{"id":6613,"date":"2023-03-22T18:21:19","date_gmt":"2023-03-22T18:21:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/?p=6613"},"modified":"2024-08-07T15:29:55","modified_gmt":"2024-08-07T15:29:55","slug":"best-states-for-travel-nurses-to-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/travel-nursing\/best-states-for-travel-nurses-to-work\/","title":{"rendered":"2023 Index: The Best States for Travel Nurses to Work"},"content":{"rendered":"<h6 id=\"back-to-top\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Working as a travel nurse comes with great perks, including the freedom and flexibility to work anywhere across America as you<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 600;\"><a style=\"color: #006400;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/explore\/#careerTools\">explore a healthcare career<\/a><\/span>. <span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">With great freedom, however, comes great responsibility. In this case, it\u2019s a life-changing decision that impacts where you work, where you live and how comfortably you do so.<\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To empower travel nurses&#8217; decisions across the country, we\u2019ve created a Travel Nurse Location Index, awarding each state a score out of 100 based on its performance across four key categories.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To reach this score, we analyzed all 50 states based on a range of criteria, including:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The average travel nurse salary per week as of February 20, 2023<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The number of available travel nurse jobs on Vivian per 100k people as of February 20, 2023<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The number of hospitals per 100k people per the <a style=\"color: #006400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">American Hospital Association<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cost of living estimates from <a style=\"color: #006400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Sperling\u2019s Best Places<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> compared to the US average<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Factoring in performance across these four categories, the Travel Nurse Location Index helps pinpoint the best states for travel nursing in the U.S.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #3c3b3d;color:#3c3b3d\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #3c3b3d;color:#3c3b3d\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/travel-nursing\/best-states-for-travel-nurses-to-work\/#the_top_states_to_work_as_a_travel_nurse\" >The Top States to Work As a Travel Nurse<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/travel-nursing\/best-states-for-travel-nurses-to-work\/#the_highest_paying_states_for_travel_nurses\" >The Highest Paying States for Travel Nurses<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/travel-nursing\/best-states-for-travel-nurses-to-work\/#the_lowest_salary_states_for_travel_nurses\" >The Lowest Salary States for Travel Nurses<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/travel-nursing\/best-states-for-travel-nurses-to-work\/#the_best_cost_of_living_states_for_travel_nurses\" >The Best Cost of Living States for Travel Nurses<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/travel-nursing\/best-states-for-travel-nurses-to-work\/#states_with_the_lowest_cost_of_living\" >States with the Lowest Cost of Living<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/travel-nursing\/best-states-for-travel-nurses-to-work\/#states_with_the_lowest_average_rent\" >States with the Lowest Average Rent<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/travel-nursing\/best-states-for-travel-nurses-to-work\/#states_with_the_lowest_basic_utilities\" >States with the Lowest Basic Utilities<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/travel-nursing\/best-states-for-travel-nurses-to-work\/#the_states_with_the_most_travel_nurse_positions\" >The States with the Most Travel Nurse Positions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/travel-nursing\/best-states-for-travel-nurses-to-work\/#making_informed_decisions_as_a_travel_nurse\" >Making Informed Decisions as a Travel Nurse<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"the_top_states_to_work_as_a_travel_nurse\"><\/span>The Top States to Work As a Travel Nurse<b><\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Working as a travel nurse, America is your oyster. That\u2019s why we\u2019ve factored in all the important aspects to provide the pearl-like states that are the ideal choice for your next job, depending on your personal priorities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Combining all ranking factors, here\u2019s how our scoring system ranked the 50 states for travel nurses.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-6625 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/03\/Travel-Nurse-Index-Map-1.jpg\" alt=\"Travel Nurses Index Map 2023\" width=\"1801\" height=\"1360\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/03\/Travel-Nurse-Index-Map-1.jpg 1801w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/03\/Travel-Nurse-Index-Map-1-300x227.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/03\/Travel-Nurse-Index-Map-1-768x580.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/03\/Travel-Nurse-Index-Map-1-1024x773.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/03\/Travel-Nurse-Index-Map-1-1536x1160.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/03\/Travel-Nurse-Index-Map-1-490x370.jpg 490w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/03\/Travel-Nurse-Index-Map-1-980x740.jpg 980w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1801px) 100vw, 1801px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><small>\u00a9 Vivian Health 2023<\/small><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The index revealed that overall, the Dakotas are the best states to work as a travel nurse, scoring high marks across the board for salary, cost of living and travel nurse job opportunities statewide. Taking the top spot, South Dakota scored a full 100, followed closely by North Dakota, with a score of 96.62.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scoring lowest in the index, California ranked as the worst state for travel nurses to work. While it scored high for salary, the state scored low for jobs available per capita and the number of hospitals available for work. The state also ranked last for its cost of living compared to the national average, bringing its overall average down and placing it at the bottom of the list.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><a style=\"color: #006400;\" href=\"#back-to-top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-6614\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/03\/Top-50-Table.jpg\" alt=\"Top 50 States Table - North Travel Nurse Index\" width=\"987\" height=\"1042\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/03\/Top-50-Table.jpg 987w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/03\/Top-50-Table-284x300.jpg 284w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/03\/Top-50-Table-768x811.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/03\/Top-50-Table-970x1024.jpg 970w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/03\/Top-50-Table-350x370.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/03\/Top-50-Table-701x740.jpg 701w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 987px) 100vw, 987px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><small>\u00a9 Vivian Health 2023<\/small><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"the_highest_paying_states_for_travel_nurses\"><\/span><b>The Highest Paying States for Travel Nurses<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite all the reasons you may have become a travel nurse, money is inevitably an important factor. If you want to go where the money is, don\u2019t worry; we\u2019re here to help.