Best States for Travel Nurses in 2025: Pay, Benefits & Quality of Life

Best States for Travel Nurses in 2025: Pay, Benefits & Quality of Life

Choosing the right state for your travel nursing assignment can significantly impact your earnings, taxes, and overall experience. Here’s our comprehensive guide to the best states for travel nurses in 2025.

Top 10 Highest Paying States

1. California

• Average Hourly Rate: $55/hr
• Average Annual: $114,400
• Tax Rate: 13.3% (high)
• Cost of Living: Very High (151.7)
• Why: Highest pay rates, strong demand, great weather
• Best Cities: San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego

2. New York

• Average Hourly Rate: $58/hr
• Average Annual: $120,640
• Tax Rate: 10.9% (high)
• Cost of Living: Very High (139.1)
• Why: High pay, world-class hospitals, diverse opportunities
• Best Cities: New York City, Buffalo, Rochester

3. Massachusetts

• Average Hourly Rate: $56/hr
• Average Annual: $116,480
• Tax Rate: 5.0% (moderate)
• Cost of Living: Very High (146.5)
• Why: Excellent hospitals, strong demand, good benefits
• Best Cities: Boston, Worcester, Springfield

4. Washington

• Average Hourly Rate: $56/hr
• Average Annual: $116,480
• Tax Rate: 0% (no state income tax!)
• Cost of Living: High (118.7)
• Why: No state income tax, high pay, beautiful state
• Best Cities: Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma

5. Oregon

• Average Hourly Rate: $54/hr
• Average Annual: $112,320
• Tax Rate: 9.9% (high)
• Cost of Living: High (130.8)
• Why: High pay, strong demand, great quality of life
• Best Cities: Portland, Eugene, Salem

Best States for Tax Benefits

States with No Income Tax

1. Alaska - No state income tax, high pay
2. Florida - No state income tax, moderate cost of living
3. Nevada - No state income tax, good pay
4. South Dakota - No state income tax, low cost of living
5. Tennessee - No state income tax, growing market
6. Texas - No state income tax, large market
7. Washington - No state income tax, high pay
8. Wyoming - No state income tax, low cost of living

Tax Savings Example:

• $100,000 taxable income
• 5% state tax = $5,000 saved
• Over 10 years = $50,000 saved!

Best States for Cost of Living

Lowest Cost of Living States

1. Mississippi - Index: 83.3 (Very Low)
2. Arkansas - Index: 86.5 (Low)
3. Oklahoma - Index: 87.9 (Low)
4. Missouri - Index: 87.9 (Low)
5. Alabama - Index: 88.1 (Low)

Why It Matters:

• Lower cost of living = more take-home pay
• Your stipends go further
• Better quality of life on same income

Best States for Quality of Life

Factors to Consider:

• Weather: California, Florida, Arizona
• Outdoor Activities: Colorado, Oregon, Washington
• Culture & Entertainment: New York, California, Texas
• Safety: Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire
• Healthcare Quality: Massachusetts, Minnesota, California

State-by-State Comparison

High Pay, High Cost States

• California - Highest pay, highest cost
• New York - Very high pay, very high cost
• Massachusetts - High pay, very high cost
• Connecticut - High pay, high cost

Best For: Nurses who want maximum earnings and don’t mind high costs

High Pay, Moderate Cost States

• Texas - Good pay, low cost, no state tax
• Arizona - Good pay, moderate cost
• Nevada - Good pay, moderate cost, no state tax
• Colorado - Good pay, moderate-high cost

Best For: Nurses who want good pay with reasonable costs

Moderate Pay, Low Cost States

• Tennessee - Moderate pay, low cost, no state tax
• Alabama - Moderate pay, very low cost
• Mississippi - Lower pay, very low cost
• Arkansas - Moderate pay, low cost

Best For: Nurses who prioritize savings and low costs

Nurse Licensure Compact States

Compact states allow you to work in multiple states with one license:

Current Compact States:

• Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Benefits:

• Work in multiple states with one license
• Faster start times
• Lower licensing costs
• More opportunities

Special Considerations

High Demand States

• California - Always high demand
• Texas - Large population, growing demand
• Florida - Retiree population, high demand
• New York - Major metro areas, constant demand

Best for New Travel Nurses

• Compact states - Easier licensing
• High demand areas - More opportunities
• Supportive agencies - Better guidance
• Established markets - More resources

Best for Experienced Nurses

• High pay states - Maximize earnings
• Specialty-focused areas - Advanced opportunities
• Teaching hospitals - Professional development
• Competitive markets - Better negotiation power

Making Your Decision

Consider These Factors:

1. Total Compensation

   • Hourly rate
   • Stipends
   • Benefits
   • Taxes

2. Cost of Living

   • Housing costs
   • Food costs
   • Transportation
   • Entertainment

3. Quality of Life

   • Weather
   • Activities
   • Culture
   • Safety

4. Career Goals

   • Specialty opportunities
   • Professional development
   • Networking
   • Long-term plans

Our Recommendations

For Maximum Earnings:

1. California
2. New York
3. Massachusetts
4. Washington
5. Oregon

For Best Value (Pay vs. Cost):

1. Texas
2. Nevada
3. Arizona
4. Tennessee
5. Florida

For Tax Benefits:

1. Texas (no state tax, good pay)
2. Washington (no state tax, high pay)
3. Florida (no state tax, moderate pay)
4. Nevada (no state tax, good pay)
5. Tennessee (no state tax, moderate pay)

Using Cost of Living to Make Decisions

When comparing states, cost of living is just as important as pay rate. A $3,000/week contract in Seattle may leave you with less discretionary income than a $2,500/week contract in Tulsa after accounting for rent and living expenses.

Use our Cost of Living Calculator to see your true discretionary income (income minus rent) for any state. This helps you make apples-to-apples comparisons between different locations.

Key Metrics to Compare:

• Average rent vs. your take-home pay
• Cost of living index
• True discretionary income
• State tax burden

Related: Check out our state-specific pay guides with detailed cost of living data, or use our state comparison tool to compare multiple states side-by-side.

Conclusion

The best state for travel nurses depends on your priorities. Consider total compensation, cost of living, tax benefits, and quality of life when making your decision.

Remember: The highest-paying state isn’t always the best choice when you factor in cost of living and taxes. Use our pay calculator with cost of living analysis to see your true take-home pay and discretionary income.

Use our state-specific pay guides to compare detailed information for each state, including pay rates, GSA rates, tax information, cost of living data, and average rent.

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Related Resources:

• Travel Nurse Pay Calculator - Calculate take-home pay with cost of living analysis
• State-Specific Pay Guides - Detailed state-by-state analysis
• Compare States Tool - Side-by-side state comparison
• Contract Negotiation Guide
• Share Your Pay Data - Help build real pay data