Staffing shortages keep the need for travel nurses a hot topic for 2025 and the future.
With a high demand for nurses, people expect this year to continue with higher salaries and new opportunities for travel nurses available to work short-term contracts.
Burnout and lack of personnel have led many hospitals to seek more help; staying on top of these trends can keep you ahead of the game and help you prepare for this often challenging career.
Knowing current and future trends in the travel nursing profession can help you make decisions about your career. In this guide, you’ll find information on demand, pay, and demographic trends that can inform your decision-making today and in the days to come.
Table of Contents
- How Are Travel Nursing Trends Evaluated?
- Current and Future Demand Trends in Travel Nursing
- Current and Future Pay Trends in Travel Nursing
- Current and Future Demographic Trends in Travel Nursing
- 7 Additional Trends We’re Predicting for the Travel Nurse Industry in the Coming Years
- Find Your Dream Travel Nurse Position With Trusted Nurse Staffing
How Are Travel Nursing Trends Evaluated?
Where does travel nurse data come from?
There are various ways to compile this type of information.
For example, one resource is the National Nursing Workforce Study. It conducts surveys focused on the nursing profession. The last study released was in 2022. Survey answers for 2024 were gathered from April to September and will be published in the Journal of Nursing Regulation in October 2025.
Job marketplaces, such as Indeed and Zippia, also show high demand in different specialties based on search results.
Current and Future Demand Trends in Travel Nursing
Since hospitals still need more help than their current staff allows, they rely on travel nurses.
Zippia reported that more than 1.7 million travel nurses are currently working in the USA.
According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, there were 4.7 million registered nurses in the USA in 2024, 89% of which have a job in nursing.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that more than 197,200 new RN nursing jobs will be created annually from 2023 until 2033.
If you are trained in one of the following nursing specialties, chances are high that you’ll find an assignment in one of these in-demand areas:
- Critical care/ICU
- Medical-surgical
- Emergency room (ER)
- Telemetry
- Labor and delivery
- Operating room
- Home health
Current and Future Pay Trends in Travel Nursing
According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary for travel nurses was $101,132 a year or $49 per hour in 2024.
The deciding factor still is where you work, as rates vary. Washington state and Washington, D.C. are among the locations where travel nurses can make the highest salaries.
ZipRecruiter reports the highest average hourly rate by state for travel nursing positions in 2024.
- Washington – $55.07
- District of Columbia – $54.94
- New York – $53.19
- Massachusetts – $53.10
- Alaska – $52.36
And the lowest-paying states are as follows:
- Kentucky – $42.23
- Louisiana – $41.58
- Georgia – $41.05
- Arkansas – $40.20
- West Virginia – $37.64
- Florida – $36.33
Source: ZipRecruiter
Some areas of focus earn higher salaries as travel nurses than others. Some of the highest-paying travel nursing categories include:
- NICU – $93,000-$154,500 per year
- PACU – $110,500-$147,500 per year
- Oncology – $105,500-$144,000 per year
- ICU – $104,000-$143,000 per year
- RN – $97,500-$140,500 per year
- Home Healthcare – $70,000-$105,500 per year
Current and Future Demographic Trends in Travel Nursing
According to Zippia:
- About 15.9% of nurses are men, while 84.1% are women.
- The average age of a travel nurse is 43 years old.
- Regarding ethnicity:
- 65.8% of travel nurses are white
- Almost 12% are African American
- About 9% are Asian
- 8.7% are Latino
The demographics of travel nurses will continue to evolve in the coming years, reflecting an even more diverse workforce. The number of male travel nurses is also expected to increase.
7 Additional Trends We’re Predicting for the Travel Nurse Industry in the Coming Years
When pondering the future of your career, it is essential to focus on various factors so you see the big picture.
The surge in travel nursing was very evident during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, and though the industry is getting back to a baseline, it is clear that travel nursing is here to stay. RNs are still short-staffed at hospitals, so travel nurse positions are open throughout the country.
Despite the results of the pandemic, travel nursing is still very much a viable and attractive career. Take a look at these top seven trends for the years to come to provide some guidance in your travel nursing journey.
And when you’re ready to get started, find travel nurse assignments in your desired location using the Pronto search today.
#1: A Concentrated Focus on Nurses’ Mental Health
Nursing is not a profession for the faint of heart. Working long hours, treating extremely ill patients, and managing high-stress environments can be draining and wearisome for even the most heroic of nurses.
Professionals have been leaving this career path in droves due to the issues associated with the following:
- Stress
- Exhaustion
- Trauma; and
- Lack of support
With nurses leaving the profession, it became evident the work situation in this field needed to improve. Nurses must be prioritized so they can give top-notch care to their patients.
