Sep 18, 2022 - Health

Travel nursing pay drops 7% from last year

Change in weekly travel nurse pay
Data: Vivian Health Note: Data not available for D.C.; Map: Madison Dong/Axios

The national average for travel nurse pay in August was $3,045 a week, down 7.4% from the same month a year ago, according to health care staffing company Vivian Health.

Why it matters: Workforce costs soared during the pandemic, largely driven by high demand and the use of travel employees to fill it.

  • Hospitals have cited staffing expenses in pleas to Congress for more relief.
  • The decrease in weekly pay is due to a shift away from travel roles and toward permanent nursing roles, as well as fewer federal dollars for large travel contracts, per Vivian.
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