California Travel Nurse Pay

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What should I expect to get paid as a travel nurse in the ICU in California from December until March (2013)? My recruiter quoted $850 with their housing and $1500 without their housing. Is this ridiculous or is this the travel nursing market right now?

What are you guys getting paid currently in ICUs in California?

How much are you guys getting paid in ICUs in other parts of the country?

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for trusted travel nursing agencies in the cali area. Does anyone have any recommendations or recruiters they would suggest?

Thanks.

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Specializes in Psych.

You can't trust travel companies period. Do a quick search on this forum. If you want specific recruiter referrals I would recommend popping over to the TNT forums (travel nurse and therapist forum - Google that and it will come up) and ask. I got a great rec from there for one of my top two favorite recruiters (I have 5 companies/five recruiters). I'm going to San D. soon, got a nice midshift contract I'm very happy about.

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I agree, the right recruiters can be trusted more than the "right" agencies, even if they are at a "wrong" agency. And kudos to your multiple agency strategy.

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I'm shocked to hear of such low pay for California, who is supposed to have the best pay in the business. After housing, taxes, etc I was taking home $1500 a week in Connecticut working 36-42 hours a week. Even in Georgia (low paying south) after housing costs I was still taking home a little over $1100 a week.

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This makes me a little more interested in being a travel nurse.

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What agency did you work with if you don't mind me asking?

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In general, Northern california pays much better than southern california with San Diego paying the least, the bay area paying the most.

For reference, I was making 1700 weekly in LA, finding my own housing while my fiance was making 1,000 with housing included. Now we are in the bay area and I am currently netting 2,000 per week as an ICU nurse working a 36 hour day shift, my fiance is netting 2500 working the same shift as a PICU nurse. There was just an urgent demand notice put out with ICU contracts netting 2700 for 36 hour day shifts with hefty completion bonuses.

All of that being said, studios are renting for 2,000 per month with larger apartments and houses easily reaching 3,000. Housing is expensive!! Despite the high costs of housing, we are loving the adventure, and have been able to move the needle on savings much easier than we were working full time in the south east.

Before I started travel nursing, I was always looking for real numbers from someone's experiences. We have been lucky and have landed very well paying positions we enjoy.

So for those looking for high paying options, yes they do still exist. Be patient and network with recruiters!

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