Current Travel Wage Trends by State
Travel wages in healthcare frequently vary, primarily influenced by supply and demand. This pattern has intensified in recent years due to a notable shift in traveler demand. Various external factors have contributed to a significant drop in healthcare travel pay. Nevertheless, it is unlikely that these wages will decrease below previously recorded levels. Healthcare facilities nationwide continue to struggle with staffing shortages, compounded by a portion of the workforce choosing not to return and others exiting the profession entirely. For those continuing in travel roles, October marked a significant shift, resulting in a positive impact on earnings.
**Travel Wages on the Rise** After a prolonged decline over the first nine months, October experienced a marked increase in healthcare travel salaries across more than half of the states. Below is a recap of the figures from the first three quarters for a clearer understanding of the changes.
| Month | # States With Pay Increase | Largest Increase | # States with Pay Decrease | Largest Decrease | # Unchanged | |------------|----------------------------|------------------|---------------------------|------------------|-------------| | September | 1 | 3.3% | 38 | -15.4% | 11 | | August | 5 | 3.0% | 38 | -22.9% | 7 | | July | 0 | N/A | 43 | -14.3% | 7 | | June | 7 | 3.6% | 27 | -19.2% | 16 | | May | 5 | 3.1% | 36 | -12.4% | 9 | | April | 1 | 1.3% | 48 | -17.3% | 1 | | March | 0 | N/A | 50 | -24.4% | 0 | | February | 6 | 6.1% | 32 | -10.5% | 12 | | January | 43 | 11.1% | 3 | -3.7% | 4 |
**States with Wage Increases** In October, travel wage trends indicated that 29 states reported increases for the first time since January, with rises ranging from 1% to 22.9%. States with the most significant increases exceeded those recorded in January, which had the largest bump at 11.1%.
| State | Avg Weekly Pay September | Avg Weekly Pay October | Percent Increase | |-----------------|--------------------------|-----------------------|------------------| | Delaware | $2,020 | $2,619 | 22.9% | | Rhode Island | $2,166 | $2,619 | 17.3% | | Maryland | $2,220 | $2,601 | 14.6% | | Massachusetts | $2,449 | $2,836 | 13.7% | | Connecticut | $2,308 | $2,613 | 11.7% | | New Hampshire | $2,348 | $2,641 | 11.1% | | Wisconsin | $2,351 | $2,537 | 7.3% | | Pennsylvania | $2,587 | $2,751 | 6.0% | | New Mexico | $2,474 | $2,596 | 4.7% | | Missouri | $2,228 | $2,330 | 4.4% | | New Jersey | $2,902 | $3,005 | 3.4% | | Arkansas | $2,338 | $2,414 | 3.2% | | Vermont | $2,696 | $2,766 | 2.5% | | Oklahoma | $2,128 | $2,180 | 2.4% | | Minnesota | $2,734 | $2,796 | 2.2% | | West Virginia | $2,683 | $2,740 | 2.1% | | Colorado | $2,457 | $2,507 | 2.0% | | Alabama | $2,299 | $2,341 | 1.8% | | North Carolina | $2,534 | $2,577 | 1.7% | | Wyoming | $2,868 | $2,916 | 1.7% | | South Dakota | $2,675 | $2,720 | 1.6% | | Kentucky | $2,613 | $2,656 | 1.6% | | Michigan | $2,505 | $2,545 | 1.6% | | Texas | $2,131 | $2,165 | 1.6% | | Hawaii | $2,595 | $2,634 | 1.5% | | Maine | $2,689 | $2,729 | 1.5% | | Ohio | $2,660 | $2,697 | 1.4% | | California | $3,059 | $3,099 | 1.3% | | Mississippi | $2,309 | $2,332 | 1.0% |
**States with Wage Decreases** Five states reported decreases in travel wages during October, with declines between 1.2% and 2.6%. Louisiana experienced the largest drop after maintaining stability in September, though it has experienced larger decreases in the past.
| State | Avg Weekly Pay September | Avg Weekly Pay October | Percent Decrease | |----------------|--------------------------|-----------------------|-------------------| | Louisiana | $2,390 | $2,330 | -2.6% | | Kansas | $2,298 | $2,249 | -2.2% | | Oregon | $2,757 | $2,704 | -2.0% | | Iowa | $2,644 | $2,608 | -1.4% | | Florida | $2,034 | $2,010 | -1.2% |
**States with Unchanged Wages** The remaining 16 states exhibited little to no significant fluctuations in travel wages, showing minimal changes in both directions.
| State | Avg Weekly Pay September | Avg Weekly Pay October | Percent Change | |-----------------|--------------------------|-----------------------|------------------| | Washington | $2,731 | $2,756 | 0.9% | | New York | $2,789 | $2,811 | 0.8% | | Nevada | $2,832 | $2,851 | 0.7% | | Illinois | $2,717 | $2,729 | 0.4% | | Tennessee | $2,309 | $2,317 | 0.4% | | Idaho | $2,549 | $2,549 | 0.0% | | Nebraska | $2,671 | $2,666 | -0.2% | | Utah | $2,331 | $2,327 | -0.2% | | South Carolina | $2,361 | $2,352 | -0.4% | | North Dakota | $2,915 | $2,900 | -0.5% | | Arizona | $2,668 | $2,652 | -0.6% | | Montana | $2,485 | $2,469 | -0.6% | | Virginia | $2,504 | $2,485 | -0.8% | | Alaska | $2,761 | $2,740 | -0.8% | | Indiana | $2,654 | $2,632 | -0.8% | | Georgia | $2,331 | $2,309 | -0.9% |
**Possible Reasons for Changes** Travel wage fluctuations can arise from numerous factors, often appearing vague. However, substantial changes usually connect to deeper issues, such as the ongoing national nursing shortage significantly impacting wage rates. Furthermore, the increase in respiratory illnesses has put additional strain on healthcare systems, leading to fluctuating patient counts. Given these circumstances, the demand for travel professionals remains strong, presenting a complex environment where current compensation, while lower than peak times, still outstrips historical figures, highlighting ongoing staffing challenges.
