What is a good California travel RN rate?

Valerie Salva, BSN, RN · Apr 7, 2009

That is horrible pay- you should be making twice that. Some of the agencies take advantage of newbie travelers offering them loooow wages that no knowledgable traveler would ever accept.

PCT/CNA travelers are making what you were quoted, and oftentimes more- an RN should never make such a low wage.

leemali79 · Apr 7, 2009

Even with the extra weekly pay for housing and meals? It works out to about 1300/week. Oh well live and learn as a new person.

FireStarterRN, BSN, RN · Apr 7, 2009

That's atrocious. I did a travel contract in a much cheaper area of the West and was clearing $2000 a week.

Valerie Salva, BSN, RN · Apr 7, 2009

My last contract, I was taking home (after taxes) close to that- plus my house (a 4 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 car garage house) furniture, housewares, linens, utils, phone, cable TV, WiFi internet, yard maintenance, plus travel expenses to/from the location were all paid for by the agency.

This was also in a far cheaper area of the west.

leemali79 · Apr 9, 2009

What company did you go through? And what area were you in?

deege58 · Apr 22, 2009

I've been out here since October and that is right around the rate many travelers are making..the further south along the coast, the less per hour....and California does this blended rate...your rate does sound a little low though..my housing is 2,500/month for the tourist season and i average 31/hr blended, that is pretty good for this part of cali..

nyteshade, BSN · Apr 30, 2009

Don't sign that contract!!!!!! I just left the LA area and did $28 "blended rate". The process goes a little like this:

1. The hospital will probably offer about $50 an hr to the agency to have you.

2. The agency will offer you the $15.

3. They pocket the rest!

They make $35/hr off of YOUR work! This is just an estimate...but I'm sure I'm close

I wouldn't want you to meet a local registry nurse that will tell you she's making $500/shift like I did...no wonder they called me so much to work extra shifts.

sjsch · May 1, 2009

Wow...

Last year in SoCal (OC) the big companies were offering $30-$35 hour (after blending) with housing, medical/dental/life insurance, and travel expenses included. I know you get a tax advantage by taking more in stipend and less in hourly wages, but that is a different topic all together. I believe it all comes out in the wash...eventually. I was wondering if you were contracting for 36 or 48 hours at that rate. (Hoping for you it's 36. )

Good luck with your assignment, and I hope you enjoy the area...I did!

Burnenup · May 11, 2009

Ok, please tell me this is some sort of joke! NO WAY would a nurse with 3 or 4 yrs experience ever get paid this much, particularly in a contract situation! I am offended at such an offer if this is real, and you should be as well. Do more research is all I can say; and DO NOT sign that contract! They are completely taking advantage of you and please do share the agency's name because they should know better than to even offer such a wage......

yes this is an emotional response because this is a ridiculous offer.

by the way, a good/average rate is anywhere between 32-37 and hour if you accept the housing, with shift diffs and OT and contracted hours

sjsch · May 12, 2009

Hey...I think the California blend has not been taken into consideration which makes this an overall rate of $39.47 / hour which is a good so-cal rate.

(Calirfornia law states anything over 8 hours gets paid time+half unless otherwise agreed to by all parties)

If she were to work three 12 hour shifts for a total of 36 hours with

24 at the rate of $15.50/hr = 372

12 at the rate of $23.25/hr = 279

then adding the weekly housing and meals of $280 and $490

weekly total would be $1421 / 36 hours = 39.47/hr

That is a typical southern california rate with stipend instead of taking housing. It is also a tax benefit to the traveler by paying taxes only on $651/week. (if she has a qualifying tax home base)...

If it were me, I would have a 'special rate' added to the contract for any hours worked above and beyond the contracted hours. If you are contracting for 36/week and you work an extra 12 or 8 hour shift, then you would be giving your agency a ridiculous bonus and short-changing yourself, so I would ask for $40/hr for any extra shifts worked above the contracted 36.

Also... this would be a fair rate if you were contracted for 36 hours per week. If the contract is for 48 hours per week, then ...nah...not so good.

I would clarify these points with the recruiter and payroll department before signing the contract.

jstr · Feb 15, 2010

I'm still confused with all this pay manipulation. Wouldn't the "blended" pay be 36.88 (pay, meal, housing)? Or am I completely not understanding this rate business? Please help me understand. I was informed by a co. in CA that their normal base pay is between $17-19/hr + the normal housing and meal allowance.