Best cities for a traveling nurse
The best cities for traveling nurses are Hempstead, NY, Fort Wayne, IN, and Lexington, KY, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for traveling nurses vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for traveling nurses in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a traveling nurse or considering a move, this list of the best cities for traveling nurses to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for traveling nurses. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a traveling nurse. While the absolute best city for traveling nurses is Hempstead, NY, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for traveling nurses in 2024.
If you're looking for a traveling nurse job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for traveling nurses in 2025
1. Hempstead, NY
Traveling nurse jobs in HempsteadTotal traveling nurse jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $114,501 Lowest 10 percent warn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $204,000 Location quotient: 1.11 2. Fort Wayne, IN
Traveling nurse jobs in Fort WayneTotal traveling nurse jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $94,086 Lowest 10 percent warn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $166,000 Location quotient: 0.95 3. Lexington, KY
Traveling nurse jobs in LexingtonTotal traveling nurse jobs: 21 Average annual salary: $88,295 Lowest 10 percent warn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $165,000 Location quotient: 1.25 4. Reno, NV
Traveling nurse jobs in RenoTotal traveling nurse jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $92,288 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location quotient: 0.84 5. Detroit, MI
Traveling nurse jobs in DetroitTotal traveling nurse jobs: 26 Average annual salary: $109,298 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $190,000 Location quotient: 0.46 6. Aurora, CO
Traveling nurse jobs in AuroraTotal traveling nurse jobs: 39 Average annual salary: $98,198 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $157,000 Location quotient: 1.03 7. Indianapolis, IN
Traveling nurse jobs in IndianapolisTotal traveling nurse jobs: 53 Average annual salary: $93,333 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $169,000 Location quotient: 0.50 8. Milwaukee, WI
Traveling nurse jobs in MilwaukeeTotal traveling nurse jobs: 22 Average annual salary: $98,873 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $167,000 Location quotient: 0.41 9. Memphis, TN
Traveling nurse jobs in MemphisTotal traveling nurse jobs: 35 Average annual salary: $82,729 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $155,000 Location quotient: 0.65 10. Madison, WI
Traveling nurse jobs in MadisonTotal traveling nurse jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $98,215 Lowest 10 percent warn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $164,000 Location quotient: 0.41
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Best cities for traveling nurses
- Hempstead, NY
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Lexington, KY
- Reno, NV
- Detroit, MI
- Aurora, CO
- Indianapolis, IN
- Milwaukee, WI
- Memphis, TN
- Madison, WI
Detailed list of the best cities for a traveling nurse
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hempstead, NY | $114,501 | $64,000 | 759,757 | 1 |
| 2 | Fort Wayne, IN | $94,086 | $53,000 | 264,488 | 15 |
| 3 | Lexington, KY | $88,295 | $47,000 | 318,449 | 21 |
| 4 | Reno, NV | $92,288 | $58,000 | 245,255 | 17 |
| 5 | Detroit, MI | $109,298 | $62,000 | 672,795 | 26 |
