The first quarter (Q1) of 2025 brought continued wage adjustments across the travel nurse market, with notable regional differences shaping cost trends for both staffing agencies and health systems. While some areas experienced moderate increases in average pay, others continued trending downward.

In Vivian Health’s latest travel RN wage report (now compiled quarterly), we’ll outline the most significant quarter-over-quarter wage changes, break down regional averages and explore what these shifts suggest about supply, demand and labor market stability heading into Q2 (April – June 2025). Whether you're managing contract strategy or forecasting budget impact, this data can help guide your planning.

Regional Wage Trends Offer Insight into Market Pressure Points

The chart above breaks down the average quarter-over-quarter change in travel RN wages by U.S. region, revealing how market conditions varied across the country in early 2025:

• West: +0.70%
• Midwest: +0.24%
• Northeast: -0.09%
• South: -0.88%

The West saw the most pronounced wage growth by region, largely influenced by states like Hawaii (+1.86%) and Oregon (+1.40%), but Nebraska (+2.52%) in the Midwest had the highest increase overall. These increases suggest continued supply constraints in remote or high-demand markets, where systems may be competing more aggressively for available clinicians.

In contrast, the South posted the sharpest average decline. States such as West Virginia (-2.44%), Florida (-1.95%) and South Carolina (-1.78%) saw notable rate reductions, possibly tied to recalibrations following wage spikes during the winter season when patient loads may have been higher in some areas. A stronger local labor pool and reduced dependency on travelers in historically lower-wage regions may also be driving these adjustments.

For staffing agencies and health systems, these regional trends underscore where pricing pressure is building and where rate flexibility may be returning. Understanding these shifts can help align recruitment strategies, manage costs and set realistic expectations for talent availability in Q2 and beyond.

States Where Travel Nurse Salaries Increased in Q1

Building on the regional trends outlined above, we took a closer look at state-level data—starting with those that saw the strongest wage growth. In total, 10 states reported travel RN pay increases of at least 1% from Q4 2024 to Q1 2025.

Nebraska posted the most significant jump at 2.52%, reversing last quarter’s decline and signaling renewed demand across the region. This rebound may reflect increased utilization of travelers in rural or underserved areas, particularly where permanent staffing remains inconsistent. While the volume of travel assignments in Nebraska isn’t always high, facilities that do rely on travelers often offer consistent contracts and lower competition, making it a market worth watching.

Other notable gains include Hawaii (1.86%) and New Hampshire (1.85%), both of which remain high-demand locations. Hawaii’s seasonal trends and isolation continue to drive premium rates, while New Hampshire may be reacting to tightening labor supply in the broader Northeast region.

Understanding which states are trending upward—especially those outside traditional high-wage markets—can help agencies and health systems anticipate contract costs and align recruitment efforts where talent shortages are intensifying.

States Where Travel Nursing Salaries Decreased

State-level data reveals that several markets experienced significant wage decreases for travel RNs in Q1 2025. As the chart above notes, 10 states saw quarter-over-quarter drops of 1% or more, with the steepest declines spread over various regions.

Colorado reported the largest decrease at 3.72%, followed by Kansas (2.73%) and West Virginia (2.44%). These shifts may reflect reduced contract volume following seasonal staffing surges, increased permanent staff coverage or recalibrated staffing budgets at the facility level. In several markets, traveler utilization appears to be tapering off after stabilizing throughout 2024.

For staffing agencies and health systems, these downward shifts suggest areas where rate pressure may be easing, but not necessarily due to lack of demand. Wage decreases could signal opportunities for cost containment in some traditionally high-spend markets. At the same time, it’s crucial to monitor traveler interest. Lower travel wages could impact fill rates, especially in competitive or rural areas where flexibility and incentives may still be necessary.

States with Minimal Travel Nursing Wage Movement

Vivan considers wage changes of less than 1% up or down to be essentially stable, as these shifts typically equate to modest fluctuations in weekly pay that don’t materially impact traveler decisions or staffing budgets. Based on this metric, the chart above includes 30 states that fell into this “unchanged” category.

A few states landed just under the 1% threshold, including:

• Texas (-0.80%)
• Illinois (-0.97%)
• New York (-0.97%)
• 1% Threshold
• Virginia (+0.85%)
• Idaho (+0.75%)

These moderate wage shifts may indicate localized demand but don’t signal widespread market pressure. Likewise, a few states hovered close to zero, reflecting near-total wage stability, including:

• Maryland (-0.16%)
• Missouri (-0.09%)
• 0% Threshold
• New Mexico (+0.12%)
• Pennsylvania (+0.17%)

For health systems and staffing partners, these “low-change” states represent relatively predictable labor markets where contract rates remain steady. While fluctuations may still occur at the facility level, the broader wage trends suggest a period of relative balance that may persist into Q2.

Travel RN Wages in All 50 States

This chart provides a full snapshot of how travel RN wages shifted across all 50 states in Q1 2025. Showing quarter-over-quarter percentage change gives a clear view of where rates rose, fell or held steady.

Use this visual to quickly assess which markets have become more competitive this quarter, which seems to be stabilizing and where cost pressures may be easing. Whether you're adjusting rate guidance, planning for upcoming staffing needs or reviewing market dynamics with facility partners, this overview helps ground your strategy in data from across the country. Staying ahead of these trends supports smarter decisions when it comes to recruiting and budgeting as we head into Q2.

Schedule a Demo to Learn How Vivian Supports Your Hiring Goals

Whether you're navigating shifting wage trends or expanding your national reach, having the right tools and insights makes all the difference. Vivian Health gives staffing agencies and health systems the data and visibility they need to stay competitive and hire with confidence. From tracking real-time wage trends to sourcing qualified candidates, we help your team align faster with market needs and close roles more efficiently.

Vivian Health helps you prepare to hire high-quality travel and staff nurses no matter where 2025 takes us. Tap into our pool of over 2 million healthcare professionals registered on our platform. Schedule a demo with Vivian, and we’ll show you how your staffing agency or health system recruiters can source qualified leads across the United States.

Average salary data based on travel RN jobs posted on Vivian Health during the last quarter of 2024 (Oct-Dec) and the first quarter of 2025 (Jan-Mar).