Question about fair travel pay rates

Published

Hi! I'm new to travel nursing (hoping to start in Sept) and am trying to figure out what a fair hourly rate is to start out at. I have been a nurse for 3 years, all spent in a surgical/trauma ICU at a level I trauma center. I am trying to travel to the New England area. I plan on taking the agency-provided housing. I was given an estimate by an agency of what I could expect to make (the example they gave me was for a hospital in Connecticut). The sample contract offered $21.50/hr with $9/day per diem pay. They estimated that after taxes the take home pay would be $600/week. This sounds low to me, but I would appreciate opinions from people with more travel experience. Does this sound reasonable for the area, my experience (all ICU, no traveling), and specialty? Any experience/advice would help!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

They are low balling you for sure. Is this with housing or not?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

This is if I take the agency provided housing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Where exactly in New England? I know Philly new grad rates for regular employees are $27.50/hr, and rural PA is around $23/hr, and new England has a higher COL than most places in PA so.....it seems really low to me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I agree, that seems really low. I am also looking to start traveling in sept (New England area also! It will be so pretty in the fall :)). I only have 1 year of experience (med/surg) and the company I spoke to said the average is about $30-$35. They used a hospital in NH as an example and it would be almost $300 a week for per diem and housing would be included in that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

That is very low. There is some range of salary within CT based on the area where you're working. However most nurses start out at $23-$28 per hour. This being a travel assignment, you should get a differential putting you higher than that average. Take into account your experience as well. They're shooting too low.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for all the help! I thought this sounded way too low, but wanted to make sure my expectations weren't to high. I will definitely hold out for higher pay than this!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.

Please get your recruiter to explain it better to you. I'm being taxed on 10 dollars an hour, but with all the extras, I'm really making 43 and hour. So you are probably being taxed on the 21 but will really make 41 with all the added extras that are nontaxable.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiothoracic ICU.

That is horrible. How could you work for that. I'm a new grad and i make alot more than that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

That is very low for CT and indeed anywhere. I'm wondering if the per diem was per hour, not per day. However, the only way to determine the "fairness" of a contract is to talk to several agencies and compare offers for the same area (same hospital if possible). Because of the different ways that agencies quote compensation, it can be difficult to crunch the numbers. If you google "travelers calculator" you will find a great online tool on PanTravelers to help you compare agency offers on a level playing field.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Fair........well, in 2001 travelers were paid $35/hour, with housing, airfare and rental car. Today, 11 years later, we cant get that! You are lucky if u get $29/hr with housing.

How many jobs dont make as much today as they did 11 years ago? Think about it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac.

$9 per diem?? Whaaat?! Mine is $35. Keep looking and good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion