Top Paying Travel Nurse Specialties Revealed

Travel nursing is an awesome way to make good money while visiting new places. With hospitals needing nurses, some jobs pay really well. 

Want to know what type of travel nurse makes the most money or which nursing specialty pays the most? 

This blog lists the top paying travel nurse specialties, their salaries, and how to get started. Whether you’re new or experienced, find out what is the highest paid nurse specialty and how to land a great job!

Why Travel Nurses Get Paid Well?

Travel nurses earn big because hospitals need them badly. There aren’t enough nurses, so those with special skills, like working in ICU or surgery, get paid more. Some places, like big cities or rural hospitals, offer higher pay to get nurses. 

Plus, you might get bonuses or free housing. Curious about what specialty of nursing is the highest paid or what RN specialty pays the most? It’s all about demand and special training.

#1 Not Enough Nurses

Hospitals are short on nurses, so they pay travel nurses well to fill in, especially for highest paying travel nurse specialties.

#2 Special Skills Pay More

Jobs like CRNA or ER nursing need extra training, making them highest paid travel nurse specialties.

#3 Where You Work Matters

Big cities or remote areas pay more for nurse specialties by salary to attract skilled nurses.

Top 10 Highest Paying Travel Nurse Specialties

Here are the top paying travel nurse specialties, based on 2025 data from places like ZipRecruiter and Nurse.org. 

These are the highest paying travel nursing specialties you can aim for.

1. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)

• Income: ~$260k/year or $125/hr
• What They Do: Administer anesthesia and monitor patients during surgery.
• What You’ll need: BSN, MSN or DNP, CRNA certification, minimum of 1-2 years of ICU experience.
• Why It Pays: CRNAs are the most highly trained, earning more than any other nurse specialty or travel nurse specialty.

2. ICU Travel Nurse

• Earnings: ~$145,000 / year or $70 per hour
• What They Do: Take care of extremely sick people in intensive care units.
• What You’ll Need: BSN, CCRN certification and 1-2 years ICU experience.
• Why It Pays: ICU nurses take care of some of the most critical cases, making it one of the highest paying travel nurse specialties.

3. Operating Room (OR) Nurse

• Wages: ~$140,000/year or $67/hour
• What They Do: Assist surgeons and ready operating rooms.
• What You Need: BSN, CNOR certification (a plus), 1–2 years of OR experience.
• Why It Pays: OR nurses navigate the crucial and often intense waters of surgery, which makes it one of the highest paid registered nurse specialty.

4. Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Nurse

• Average Salary: ~$135,000/year or $65 per hour
• What They Do: Care for sick or premature infants.
• What You Need: BSN, RNC-NIC preferred, 1–2 years of NICU experience.
• Why It Pays: NICU demands gentle, skilled care, making it one of what nursing specialties make the most money.

5. Emergency Room (ER) Nurse

• Average Pay: ~$130,000/year or $62/hour
• What They Do: Respond to emergencies and stabilize patients quickly.
• What You Need: BSN, CEN certification (a plus) and 1–2 years ER experience.
• Why It Pays: ER nurses use under pressure, so it serves as the highest paid travel nurse specialty..

6. Labor and Delivery (L&D) Nurse

• Earnings: ~$125,000 or $60 per hour.
• What They Do: Assist mothers while giving birth and observe newborns.
• What You Need: BSN, RNC-OB certification, 1-2 years L&D experience.
• Why It Pays: L&D nurses help deliver babies, which is one of the highest-paid nursing specialties.

7. Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) Nurse

• Salary: ~$122,000/year or $59/hour
• What They Do: Care for heart patients after surgery.
• What You Need: BSN, CCRN certification, 1–2 years CVICU experience.
• Why It Pays: CVICU needs heart expertise, making it a highest paid travel nurse specialty.

8. Psychiatric Travel Nurse

• Salary: ~$115,000/year or $55/hour
• What They Do: Help patients with mental health issues and give meds.
• What You Need: BSN, PMH-BC certification (optional), 1–2 years psych experience.
• Why It Pays: Mental health demand is growing, boosting pay for which RN specialty pays the most.

9. Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) Nurse

• Salary: approximately $112,000 per year or $54 per hour
• What They Do: Take care of very sick children in intensive care.
• What You Need: BSN, CPN certification, 1-2 years experience in a PICU.
• Why It Pays: PICU requires a special set of kid-focused skills, a top nurse money-making specialty.

10. Oncology Travel Nurse

• Pay rate: ~$110,000 pa or $52/hour
• What They Do: Deliver cancer treatments and support patients.
• What You Need: BSN, OCN certification (a plus), 1–2 yrs oncology experience.
• Why It Pays: Oncology nurses handle grueling treatments, which helps make oncology one of the best-paying nurse specialties.

Also Read: Pros and Cons of Travel Nursing: Is It Worth It?

How to Choose the Right Travel Nurse Specialty?

Picking the highest paying travel nurse specialty means finding what you love and what you’re good at. Love kids? Try NICU or PICU. Like fast action? ER or OR might be your thing. 

Check what schooling you need – CRNA takes a master’s, but ICU needs a BSN and certification. High-pay jobs can be stressful, so make sure it fits your life. 

Certifications like CCRN or RNC-OB can help you get which nursing specialty makes the most money.

Pick What You Love

Choose a job you enjoy, like helping babies (NICU) or working in surgery (OR).

Get Trained

Certifications like CCRN or CNOR make you stand out for highest paid travel nurse specialties.

Fit Your Life

High-pay jobs can be tough. Pick one that matches your stress level and schedule.

Conclusion

Travel nursing is a lucrative opportunity to see new places, however, that’s not the only reason to consider this career. 

The highest paying travel nurse specialities such as CRNA ($260,000/year) and ICU ($145,000/year) provide excellent pay for experienced nurses. 

Interested in trying your hand at one of these top paying travel nursing specialties? Contact a travel nurse company or comment below!

FAQs

What Type of Travel Nurse Makes the Most Money?

CRNAs earn ~$260,000/year as the highest paid travel nurse specialty, thanks to their advanced anesthesia skills.

What Is the Highest Paid Nurse Specialty?

CRNAs are the highest paid nurse specialty, making ~$260,000/year with specialized training.

Which RN Specialty Pays the Most?

CRNAs top highest paid registered nurse specialties, earning $260,000/year, followed by ICU and OR nurses.

What Nursing Specialty Pays the Most?

CRNA is the highest paying type of nursing, followed by ICU and NICU.

How Can I Get Into a High-Paying Travel Nurse Specialty?

Gain 1–2 years’ experience, get certifications like CCRN, and join agencies for highest paying travel nurse specialties.