There are many ways to keep tabs on your mental health.
Which of the following works best for you?
- Support groups
- Virtual therapy
- Meditation
- Sleep relaxation apps
- Exercising
- Gratitude practice
- Journaling
- Asking for help
- Taking breaks
- Sharing/Talking about work traumas
Many resources are available for the nursing community, often including counseling options.
It is up to you to avoid burnout. Once you understand its causes and signs, you can prevent it from happening to you.
#2: Flexibility
Due to changes in the nursing field, travel nursing continues to stay at the forefront of society, bringing more flexibility to the career.
Telenursing provides care through technology so nurses can practice remotely.
Travel nurses get to choose where they want their next assignment to be. Spending time in different places lets you experience new locales and get a feel of where you would like to settle down.
Many nurses choose this travel route since it provides freedom that is unavailable with traditional jobs.
Additionally, you can take time off in between assignments. Decide how you choose your next gig and the time frame between each.
Are you ready to take on a travel nurse assignment with Trusted Nurse Staffing? Get started with Pronto. You can search for jobs across the U.S., and when you find ones you’re interested in, simply create an account and apply. Our Trusted Nurse Staffing team will help you every step of the way!
#3: Persistent Shortage of Staff Nurses
Nursing is a demanding job.
Even after the country has recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic, nationwide shortages of staff nurses are still an issue due to:
- Burnout
- Exhaustion; and
- Stress
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there will be about 197,200 annual openings for RNs between 2023 and 2033. This amount will represent a 6% growth rate.
According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, although there are over 190,000 projected new job openings for nurses per year until 2033, it is estimated that only 177,400 new nurses will enter the workforce — not enough to fill the gap.
Also, the number of retirements in nursing is accelerating. Approximately one million nurses are over 50 years old, and 20% plan to retire within the next five years.
Therefore, there will be plenty of opportunities in travel nursing over the next few years.
#4: Increase in Demand for Home Health Care Travel Nurses
The elderly are going to need more and more nursing care as time goes on.
Today, there are around 46 million adults aged 68 to 76. An Aging in the United States report says that by 2060, this number is expected to be more than 98 million. These numbers could lead to a 75% increase in Americans needing care in a nursing home.
#5: Growing Demand for Behavioral Health Travel Nurses
Psych travel nurse placements are available across the USA.
These nurses care for patients with:
- Behavioral or mental health conditions; or
- Substance abuse disorders
Unfortunately, opioid addictions and suicides are rising, and people need help.
By 2025, it is estimated that 96% of all counties in the US will have a shortage of professionals to deal with mental health issues. The US Department of Health and Human Services states that by 2025, the USA will be 250,000 professionals short of what the demand entails.
#6: Continued Use of AI Technology in the Medical Field
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is making its mark in every industry, including the healthcare field. AI technology is already in use that can help detect patient health conditions in real time. As AI technology continues to grow, nurses will need to learn how to work with and use these sophisticated tools to aid in better patient outcomes.
Learning about this new technology may be a challenge for many nurses. However, the greater challenge may be understanding how AI technology works and how to use it in nursing while still prioritizing human judgment to keep patients safe.
#7: Increased Use of Telehealth Nursing
Travel nurses may have more opportunities to work remotely as telehealth nurses with the popularity, practicality, and utility of telehealth technology.
Telehealth nursing provides a service to patients in rural areas or for those who may have limited mobility while also limiting exposure to pathogens. Additionally, telehealth nursing may allow nurses to see more patients, potentially helping with the nursing shortage issue. It can also contribute to higher flexibility, work-life balance, and less burnout.
Though telehealth alternatives became popular during the pandemic, telehealth seems to be here to stay due to the many benefits it provides.
Find Your Dream Travel Nurse Position With Trusted Nurse Staffing
You can get started as a travel nurse today with Trusted Nurse Staffing.
Travel to new places while gaining experience working in different environments and joining new communities.
It is as easy as 1, 2, 3.
- Search Pronto for jobs.
- Find your dream job and apply.
- Start your adventure.
In addition, Trusted Nurse Staffing connects you with:
- Rewarding job opportunities
- Great benefits
- Top recruiters
- Competitive pay
Trusted Nurse Staffing is also proud to provide some incredible bonuses for referring potential travel nurses and facilities. Earn up to $1,500 with qualifying referrals.
We also are committed to helping you pay for your education with our student loan assistance program. For nurses who are eligible, you can receive tax-free student loan reimbursements up to $5,250 every year.
Let Trusted Nurse Staffing guide you to success today. Finding your dream travel nurse position is easy when you work with Trusted Nurse Staffing.