Travel Trauma Nurse Salary Guide
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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 Nurse Salary
$2,082/week
The average salary for a Travel Trauma Nurse is $2,082 per week. This is 9% lower than the nursing US average of $2,261.
Last updated on November 9, 2026. Based on 20 active jobs on Vivian.com in the last 7 days.
Salaries for Travel Trauma Nurse compared to Registered Nurse National Averages
$2,082/week
9% lower than the nursing US average.
$2,261/week
United States
Where do Travel Trauma Nurses get paid the most?
Texas pays Travel Trauma Nurses the most, averaging $2,235 per week, followed by North Carolina ($2,013) and Georgia ($1,905). For comparison, the national average for Travel Trauma Nurses is $2,082 per week — Texas pays 7% more.
| State | Average Weekly Salary | Max Weekly Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | $2,235 | $2,235 |
| North Carolina | $2,013 | $2,041 |
| Georgia | $1,905 | $2,023 |
What cities pay the most for Travel Trauma Nurses?
Asheville, North Carolina pays Travel Trauma Nurses the most, averaging $2,013 per week, followed by Atlanta, Georgia ($1,905). Asheville, North Carolina also has the highest ceiling, with max weekly pay reaching $2,041. For comparison, the national average for Travel Trauma Nurses is $2,082 per week — Asheville, North Carolina pays 3% less.
| City | Average Weekly Salary | Max Weekly Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Asheville, North Carolina | $2,013 | $2,041 |
| Atlanta, Georgia | $1,905 | $2,023 |
What are the highest paying Employers and Agencies for Travel Trauma Nurse jobs?
HealthTrust Workforce Solutions HCA pays Travel Trauma Nurses the most, averaging $3,130 per week, followed by ProKatchers ($2,950) and Sanford Health - Solutions by Sanford ($2,758). Prime Staffing has the highest ceiling, with max weekly pay reaching $3,450. For comparison, the national average for Travel Trauma Nurses is $2,082 per week — HealthTrust Workforce Solutions HCA pays 50% more.
| Average Weekly Salary | Max Weekly Salary | |
|---|---|---|
| HealthTrust Workforce Solutions HCA | $3,130 | $3,130 |
| ProKatchers | $2,950 | $2,950 |
| Sanford Health - Solutions by Sanford | $2,758 | $2,758 |
| Prime Staffing | $2,665 | $3,450 |
| Bluebix Solutions | $2,603 | $2,603 |
| Jackson Nurse Professionals | $2,459 | $2,459 |
| PRIDE Health | $2,143 | $2,324 |
| Wise Medical Staffing | $2,095 | $2,095 |
| Supplemental Health Care | $2,094 | $2,235 |
| Premier Medical Staffing Services | $2,023 | $2,023 |
Last updated on November 9, 2026. Information based on active jobs on Vivian.com.
Travel Trauma 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 guideTop Travel Trauma Nurse Jobs
Neuro RN
- Portland, Maine
- Maine Medical Center Bramhall
- Prime Time Healthcare Nursing and 9 others
UP TO $3,382/wk
Medical-Surgical RN
- Evansville, Indiana
- Deaconess Hospital
- TotalMed RN and 8 others
UP TO $3,356/wk
OR RN
- Bridgeport, Connecticut
- Bridgeport Hospital
- TotalMed RN and 17 others
UP TO $3,161/wk
Estimated pay packageStepdown RN
- Evansville, Indiana
- Deaconess Hospital
- TRS Healthcare and 9 others
UP TO $3,026/wk
ER RN
- Tonasket, Washington
- North Valley Hospital
- Uniti Med and 14 others
UP TO $2,295/wk
Estimated pay packageGet alerts about new jobs and salary trends
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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
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