What to Pay a Travel Nurse in Philadelphia, PA (2026)
How to set your Travel Nurse pay range in Philadelphia
Three pay positions, modeled against current Philadelphia market data. Pick the one that matches your comp philosophy and the role's strategic value.
Travel Nurse salary percentile distribution in Philadelphia, PA
Where the Philadelphia market actually sits for Travel Nurse base pay.
Most Philadelphia employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($122,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $105,000 and a max of $142,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.
Pennsylvania pay transparency compliance for Travel Nurse job postings
What you must post when hiring a Travel Nurse in Pennsylvania.
For a Travel Nurse role in Philadelphia, a compliant good-faith range looks like $105,000 to $142,000. No statutory requirement applies, but if you disclose voluntarily, post a good-faith range of $105,000–$142,000 rather than a single number — it screens out misaligned candidates and reduces offer-stage fallout.
Top Travel Nurse employers in Philadelphia — who you're competing against
Top healthcare employers hiring Travel Nurses in the Philadelphia metro and what they're posting.
| Employer | Type | Disclosed Range | Sign-on Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aya Healthcare | Travel agency | $118K–$148K | Per contract |
| Cross Country Healthcare | Travel agency | $115K–$145K | Per contract |
| Direct contracts (Penn, Jefferson) | Academic hospital direct | $128K–$158K | Hospital-direct premium |
| Medical Solutions | Travel agency | $115K–$145K | Per contract |
Travel Nurse talent supply and hiring difficulty in Philadelphia
How hard is it to fill a Travel Nurse role in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia travel demand strong across academic medical center cluster. Penn, Jefferson, Temple, and ChristianaCare drive most placements.
Skill premiums Travel Nurse candidates command in Philadelphia, PA
| Skill / Credential | Pay Premium | Demand Signal |
|---|---|---|
| ICU (CCRN) | +15–22% | Very high |
| ER (CEN) | +12–20% | Very high |
| OR / L&D | +12–20% | Very high |
| Crisis surge bonus | +30–70% during | Episodic |
Travel Nurse total compensation in Philadelphia — what candidates expect beyond base
Total rewards mix for Travel Nurses in Philadelphia. "Prevalence" reflects share of Philadelphia disclosed-range postings including each element.
| Component | Typical Value | Prevalence in Philadelphia Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Taxed hourly base | $45–$62/hr | 100% |
| Housing stipend (untaxed) | $1,900–$2,900/wk | ~100% |
| Meals & incidentals | $300–$475/wk | ~100% |
| Completion bonus | $500–$2,500/13wk | ~60% |
| Estimated total comp benchmark | ~$148K–$178K (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 Philadelphia — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health
Where the Travel Nurse range splits by employer type in the Philadelphia metro.
| Setting | Median | Competitive Range | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICU | $138,000 | $122K–$158K | Very high |
| ER | $132,000 | $118K–$152K | Very high |
| OR | $135,000 | $120K–$155K | Very high |
| L&D | $132,000 | $118K–$152K | Very high |
| Med-surg | $115,000 | $102K–$132K | High |
Travel Nurse salary in Philadelphia vs. other Pennsylvania and nearby metros
What you'd pay if you hired in a nearby metro instead.
| Location | Median Base | vs. Philadelphia | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $122,000 | — | Above national avg |
| New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $135,000 | +10.7% | Tight |
| Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV | $125,000 | +2.5% | Above national avg |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $102,000 | −16.4% | Moderate |
| Pennsylvania statewide | $108,000 | −11.5% | — |
| U.S. national | $118,000 | — | — |
FAQ: hiring a Travel Nurse in Philadelphia, PA
Related Travel Nurse pay benchmarks — Pennsylvania 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.