trends by exploring how healthcare wages fared in all 50 states this month. 

States that Saw Travel Wage Increases 

Last month saw zero states on the increased healthcare travel pay list. However, August 2022 saw some improvement with slight upticks in five states. Unfortunately, the most notable rise was an increase in Missouri of only 3%. This was the largest jump in wages since the 3.6% rise in Delaware in June 2022. Previously, Missouri jumped by 0.6% in June, putting it on the unchanged list that month, followed by a drop of 5.3% in healthcare wages in July 2022. Although the 3% bump this month is a step in the right direction for the state, it still doesn’t entirely make up for last month’s dip. 

In contrast to the poor showing this month, August 2021 healthcare wage trends were a much different story. This time last year, 44 states saw wage increases of nearly 10% or higher and some were significantly higher. Alaska had the highest healthcare travel pay increase at 51.6% followed by Georgia at 47.7% and New Mexico at 40%. Only Wyoming recorded a decrease. 

States that Saw Travel Wage Decreases                

The list of states with decreased healthcare travel wages this month is hefty. A total of 38 states reported a decline in pay in August 2022, and some were quite significant. Maryland had the largest plunge in healthcare wages at 22.9% for the month. The state’s latest drop marks the fourth consecutive month Maryland topped the declining wages list. It recorded substantial reductions of 14.3% in July, 19.2% in June and 12.4% on the May 2022 healthcare wage list. Seven other states recorded double-digit drops in wages in August.

States Where Wages Stayed About the Same

Seven states saw relatively stable wages throughout August, ending the month with changes of less than 1%. Among the states where wages stayed about the same, North Dakota was closest to a 1% showing, with an increase of 0.8%. Montana literally recorded a 0% change with wages going up one penny. Georgia and Minnesota both had decreases of 0.6%, tying for the top decreased amount on the unchanged list for August 2022. 

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