Travel NICU Nurse Salary
Neonatal Travel Nurses: The Ones Taking Care of Sick Newborns As the demand for the NICU travel nurse continues to grow, many are left wondering just how much that might mean in salary potential. We consider traveling nurse salary in this article and answer how much do travel nurses make a year, search for NICU travel nurse jobs, and explore how much does a travel nurse make a month while examining traveling nurse salary trends overall.
What Is a NICU Travel Nurse?
A NICU travel nurse is an RN with specializations in neonatal intensive care who takes traveling contracts at hospitals within the United States. These assignments are typically 8 to 13 weeks long, and travel nurses get very competitive pay packages, including housing stipends, travel reimbursements, and hourly wages that match or exceed those of staff nurses.
How Much Does a Travel Nurse Make in a Year?
A question I hear often from aspiring travel nurses is, “How much do travel nurses make a year?” Salary can differ depending on location, experience, and contractual conditions. However, on average:
One year salary of travel nurses ranges from $80,000 to $150,000.
Highly-skilled nurses working in high-demand or crisis assignments can earn more than $180,000 a year.
Tax-free stipends have huge income-lifting potential — travel nursing can pay much, much better than other careers.
How Much do Travel Nurses Make a Month?
Other people will know, “How much does a travel nurse make per month?” is another crucial question. Based on industry averages:
Travel NICU nurses make around $6,000 to $12,500 a month.
Prices for some contracts range from $3,000 to $5,000 a week, contingent on location and demand.
During times of crisis or emergencies, travel nurses can make as much as $15,000 a month.
NICU Travel Nurse Salary Influencing Factors
There are some factors that play a role in a travel nurse salary—you can follow:
Location – Urban hospitals in states such as California, New York, and Massachusetts pay more because of higher demand and cost of living
Experience & Specialization – Advanced certifications (e.g., CCRN, NRP) can lead to higher payEthics & Compliance.
Contract Length & Shift Type–Night shifts and longer contracts tend to pay better.
Bonuses & Incentives – Most agencies will provide sign-on bonuses, completion bonuses, and additional stipends.
| Time Period | Lower Salary ($) | Higher Salary ($) |
| Annual | 80000 | 150000 |
| Monthly | 6000 | 12500 |
| Weekly | 3000 | 5000 |
Where to Find the Best NICU Travel Nurse Jobs
Top platforms for travel nurse jobs if you want NICU travel nurse jobs
Travel nursing firms such as AMN Healthcare, Aya Healthcare and Fastaff Travel Nursing.
Direct contracts via hospital job boards
Self-marketing to find networks of recruiters to mediate them in high-paid assignments.
Benefits of Being a NICU Travel Nurse
Aside from the competitive salaries, NICU travel nurses also enjoy benefits, such as:
Flexible scheduling – Work when it best fits your lifestyle.
Free housing or stipends – Many agencies offer free, fully furnished housing.
Career development – Exposure to multiple healthcare arenas.
Explore new cities while advancing your career.
Becoming a NICU travel nurse not only lucrative but also a fulfilling career path. No wonder why so many RNs are making the switch — you can make between $80,000 and $150,000+ per year, enjoy that tax-free stipend, and gain experience in a variety of medical settings. As a skilled NICU nurse or a travel new-be, knowing the salary range and job availability will help you plan about how and where do you want to work in this lucrative field.
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Summarize :
NICU travel nurses are essential to neonatal intensive care, and they earn between $80,000 to $150,000+ each year. Location, experience, and contract specifics may bring monthly earnings between $6,000 and $12,500. Top-of-the-line compensation is available in high-demand states like California and New York. Benefits like tax-free stipends, flexible scheduling and chances for career growth. As a travel nurse, your salary will vary based on specialty, shift type and bonuses. NICU travel nursing still offers an unmatched career experience for those who want to grow and earn the most they can.