Nitty gritty of pay rates

79Tango · Jan 13, 2012

You could expect to make about what the locals make + enough $$ to cover your housing expenses.. Anyone promising more than that is most likely full of it!

bagladyrn, RN · Jan 13, 2012

I'll totally agree with 79Tango on this. In some places you may find yourself making less than staff as far as hourly rate, and travel contracts seldom have shift differentials.

The current economic climate has really negatively affected pay rates (I've been traveling for 15 yrs). Rates have dropped and contracts, while improving are stiil not as plentiful as they were a few years ago.

This is not a time to travel if your main goal is to make large amounts of money. Right now traveling is more for seeing new places, learning new things and avoiding the politics necessary in a permanent position.

79Tango · Jan 13, 2012

To give an example of what Ms Baglady is saying---In Houston the locals are getting $37/HR and travelers are getting $31/HR & $960/month housing (which is the same rate, just broken down differently).

msnurse14 · Jan 13, 2012

So if I take the FREE Housing and FREE medical that should lower my pay rate? I don't need to make a ton more of money just enoug to keep even and feel like I should have stayed at my current job. If I maintain a tax home in a different location, then state taxes are not removed from my travel check? I'm just trying to figure out how I can negotiate the best contract and pay possible.

JJNurse29 · Jan 13, 2012

If I could make $34/hr base at home, I wouldn't be traveling right now. If you are getting any kind of shift diff at your current job, my guess is that you are bringing in more than I am travelling. If you want to travel for the adventure, to see the world, or to avoid the drama/politics of a normal job, go for it. If you are just wanting a raise, I fear you will be disappointed

meandragonbrett · Jan 15, 2012

If you expect to make oodles of money traveling you are mistaken. I really don't bring home much more now than when I was a staff nurse making a bit higher salary.

Your pay rate will likely be lower but when you add the tax-free per diem and the tax free housing into your salary and determine your hourly rate after adding those dollars into your pay. You will find that you don't make any more money than if you were local staff. BUT you don't have to fool with paying your housing and utilities.

Traveling is more about the wanderlust, the new experiences, etc. You can expect to make in the $20/hr range in some locations but once you add your per diem and housing to your rate and recalculate your salary would be 30-31/hr. So it's really not any different if you were staff or a traveler.

Does this make sense?

knitter523 · Jan 15, 2012

They only way to make good money as a traveler is to NOT take the "free housing". Take the stipend and find a furnished room to rent or try to stay with family or friends.

I took a travel assignment this past summer. I lived with a friend who I paid $350 a month for a furnished room and a bathroom. We shared the kitchen (I would cook for them on my days off).

The agency paid me $25.00/hour that was taxed. I also received $175/week for meals and incidentals and $560/week for housing (both non-taxable). Yes, I made more than if I stayed at my present job where I make $35/hour.

Make sure before you sign a contract that your recruiter spells out EVERYTHING! Ask for guaranteed shifts (you could be put on call or called off first if the census is low, you are expensive for the hospital and they will try to save money by not paying a traveler), shift differential and paid holidays and overtime. Make sure that the agency does not take away pay for sick days.

Good luck.

caliotter3 · Jan 15, 2012

I don't travel, but wanted to say that I have read comments by travelers that with today's economy, many are no longer being paid better than regular employees. You will need to be careful when negotiating your pay and benefits to make certain that you are not ending up on the short end of a short stick. Best wishes.

bagladyrn, RN · Jan 17, 2012

So if I take the FREE Housing and FREE medical that should lower my pay rate? I don't need to make a ton more of money just enoug to keep even and feel like I should have stayed at my current job. If I maintain a tax home in a different location, then state taxes are not removed from my travel check? I'm just trying to figure out how I can negotiate the best contract and pay possible.

Just to help you with perspective on this: Nothing is "FREE" in traveling. Everything that the company "gives" you: payrate, benefits, housing, travel allowance or whatever comes out of the amount the hospital pays them for your contract. If you make one slice of the pie (say hourly rate) larger, another slice is going to get smaller. Of course, the company costs and profits come out of this also - they are not running a charity.

As for the tax thing - you are still a little confused - two different issues going on here. If you maintain a legal qualifying tax home then the cost of your housing, meals & incidentals allowance and travel allowance may be untaxed money. Separately, whatever taxable income you earn will have taxes deducted for whatever state you are working in. Then when you file your taxes at the end of the year you file for a tax credit in the return for your home state for taxes paid in other states. (Talk to a tax professional for all details on this.)

alicat1226 · Jan 24, 2012

I am so confused. So what I'm seeing, and verified from asking some Travelers I work with, is that if I just change my status to PRN at my hospital I can make more than Travel nursing. Well, I guess minus Heatlh insurance.

meandragonbrett · Jan 24, 2012

I am so confused. So what I'm seeing, and verified from asking some Travelers I work with, is that if I just change my status to PRN at my hospital I can make more than Travel nursing. Well, I guess minus Heatlh insurance.

That would depend on what your pay rate is as a PRN......

Just don't forget that our hourly taxed rate is not all the money that there is as a traveler. And don't forget that we don't pay housing or utilities out of the hourly taxed rate.....but you're not going to make a fortune as a traveler.