February 2025 Travel Nursing Salary Trends By State
February 2025 Travel Nursing Salary Trends by State
Travel nurse pay continued its gradual decline in February 2025, as the national average weekly rate dropped to $2,398, down from $2,409 in January. This 0.5% decrease reflects a slight acceleration in the trend seen over the last several months. For comparison, January saw a 0.2% drop, while December 2024 and November 2024 each recorded dips of 0.1% and 0.2%, respectively.
Over the past 12 months, travel RN wages have declined 10.2% overall since February 2024. However, Montana and Florida stood out as exceptions this month, with both states reporting year-over-year wage gains.
📈 States With Year-Over-Year Increases
- Montana: $2,427 average weekly pay, up 3.4% from February 2024. Now above the national average.
- Florida: $2,162 average weekly pay, up 2.2% from February 2024. Still below the national average, but trending upward.
📊 Month-Over-Month Shifts (January to February 2025)
- 9 states saw increases of 1% or more
- 14 states reported declines greater than 1%
- 27 states remained relatively stable, with pay changes of less than 1%
Top Increase:
- Hawaii: $2,500 weekly average, up 3.3% from $2,420 in January
Top Decrease:
- Vermont: $2,457 weekly average, down 5.2% from $2,591 in January
🌎 Regional Breakdown (U.S. Census Bureau Regions)
Western Region
- Average regional pay increased by 0.5%, making it the highest-paying region for travel nurses in February.
- 9 out of 13 western states saw wage increases.
- Includes states like California, Alaska, Washington, Colorado, and Arizona.
Northeast, Midwest, South
- All three regions saw overall declines.
- Northeast includes New York, Massachusetts, Maine
- Midwest includes Illinois, Ohio, Michigan
- South includes Texas, Georgia, North Carolina
Despite lower regional averages, select Southern and Midwestern states still offer competitive contracts depending on unit needs and specialty roles.
🧠 What It Means for 2025
Even with the year-long wage dip, rates remain well above pre-2020 levels, and demand remains steady in rural and high-acuity areas. The slight wage growth in the West suggests opportunities are still available in key regional markets, especially in ICU, ER, and home health contracts.
Healthcare employers should anticipate further variation in rates based on local COVID case trends, cost of living adjustments, and facility-specific staffing needs heading into spring.
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