If you’re wondering what the hottest and highest paying travel nurse specialties in 2025 are, I’ve got you covered! This list of the highest paying travel nurse jobs was created by myself – a travel nurse of 7 years; and my trusty travel nurse recruiter who brings her knowledge and expertise of the industry. We have curated this list based on experience, trends from 2024, and current needs that have already started to open up in 2025.
IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A TRUSTWORTHY TRAVEL NURSE RECRUITER TO WORK WITH, FILL OUT THIS FORM AND JESS (MY FAVORITE RECRUITER) WILL CONTACT YOU!
1. First Assist Nurses
A first assist nurse is a nurse that assist the surgeon on surgical tasks such as controlling bleeding, suturing, and more. These nurses are very specialized and it’s harder to find first assist nurses which may be one reason why their pay is continuously higher than other specialties.
According to Vivian, first assist nurses get paid 29% higher than the average travel nurse. The states that pay the most (in order) for first assist nurses are West Virginia, California, Louisiana, Oregon, and Missouri; and the cities that pay the most (in order) are Bakersfield, CA, Parkersburg, WV, Santa Maria, CA, Oxnard, CA, and Tulare, CA.
2. CVICU Nurses
A CVICU, or cardiovascular intensive care unit nurse, is a highly trained nurse who specializes in caring for critically ill patients with heart and vascular problems. CVICU nurses are administering life saving care every shift, continuously on their feet, and extremely knowledgable. According to my recruiter, there are fewer CVICU nurses trained and looking to travel nurse, which might be way they are able to demand a higher paycheck.
While data shows the CVICU nurses are only paid 3% higher than the average travel nurse, my recruiter claims that she consistently sees higher rates for these nurses. The states that pay the most for CVICU nurses (in order) are California, Nevada, Arkansas, Delaware, and New Jersey. The cities that pay the most (in order) are Palo Alto, CA, Santa Clara, CA, Stanford, CA, Wayne, New Jersey, and Stockton, CA.
If you need more guidance on becoming a travel nurse, make sure to check out The Ultimate Travel Nurse Bundle where you’ll get 60+ pages of travel nurse information including – how to make sense of your contract, how to negotiate pay, & more – delivered straight to your inbox!
3. CVOR Nurses
A CVOR nurse, or cardiovascular operating room nurse, is a nurse who has specialized in both cardiac care and the operating room. These nurses are incredibly specialized, hard to come by, and assist surgeons during heart and blood vessel surgeries.
According to the date on Vivian, CVOR nurses are paid 19% higher than the average travel nurse. The highest paying states for CVOR nurses (in order) are, West Virginia, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Jersey. The cities that pay the most (in order) are Bakersfield, CA, Parkersburg, WV, Charleston, WV, Lancaster, CA, and Salem, VA.
4. L&D Nurses
Throughout my years as a travel nurse, it is common knowledge that L&D nurses get paid higher than most other specialties. I’m not sure why this is, and my recruiter also says that she isn’t sure since there are a lot of L&D nurses traveling, but it is what it is! An L&D nurse, or a labor and delivery nurse, assists in labor and childbirth. They manage the mother and baby before labor, during labor, and postpartum.
According to Vivian, L&D nurses get paid 8% higher than the average travel nurse. The states that pay the most for L&D nurses (in order) are North Dakota, California, Maine, Rhode Island, and Alaska. The cities that pay the most (in order) are Staten Island, NY, Brockton, MA, Gresham, OR, Watsonville, CA, and Salinas, CA.
5. OR Nurses
Just like L&D nurses, it was also common in the travel nurse industry that OR nurses are consistently paid higher than other specialties. These nurses are higher to come by and there is often a big demand for traveling OR nurses. An OR nurse is an operating room nurse who has different responsibilities in making sure surgery runs smoothly, documentation is being done, and assists the surgeon in what they need.
According to Vivian, OR nurses get paid 7% higher than the average travel nurse. The states that pay OR nurses the highest (in order) are California, Massachusetts, Oregon, New Jersey, and Vermont. The cities that pay OR nurses the most (in order) are, Santa Maria, CA, Oxnard, CA, Hillsboro, OR, Tulare, CA, and New Orleans, LA.
6. PICU Nurses
As a NICU nurse, I do have first-hand knowledge that PICU nurses are always paid more than NICU nurses. I’m not sure why this is, but I was required to float to the PICU throughout my travel nurse years and was not able to be paid what the travel PICU nurses were being paid, which could be frustrating at times. Again, like most of the specialties listed here, PICU nurses (or pediatric intensive care unit nurses) are specialized in caring for critically ill babies, toddlers, adolescents, and teens.
According to Vivian, PICU nurses get paid 9% higher than the average travel nurse. The states that pay PICU nurses the most (in order) are, California, Wisconsin, New York, Illinois, and District of Columbia. The cities that pay the most (in order) are, Los Gatos, CA, Walnut Creek, CA, Downey, CA, Madera, CA, and Santa Clara, CA.
Travel Nurse Essentials
FOR HOUSING
- VRBO
- Extended Stay America
- Hello Landing – Use code “PassportsandPreemies” for $250 off your first standard Landing stay
FOR RECRUITERS
- Fill out this form to connect with my favorite recruiter, Jess
FOR TRAVELING TO/DURING YOUR ASSIGNMENT
- To book a flight, I recommend this booking platform or Skyscanner to compare options
- If you need to rent a car, I recommend Discover Cars
FOR WORK
TO EXPLORE YOUR NEW “HOME”
- For tours I recommend Get Your Guide, Viator, Take Walks, & Devour Tours (available in select cities)
If you’re looking forward to travel nursing in 2025, I hope that you found helpful information and inspiration in this list! If you have any questions about travel nursing, let me know in a comment below! And if you’re looking to connect with an experienced recruiter in this industry, fill out this form to connect with Jess.
If you liked this post, don’t miss…
For more information and inspiration on all things nursing and travel nursing, make sure to check out my Instagram page/highlight reel by searching “#ppinscrubs” or under my highlights for “Nursing” or “Travel Nursing”; alternatively, head to my TikTok and search for the saved “Nursing” or “Travel Nursing” highlight
Pin Me!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to purchase through my link, at no cost to you. Passports and Preemies is also a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees.
Founded by Kylee, a NICU nurse with nine years of experience, including seven years as a travel nurse; Passports and Preemies was created in 2017 and is now the go-to travel and lifestyle channel for nurses who crave adventure beyond the bedside. Whether you’re a staff nurse looking for your next getaway or a travel nurse navigating life on the road, this space is designed to help you maximize your time off, explore the world, and prevent nurse burnout.
On Passports and Preemies, you’ll find everything from travel nursing insights – how to get started, land the best assignments, and thrive on the road – to expert travel tips, destination guides, and real-talk about balancing nursing with a life well-traveled. Passports and Preemies also includes Beyond the Bedside – group trips for nurses around the world; as well as the podcast, Passports and Preemies Talks.
