Travel Trauma ICU Nurse Salary Guide

Trauma ICU registered nurses (RNs) work in intensive care units, caring for patients in critical condition. They typically perform the following duties:

  • Administering medications

  • Applying dressings and performing other types of wound care

  • Updating physicians on changes in patient status

  • Educating family members about what to expect as their loved one heals

  • Maintaining accurate medical records

  • Inserting intravenous lines

  • Preparing patients for diagnostic tests and surgical procedures

Trauma ICU nurses must be able to work well under pressure, as patients in critical condition often require emergency interventions. For example, you may have to perform CPR or work as a code team member.

How do you become a trauma ICU nurse?

You must complete an approved nursing education program to work as a trauma ICU nurse. Each program has its own graduation requirements, but you should expect a combination of classroom learning and clinical experiences.

Before starting work as a nurse, you must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) and obtain a license from your state board of nursing. Nurse licensure requirements vary, but applicants usually must pay a fee, undergo a criminal background check and submit proof of education. According to Western Governors University, many hospitals require two years of nursing experience to work in intensive care.

What credentials/licensing does a trauma ICU nurse require?

Trauma ICU nurses must obtain Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications. Obtaining additional professional certifications shows you’re dedicated to providing the best patient care and committed to your career. Earning Certification in Acute/Critical Care Nursing (CCRN) through the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses or the Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN) credential offered by the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN) may help you earn raises and promotions. You can sit for the CCRN exam after completing 1,750 hours of RN practice in the direct care of critically or acutely ill adult, pediatric or neonatal patients, based on your specialty, over the past two years or 2,000 hours over the past five years. The TCRN exam requires that you have an active, unrestricted RN license. The BCEN also recommends that you have at least 2 years of experience in trauma nursing, but it's not required.

Average Travel Trauma ICU Nurse Salary

$2,139/week

The average salary for a Travel Trauma ICU Nurse is $2,139 per week. This is 1% higher than the nursing US average of $2,108.

Last updated on May 1, 2024. Based on 11,573 active jobs on Vivian.com in the last 7 days.

Salaries for Travel Trauma ICU Nurse compared to Registered Nurse National Averages

$2,139/week

1% higher than the nursing US average.

$2,108/week

United States

Where do Travel Trauma ICU Nurses get paid the most?
StateAverage Weekly SalaryMax Weekly Salary
California$2,338$3,805
What are the highest paying Employers and Agencies for Travel Trauma ICU Nurse jobs?
Average Weekly SalaryMax Weekly Salary
HealthTrust Workforce Solution External$4,068$4,099
Superbeo Health$3,338$3,338
FlexCare Nursing$3,288$3,732
TinkBird Healthcare Staffing$3,201$3,204
eTeam Inc$3,089$3,172
AB Staffing Solutions$3,068$3,068
Stats Access, Inc.$2,963$3,903
Plains Medical Staffing$2,939$3,070
Modern Healthcare Solutions$2,900$2,900
Curam Staffing$2,848$2,848

Last updated on May 1, 2024. Information based on active jobs on Vivian.com.

A Nurse holding a file folder

Travel Trauma ICU Nurse Career Guide

Use our exclusive Career Guides to research the education, qualifications, skills and responsibilities for a variety of healthcare disciplines and specialties employers are hiring now.

Go to the guide
Was this page helpful?

Get alerts about new jobs and salary trends

Be the first to know about new jobs for Trauma ICU Nurses with the salary that suits you.

How can you increase your pay as a trauma ICU nurse?

Some of the best ways to increase your pay as a trauma ICU nurse are to accept travel assignments, advance your education and earn additional credentials. As explained previously, travel trauma ICU nurses made nearly 33% more than staff trauma ICU nurses in late April 2023.

How much does a travel trauma ICU nurse make?

According to Vivian Health's salary data for the week ending April 29, 2023, travel trauma ICU nurses earned an average of $2,256 weekly. For an assignment lasting 26 weeks, that's $58,656.

Do travel trauma ICU nurses get paid more than staff trauma ICU nurses?

Travel trauma ICU nurses usually earn more than staff trauma ICU nurses. According to Vivian Health's salary data on April 29, 2023, staff jobs paid an average of $42.41 per hour. That's just under $1,697 per week if you multiply the hourly rate by 40 hours per week. In contrast, travel trauma ICU nurses had an average weekly salary of $2,256, an increase of 32.9%.

What states employ the most trauma ICU nurses?

The BLS doesn’t separate RNs by specialty. However, its data from May 2022 showed that the following states employed the most RNs in any field, including trauma ICU RNs.

  • California: 325,620

  • Texas: 231,060

  • Florida: 197,630

  • New York: 190,470

  • Pennsylvania: 137,970

Featured Blog Posts

Open article The Pros and Cons of a Career as a Home Health Nurse
Home health nurse
The Pros and Cons of a Career as a Home Health Nurse
Gain insights about rewarding careers in this growing field.
Open article What Are the Nurse Licensure Compact States? (Updated April 2024)
Travel Nursing with the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC)
What Are the Nurse Licensure Compact States? (Updated April 2024)
The eNLC lets nurses practice in multiple states with a single license. Learn which states participate and how to qualify.
Open article What’s the Difference Between the eNLC and the APRN Licensure Compacts?
Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) versus the APRN Compact
What’s the Difference Between the eNLC and the APRN Licensure Compacts?
Learn why advanced practice nurses can’t practice under the eNLC to ensure compliance and protect your license.
See more Blog Posts