What to Pay a Travel Nurse in Houston, TX (2026)
How to set your Travel Nurse pay range in Houston
Three pay positions, modeled against current Houston market data. Pick the one that matches your comp philosophy and the role's strategic value.
Travel Nurse salary percentile distribution in Houston, TX
Where the Houston market actually sits for Travel Nurse base pay.
Most Houston employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($118,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $102,000 and a max of $138,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.
Texas pay transparency compliance for Travel Nurse job postings
What you must post when hiring a Travel Nurse in Texas.
For a Travel Nurse role in Houston, a compliant good-faith range looks like $102,000 to $138,000. No statutory requirement applies, but if you disclose voluntarily, post a good-faith range of $102,000–$138,000 rather than a single number — it screens out misaligned candidates and reduces offer-stage fallout.
Top Travel Nurse employers in Houston — who you're competing against
Top healthcare employers hiring Travel Nurses in the Houston metro and what they're posting.
| Employer | Type | Disclosed Range | Sign-on Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aya Healthcare | Travel agency | $112K–$140K | Common (per contract) |
| Cross Country Healthcare | Travel agency | $110K–$138K | Common |
| Medical Solutions | Travel agency | $108K–$138K | Common |
| Direct contracts (Methodist, MD Anderson) | Academic hospital direct | $125K–$155K | Hospital-direct premium |
| HCA Internal Travel Pool | Health system internal | $118K–$148K | Internal pool premium |
Travel Nurse talent supply and hiring difficulty in Houston
How hard is it to fill a Travel Nurse role in Houston.
Skill premiums Travel Nurse candidates command in Houston, TX
| Skill / Credential | Pay Premium | Demand Signal |
|---|---|---|
| ICU (CCRN) | +15–22% | Very high |
| Oncology (BMTCN/OCN) | +10–15% | Very high — MD Anderson demand |
| OR / L&D | +12–18% | Very high |
| Bilingual Spanish | +4–7% | Very high |
Travel Nurse total compensation in Houston — what candidates expect beyond base
Total rewards mix for Travel Nurses in Houston. "Prevalence" reflects share of Houston disclosed-range postings including each element.
| Component | Typical Value | Prevalence in Houston Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Taxed hourly base | $42–$58/hr (~$1,700–$2,300/wk) | 100% |
| Housing stipend (untaxed) | $1,650–$2,600/wk | ~100% |
| Meals & incidentals | $280–$450/wk | ~100% |
| Travel reimbursement | $500–$1,500 per contract | ~85% |
| Completion bonus | $500–$2,500 per 13-wk | ~62% |
| Estimated total comp benchmark | ~$142K–$172K (annualized) | — |
Shift differentials and sign-on bonuses are typically table stakes rather than differentiators. Tuition reimbursement for LPN-to-RN bridge programs is increasingly the lever that wins competitive offers, particularly for early-career candidates.
Travel Nurse pay by setting in Houston — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health
Where the Travel Nurse range splits by employer type in the Houston metro.
| Setting | Median | Competitive Range | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICU | $132,000 | $118K–$152K | Very high |
| ER | $128,000 | $115K–$148K | Very high |
| OR | $132,000 | $118K–$152K | Very high |
| Oncology | $135,000 | $120K–$155K | High |
| Med-surg / telemetry | $112,000 | $100K–$128K | High |
Travel Nurse salary in Houston vs. other Texas and nearby metros
What you'd pay if you hired in a nearby metro instead.
| Location | Median Base | vs. Houston | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land, TX | $118,000 | — | Above national avg |
| Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TX | $115,000 | −2.5% | Above national avg |
| Austin–Round Rock, TX | $118,000 | 0.0% | Above national avg |
| San Antonio, TX | $108,000 | −8.5% | Moderate |
| Texas statewide | $112,000 | −5.1% | — |
| U.S. national | $118,000 | — | — |
FAQ: hiring a Travel Nurse in Houston, TX
Related Travel Nurse pay benchmarks — Texas metros and nearby nursing roles
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Data refreshed May 15, 2026. Next scheduled update: August 15, 2026.
© 2026 BetterComp. Market data informational only — not legal advice.