The travel nursing market has undergone significant transformation since the pandemic peaks, and understanding these shifts is crucial for healthcare facilities planning their staffing strategies.
The numbers reveal the story: in 2025, the average U.S. travel nurse earns just under $2,300 per week, down 42% from pandemic highs. The travel nursing segment saw a 36% decrease in 2023, and per-diem work decreased by 25% as facilities moved away from premium-cost temporary labor.
However, the long-term outlook remains positive. The U.S. travel nursing industry is projected to maintain a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8% from 2023 through 2028, driven by persistent workforce gaps that permanent staffing alone cannot fill.
For healthcare facilities, this market correction presents both challenges and opportunities. The days of paying crisis-level rates are largely over, which helps budget predictability. However, competition for quality travel nurses remains fierce, particularly in specialized areas like ICU, OR, and emergency department care.
Meanwhile, the locum tenens segment has shown resilience, growing 12% in 2023 with projections of an additional 7% growth in 2024. Ongoing physician shortages are boosting demand for temporary physician coverage, particularly for specialties like internal medicine and anesthesia.
Smart healthcare organizations are adopting hybrid staffing models: building strong core permanent teams while maintaining relationships with reliable travel and per-diem staff for surge capacity and hard-to-fill positions. This balanced approach provides flexibility while controlling costs.
The facilities succeeding in this new landscape are those offering competitive packages beyond just pay—considering housing assistance, scheduling flexibility, and positive work environments that encourage travelers to return.