April 2025 Travel Wage Trends
April 2025 Travel Nurse Wage Trends: Widespread Declines Despite COVID Surge
As April 2025 came to a close, travel nurse wages dropped across nearly every U.S. state, even as COVID-19 cases began to rise again after two months of steady decline. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) attributed the recent spike to a highly transmissible Omicron subvariant, which accounted for over half of new infections by the end of the month. Hospitalizations also began increasing in 30 states, reversing the downward trend seen in March.
Despite these rising case counts, travel nurse pay continued to fall in April, suggesting that many hospitals may be relying on fixed-term contracts or budget-constrained hiring practices rather than offering reactive wage hikes as they did in previous surges.
📈 Only One State Reported a Wage Increase
Minnesota stood alone in April, showing a modest 1.3% increase in average weekly travel nurse pay. The bump followed a 10.4% decline in March, meaning current pay rates have yet to fully recover. COVID-19 hospitalizations in the state rose steadily through April, which may have prompted short-term wage adjustments in certain facilities.
| State | March Avg Weekly Pay | April Avg Weekly Pay | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $2,751 | $2,788 | +1.3% |
📉 Wage Decreases Hit 48 States
Travel nurse wages declined in 48 states during April, with the sharpest drop seen in Wyoming, where average weekly pay fell 17.3%. This marks three consecutive months of decline for the state, following a 14.5% drop in March and a 3.1% drop in February. In total, 13 states experienced declines greater than 10%.
| State | March Avg Pay | April Avg Pay | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | $2,781 | $2,370 | -17.3% |
| Connecticut | $2,753 | $2,370 | -16.2% |
| Maryland | $2,771 | $2,387 | -16.1% |
| Wisconsin | $2,286 | $1,976 | -15.7% |
| New Mexico | $2,735 | $2,382 | -14.8% |
| Missouri | $2,034 | $1,791 | -13.6% |
| South Carolina | $2,416 | $2,131 | -13.4% |
| Mississippi | $2,591 | $2,297 | -12.8% |
| Vermont | $2,757 | $2,455 | -12.3% |
| Alaska | $2,940 | $2,624 | -12.1% |
| Washington | $3,061 | $2,756 | -11.1% |
| Idaho | $2,626 | $2,374 | -10.6% |
| Iowa | $2,854 | $2,581 | -10.5% |
The remaining states experienced declines between 2.9% and 9.7%, affecting average pay in both coastal and inland regions. Even high-demand states like California, Colorado, and New York saw wages retreat.
⚖️ Flat Wages in Only One State
Only one state recorded a change small enough to be considered negligible. There, wages fell just $7 per week, or 0.2%, from $2,661 to $2,654. While technically a decrease, this state’s relative stability could shift soon, as daily COVID case averages reached their highest levels since early February by the end of April.
🔍 What This Means for 2025
The April data confirms a wage compression trend that began in early Q1. Even as hospitalization rates increase in several regions, most hospitals are opting not to return to pandemic-era pay incentives. Budget constraints, expanded permanent staffing, and pre-negotiated contracts are likely contributing to this cautious wage environment.
However, May could shift this picture again. If hospitalization trends continue upward, some regions may resume offering short-term wage premiums to attract rapid placements, especially in high-acuity units.
🧠 Goodwork Insight
With wide pay drops across the board, travel nurses should be watching hospitalization data and contract length as key indicators of potential rate rebounds. Facilities that need help with faster staffing or more competitive offers can use Goodwork’s performance-based tools to connect with high-quality candidates quickly — without upfront fees.
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