From bustling cities to quiet rural communities, Travel Nurses, Inc. offers contracts in almost every corner of the country. Our state guides highlight licensure details, travel guides and open opportunities so you can choose your next destination with confidence.
Click each state to learn more about each location's jobs, licensing information and destination highlights.
Every quarter, we highlight the top five states for travel nurses and allied health professionals based on pay, demand and cost of living. These destinations are perfect for your next adventure.
The best winter travel contract balances competitive pay, cost of living, and a healthcare environment where your skills matter. Florida and New York offer high-volume, fast-paced settings. Colorado and Washington combine strong systems with urban and rural options. Maine provides rural practice with lower living costs that stretch your paycheck further. Choose based on your professional goals, lifestyle preferences, and financial priorities.
We compared the top destinations from Travel Nurses, Inc. with data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and regional healthcare facilities, which measure healthcare cost of living impact, facility demand by specialty and local economics for long-term traveler growth and healthcare worker support. This targeted highlighting ensures you pick out-of-state assignments that deliver both professional and lifestyle benefits for travelers.
• Jobs on the board: Med-surg/Tele, Step-Down and L&D
• Weekly pay: Med-surg/Telemetry roles in Florida generally in the low- to mid-$2,000s per week.
• Cost of living: Florida's cost of living is about 1 percent higher than the national average overall, with housing roughly 3 percent above average and utilities slightly lower.
• Healthcare landscape: Safety-net hospitals and facilities serving older populations may rely heavily on travelers during the winter peak.
• Jobs on the board: Oncology, OR, ICU, ED and Med-surg
• Weekly pay: Colorado markets commonly list weekly gross pay around the mid-$2,000s and up, depending on specialty and shift differentials.
• Cost of living: About 4 percent higher than the national average, with housing roughly 15 percent higher, while utilities run below average.
• Healthcare landscape: Good opportunities for evidence-based practice and strong interdisciplinary teams, especially in larger hospitals.
• Jobs on the board: Telemetry, Med-surg and specialty roles such as L&D and ICU
• Weekly pay: Public travel nurse listings tied to Travel Nurses, Inc. in New York show weekly pay often in the mid-$2,000s and above, especially in metro areas and specialized units.
• Cost of living: Housing costs vary widely, making it important to think carefully about stipends, roommate options and commute trade-offs.
• Healthcare landscape: Travelers can choose between large, resource-rich academic centers and smaller rural hospitals where staffing shortages are more acute.
• Jobs on the board: OR, ED, ICU, Med-surg and Diagnostic Imaging
• Weekly pay: Estimated pay for some Washington roles above $3,300 per week on the Travel Nurses, Inc. job board.
• Cost of living: Consider car-dependent but more affordable suburbs with good transit corridors.
• Healthcare landscape: Washington has 39 critical access hospitals, underscoring the importance of rural facilities and showing how many communities rely on smaller hospitals with limited beds.
• Jobs on the board: Med-surg, OR/Scrub and CT Technologist
• Weekly pay: Roles in Maine around $1,900 to $2,000 per week for med-surg and related specialties, with higher ranges for select units and shifts.
• Cost of living: A better balance between weekly pay and housing costs, especially if you choose smaller communities rather than tourist hot spots.
• Healthcare landscape: Maine has 18 critical access hospitals, dozens of rural health clinics and many FQHC sites supporting small communities.