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In support of salary transparency, we analyzed <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/nursing\/salary\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">travel nurse salary data from Vivian<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> within our index. When comparing average weekly salaries from January 2023 to those from the same month last year (Jan 2022), we see that salaries are down 16% overall this year. The only state with a positive salary change is Hawaii, where wages increased by 2%. The state with the biggest decrease is Georgia, where January salaries dropped by 27% compared to figures from the same month last year.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our index ranked the states below as the best for travel nurses based on average weekly salaries.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-6616 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/03\/Highest-Salaries-Smaller-e1683060101430.jpg\" alt=\"Highest Salaries - North Travel Nurse Index 2023\" width=\"526\" height=\"623\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/03\/Highest-Salaries-Smaller-e1683060101430.jpg 526w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/03\/Highest-Salaries-Smaller-e1683060101430-253x300.jpg 253w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/03\/Highest-Salaries-Smaller-e1683060101430-312x370.jpg 312w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 526px) 100vw, 526px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><small><em><strong>Source<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/salary\/\">Vivian salary data<\/a>. \u00a9 Vivian Health 2023<\/em><\/small><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite coming last in the overall index ranking, California has the highest salaries for travel nurses, paying an average of $3,070 per week. An important factor for most during the current economic situation, it\u2019s no wonder California has proven a popular state for healthcare professionals overall.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you want to know more about the Golden State, our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/travel-guides\/california-location-guide\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">California Location Guide<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can help you navigate its sunny cities to find one that suits you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other top-paying states include New Jersey ($3,011) and North Dakota ($3,002).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><a style=\"color: #006400;\" href=\"#back-to-top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"the_lowest_salary_states_for_travel_nurses\"><\/span>The Lowest Salary States for Travel Nurses<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our index revealed Florida has the lowest salaries for travel RNs, paying (on average) $2,220 per week for these positions. Oklahoma ($2,303) and Texas ($2,323) follow closely behind. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If money is the biggest priority for you when it comes to your next job, you may want to be wary of the following states that ranked lowest in pay. However, many states with lesser pay may have lower costs of living or don&#8217;t collect state income tax, which helps offset smaller paychecks.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-6618 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/03\/Lowest-Salaries-e1683060060428.jpg\" alt=\"Lowest Salaries - North Travel Nurse Index 2023\" width=\"526\" height=\"679\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/03\/Lowest-Salaries-e1683060060428.jpg 526w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/03\/Lowest-Salaries-e1683060060428-232x300.jpg 232w, https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/03\/Lowest-Salaries-e1683060060428-287x370.jpg 287w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 526px) 100vw, 526px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><small><em><strong>Source<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/salary\/\">Vivian salary data<\/a>. \u00a9 Vivian Health 2023<\/em><\/small><\/p>\n<p><strong><a style=\"color: #006400;\" href=\"#back-to-top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"the_best_cost_of_living_states_for_travel_nurses\"><\/span>The Best Cost of Living States for Travel Nurses<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When relocating as a travel nurse, you not only have to think about the money coming in but also expenses. With a nomadic lifestyle, you must consider the money spent on rent, utilities and travel to have a comfortable living situation outside the workplace.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With this in mind, Arkansas, where the cost of living is 22.5% lower than the national average, is the best state for travel nurses looking to hold on to more of their paychecks. Mississippi (21.3% lower) and West Virginia (20.6% lower) come in second and third, based on data from Sperling&#8217;s Best Places.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In comparison, Hawaii has the highest cost of living at 65.7% higher than the national average. California (49.9% higher) and Massachusetts (27.5% higher) have the next-highest living costs.<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\">\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"states_with_the_lowest_cost_of_living\"><\/span><b>States with the Lowest Cost of Living<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>State<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\" width=\"350\"><b>Cost of Living as % of US Average\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Arkansas<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">-22.5%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mississippi<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">-21.3%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">West Virginia<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">-20.6%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Iowa<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">-19.9%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oklahoma<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">-17.8%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kentucky<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">-17.7%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ohio<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">-17.3%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kansas<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">-16.9%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Indiana<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">-16.3%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alabama<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">-15.9%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong><a style=\"color: #006400;\" href=\"#back-to-top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Within our research, we also looked at data from <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numbeo.com\/cost-of-living\/\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Numbeo<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This user-generated platform asks real-life residents about their actual costs of living. For the purposes of this analysis, we collected information on each state\u2019s most populated city since state-wide averages weren\u2019t available.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our research found that Mississippi has the cheapest rent. The average cost to rent a one-bedroom apartment in the city center is $763.33, making it one of best states for nurses to afford. Arkansas ($977.60) and West Virginia ($1,000) were second and third for cheapest rent.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unsurprisingly, New York has the highest average rent. A one-bedroom apartment in the Big Apple could set you back $3,974.40 per month. Massachusetts ($2,745.71) and California ($2,643) were the next highest.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re looking for the states where you might find the cheapest rentals, the states below are your best bet.