2. Travel Nurse premium contract — $110K – $145K
Travel nursing pay compressed sharply from 2022 to 2024 as the pandemic-era spike faded, but premium contracts in specialty units are still very much a six-figure path. Vivian Health contract data shows ICU, ED, OR, and L&D travel contracts routinely posting weekly rates equivalent to $110K to $145K annualized.
The realistic requirements are two years of specialty experience plus the relevant certifications — CCRN for ICU, CEN for ED, CNOR for OR. Most reputable agencies work only through NALTO-member firms, which enforces basic contract standards and dispute resolution for travelers.
Weekly stipends for housing and meals are typically non-taxable when the traveler maintains a legitimate tax home per IRS guidance, which changes the effective take-home considerably. The trade-off is instability: 13-week contracts, license paperwork per state, and the logistics of moving three to four times per year.