| 6 | Aurora, CO | $98,198 | $61,000 | 361,710 | 39 |
| 7 | Indianapolis, IN | $93,333 | $51,000 | 855,164 | 53 |
| 8 | Milwaukee, WI | $98,873 | $58,000 | 595,047 | 22 |
| 9 | Memphis, TN | $82,729 | $44,000 | 652,717 | 35 |
| 10 | Madison, WI | $98,215 | $58,000 | 252,551 | 20 |
| 11 | Henderson, NV | $91,743 | $55,000 | 292,969 | 5 |
| 12 | Gilbert, AZ | $87,199 | $51,000 | 237,133 | 9 |
| 13 | Colorado Springs, CO | $98,649 | $60,000 | 465,101 | 40 |
| 14 | Louisville, KY | $87,830 | $47,000 | 597,337 | 27 |
| 15 | Winston-Salem, NC | $86,625 | $44,000 | 242,203 | 8 |
| 16 | Denver, CO | $98,172 | $61,000 | 693,060 | 121 |
| 17 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $124,579 | $90,000 | 351,792 | 12 |
| 18 | Newark, NJ | $97,382 | $54,000 | 281,764 | 22 |
| 19 | Philadelphia, PA | $92,583 | $51,000 | 1,567,872 | 30 |
| 20 | Nashville, TN | $83,856 | $44,000 | 660,388 | 24 |
| 21 | Saint Louis, MO | $86,532 | $47,000 | 311,404 | 49 |
| 22 | Buffalo, NY | $110,729 | $63,000 | 256,902 | 8 |
| 23 | Greensboro, NC | $86,834 | $44,000 | 287,027 | 8 |
| 24 | Oklahoma City, OK | $81,335 | $45,000 | 638,367 | 35 |
| 25 | Albuquerque, NM | $80,790 | $47,000 | 559,277 | 34 |
| 26 | Cleveland, OH | $77,524 | $43,000 | 385,809 | 23 |
| 27 | Pittsburgh, PA | $89,388 | $49,000 | 303,625 | 21 |
| 28 | Chandler, AZ | $87,226 | $51,000 | 247,477 | 12 |
| 29 | Lubbock, TX | $80,455 | $44,000 | 252,506 | 6 |
| 30 | Boston, MA | $105,669 | $60,000 | 673,184 | 40 |
| 31 | Charlotte, NC | $85,815 | $44,000 | 842,051 | 46 |
| 32 | Seattle, WA | $107,970 | $73,000 | 704,352 | 37 |
| 33 | Bakersfield, CA | $98,980 | $60,000 | 376,380 | 12 |
| 34 | Phoenix, AZ | $87,402 | $51,000 | 1,615,017 | 57 |
| 35 | Minneapolis, MN | $89,833 | $56,000 | 413,651 | 28 |
| 36 | Glendale, AZ | $87,420 | $51,000 | 245,895 | 2 |
| 37 | Tucson, AZ | $86,688 | $50,000 | 530,706 | 14 |
| 38 | Kansas City, MO | $85,049 | $49,000 | 481,420 | 27 |
| 39 | Stockton, CA | $99,391 | $62,000 | 307,072 | 6 |
| 40 | Baltimore, MD | $94,522 | $51,000 | 614,664 | 61 |
| 41 | Mesa, AZ | $87,222 | $51,000 | 484,587 | 4 |
| 42 | Las Vegas, NV | $91,869 | $56,000 | 632,912 | 9 |
| 43 | Durham, NC | $87,245 | $45,000 | 263,016 | 8 |
| 44 | Tulsa, OK | $81,140 | $45,000 | 403,090 | 11 |
| 45 | Fresno, CA | $99,180 | $61,000 | 522,053 | 10 |
| 46 | El Paso, TX | $81,375 | $45,000 | 683,080 | 7 |
| 47 | Atlanta, GA | $87,037 | $44,000 | 472,522 | 56 |
| 48 | New York, NY | $114,335 | $64,000 | 8,537,673 | 48 |
| 49 | Columbus, OH | $76,445 | $41,000 | 860,090 | 52 |
| 50 | Oakland, CA | $100,322 | $62,000 | 420,005 | 11 |
Highest paying cities for traveling nurses
| Rank | City | Avg. traveling nurse salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Detroit, MI | $109,298 |
| 2 | Tacoma, WA | $108,135 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $105,669 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $104,672 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $100,488 |
| 6 | Colorado Springs, CO | $98,649 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $94,522 |
| 8 | Indianapolis, IN | $93,333 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $92,583 |
| 10 | Portland, ME | $92,244 |
| 11 | Aurora, IL | $90,733 |
| 12 | Durham, NC | $87,245 |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $87,037 |
| 14 | Saint Louis, MO | $86,532 |
| 15 | Johnson City, TN | $85,589 |
| 16 | Portland, OR | $85,585 |
| 17 | El Paso, TX | $81,375 |
| 18 | Albuquerque, NM | $80,790 |
| 19 | Little Rock, AR | $80,188 |
| 20 | Columbia, SC | $78,527 |
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Updated January 8, 2025