<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\">\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"states_with_the_lowest_average_rent\"><\/span><b>States with the Lowest Average Rent<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>State<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\" width=\"350\"><b>Avg. Cost of Rent*<br \/>\n<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mississippi<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$763.33<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Arkansas<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$977.60<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">West Virginia<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$1,000.00<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Iowa<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$1,006.33<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Montana<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$1,050.00<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South Dakota<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$1,095.00<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wyoming<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$1,100.00<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kansas<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$1,106.25<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">North Dakota<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$1,112.50<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nebraska<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$1,120.00<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><small><em>* One-bedroom apartment in the city center<\/em><\/small><\/p>\n<p><strong><a style=\"color: #006400;\" href=\"#back-to-top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But day-to-day living requires more than just rent. That\u2019s why we also looked into data covering the average cost of utilities such as electricity, heating, cooling, water and garbage so you can consider your monthly bills in your relocation strategy, too.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The data suggested that Virginia has the cheapest basic utilities at an average cost of $98.96 per month, followed by Montana ($109.43) and Delaware ($131.53). People in Oklahoma pay the most for utilities at an average cost of $287.59 per month, followed by Hawaii ($280.07) and Connecticut ($279.31).<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\">\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"states_with_the_lowest_basic_utilities\"><\/span><b>States with the Lowest Basic Utilities<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>State<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\" width=\"350\"><b>Cost of Basic Utilities*<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Virginia<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$98.96<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Montana<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$109.43<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Delaware<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$131.53<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Utah<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$132.93<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maryland<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$142.83<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Minnesota<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$143.19<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Florida<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$147.65<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New Mexico<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$152.14<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">California<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$152.60<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">North Dakota<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$153.70<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><small><em>* Monthly average for electricity, heating, cooling, water and garbage<\/em><\/small><\/p>\n<p><strong><a style=\"color: #006400;\" href=\"#back-to-top\">Back to Top<\/a><\/strong><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finally, we considered the cost of the daily commute when it came to day-to-day outings. Traveling on local transportation is the most expensive in New Jersey, where a one-way ticket on the cheapest form of transport, be that bus or rail, will cost you $4.03. Tennessee was the next highest at $3.08. By contrast, a one-way ticket in New Mexico costs $1, the cheapest in our dataset, followed by Nebraska and Texas at $1.25.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"the_states_with_the_most_travel_nurse_positions\"><\/span><b>The States with the Most Travel Nurse Positions<\/b><b><br \/>\n<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re a travel nurse because you love the job variety and the range of opportunities available to you, it\u2019s worth considering the states with more positions and more hospitals that may require travel nurses.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the time of writing, New Hampshire had the most <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/nursing\/travel\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">travel nurse positions on Vivian<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> per capita, at 81.56 jobs per 100k of the population, followed by Alaska (76.47) and Vermont (57.49). By contrast, Utah had the fewest<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">jobs available, with just 2.93 travel nurse positions available per 100k of the population, followed by Mississippi (6.09) and New Jersey (6.59).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Based on data from the American Hospital Association, South Dakota has the most hospitals per capita, at 6.26 hospitals per 100k of the population, followed by North Dakota (5.26) and Montana (4.99). Delaware has the fewest hospitals per capita, with less than one (0.69) hospital per 100k of the population.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"making_informed_decisions_as_a_travel_nurse\"><\/span>Making Informed Decisions as a Travel Nurse<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While your nomad lifestyle as a travel nurse can be exciting, it doesn\u2019t have to be sporadic. Utilizing our index, you should be able to pin your next work location on the map in a strategic way by considering your key lifestyle priorities and making a decision that\u2019s right for you and your family.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For further state-specific breakdowns, head to our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/travel-guides\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">travel guides<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> which offer more information on locations across the country. If you need further assistance in finding your next travel nurse position, Vivian Health can help. Getting started is quick and easy with a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/vivian-updates\/introducing-universal-profile-your-passport\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vivian Reusable Profile,<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> which gives you access to 1,000s of travel jobs from 100s of agencies with a single application.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a style=\"background-color: #124e3b; color: #fdfeff; font-size: 20px; border-radius: 10px; padding: 15px; min-height: 30px; min-width: 120px;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/browse-jobs\/landing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Browse Jobs<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a9 Vivian Health 2023<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Deciding where to work next as a travel nurse? Our latest index can show you top-rated picks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6625,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,118],"tags":[290,294,75,90],"class_list":["post-6613","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel-nursing","category-travel-guides","tag-discipline","tag-employment","tag-rn","tag-travel"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/03\/Travel-Nurse-Index-Map-1.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6613","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6613"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6613\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6625"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6613"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6613"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6613"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}