4. Vermont — 1.8x local rate typical
Vermont travel contracts routinely pay 1.6 to 1.8 times the state's resident RN rate. The gap reflects a small in-state graduate pool and continuous demand at the University of Vermont Medical Center plus critical-access hospitals scattered across the state's rural geography. Winter contracts through respiratory season sit at the top of the range.
Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, North Country Hospital, and Rutland Regional Medical Center run continuous 13-week contract cycles. Rural Vermont housing stipends stretch further than New England metro contracts because rental markets outside Burlington remain relatively affordable, improving effective take-home for out-of-state travelers accepting rural placements.
Vermont is a full NLC member, so travel nurses with a compact-eligible license can accept contracts immediately without endorsement delays. That combination — high premium plus fast onboarding — makes Vermont one of the most efficient travel destinations for nurses looking to maximize weekly take-home across multiple back-to-back contracts.
