Specialty: Behavioral Health Travel Jobs
Psych RN, LCSW, LMFT, LPT, LPCC, and Recreational Therapist travel contracts nationwide. Hospital, correctional, and community settings. Live openings updated every 4 hours.
Quick Answer
Behavioral health travel professionals earn $1,800–$3,500/week in 2026 depending on role and setting. LCSWs command the highest pay at $3,200–$3,300/week. Psychiatric RNs earn $2,500–$3,500/week, with California CDCR correctional assignments paying the top of the range. CatSol places Psych RN, LCSW, LMFT, LPT, LPCC, and Recreational Therapist travelers at hospital, correctional, and community settings nationwide.
Select your profession to see pay, requirements, and open positions.
Psychiatric / Mental Health RN
Highest-volume BH travel role. Inpatient psych units, crisis stabilization, and correctional mental health. CA CDCR pays $2,800–$3,500/wk — the top psych RN market nationally.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Highest-paid non-physician BH role at $3,200+/wk. Selective inventory — high pay, limited volume. CA correctional LCSW assignments at CMF, SATF, and EOP programs.
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Individual and group therapy in correctional, residential, and community settings. License portability is complex — no compact for LMFTs. CA requires separate CA LMFT license.
Licensed Psychiatric Technician
California-exclusive license with near-zero national competition. 15 active LPT openings at CDCR facilities — CMF Vacaville, CSP Sacramento, CCI Tehachapi. No other state has this role.
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
CBT, motivational interviewing, SUD treatment in correctional EOP programs and community BH settings. Growing demand in correctional systems nationwide.
Recreational Therapist
Therapeutic recreation programs supporting mental health, social skills, and physical wellbeing in PSU and mental health programs at correctional facilities.
| Role | Weekly Pay | License | Best Setting |
|---|---|---|---|
| LCSW | $3,200–$3,300/wk | State LCSW (no compact) | CA CDCR corrections |
| Psych RN | $2,500–$3,500/wk | Compact or state RN | CDCR / Hospital inpatient |
| LMFT | $2,100–$2,700/wk | State LMFT (no compact) | Corrections EOP / Residential |
| LPT | $1,800–$2,500/wk | CA BVNPT (CA only) | CDCR facilities (CA only) |
| LPCC / LPC | $2,000–$2,200/wk | State LPCC (no compact) | Corrections / Community BH |
| Recreational Therapist | $1,800–$2,500/wk | CTRS credential | Corrections PSU / Residential |
California
41
open positions
Washington
7
open positions
Alaska
3
open positions
Maine
3
open positions
Missouri
1
open positions
Massachusetts
1
open positions
Premium Pay
BH travel roles pay 20–40% more than permanent staff equivalents — driven by a nationwide shortage in 80% of US counties.
Structured Schedules
Correctional BH positions offer day shifts only — no nights, no holidays, no on-call. Most contracts are 13 weeks with extension options.
Choose Your Market
Move between California, Texas, Florida, and 38 compact states. Tax-free housing stipends offset cost of living differences.
Underserved Specialty
BH travel has less competition than bedside nursing travel — fewer travelers competing for fewer, higher-paying contracts.
High Impact Work
Behavioral health shortages are most acute in correctional and rural settings — where your clinical work has the greatest marginal impact.
Growing Demand
Post-pandemic mental health crisis + insurance parity laws are driving unprecedented demand through at least 2030.
CCHCS (under federal Coleman consent decree) operates the largest correctional mental health system in the country. 40+ active BH roles at CDCR facilities — Psych RN pays $2,800–$3,500/wk with day shifts only, no holidays, no call. LCSW assignments at CMF Vacaville and SATF Corcoran pay $3,200+/wk.
CatSol places travel professionals in 6 behavioral health roles: Psychiatric RN, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Psychiatric Technician (LPT, California only), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), and Recreational Therapist. Settings include inpatient psychiatric hospitals, correctional behavioral health (CDCR, TDCJ), crisis stabilization units, residential treatment, and community mental health centers.
Pay varies by role: Psychiatric RN earns $2,500–$3,500/week; LCSW earns $3,200–$3,300/week (highest non-physician BH role); LMFT earns $2,100–$2,700/week; LPT earns $1,800–$2,500/week; LPCC earns $2,000–$2,200/week. All roles include a taxable base rate plus tax-free housing and meal stipends. California CDCR correctional positions consistently pay the highest rates.
It depends on the role. Psychiatric RNs with a compact nursing license can work in 41 states without a separate endorsement (exceptions: CA, NY, MA, IL). LCSWs, LMFTs, and LPCCs have no compact — each state requires a separate license endorsement. LPT is California-only and not applicable outside CA. CatSol's recruiters help with licensing paperwork and cover endorsement fees for qualified candidates.
Most contracts require 1–2 years of direct behavioral health experience in the specific role. Psych RNs need 1–2 years inpatient psych. LCSWs and LMFTs need 2 years post-licensure clinical experience. LPTs need 1 year of CA LPT experience. Correctional BH positions typically require 2 years of psych or corrections experience. CatSol's corrections-specialist recruiters can help you assess your eligibility.
California Title 22 mandates strict psychiatric nurse-to-patient ratios (1:6 in most psych units), creating constant staffing gaps that travel contracts fill. CDCR (California's prison system) operates under federal Coleman consent decree — meaning court-ordered mental health staffing levels must be met regardless of cost. This is why CA CDCR psych RNs earn $2,800–$3,500/week while comparable positions elsewhere pay $2,200–$2,800/week.
Travel Psychiatric Nurse Guide
Pay, requirements, licenses, and top markets for psych RN travel
Corrections Nurse Salary Guide
How much prison nurses make — CA CDCR to TX TDCJ comparison
CA CDCR/CCHCS Ecosystem
How California's correctional healthcare system works
Travel Nurse Pay 2026
National pay ranges by specialty, state, and setting
CatSol's corrections-specialist recruiters place Psych RNs, LCSWs, LMFTs, and LPTs at CDCR, TDCJ, and hospital behavioral health units. Transparent pay packages. Fast credentialing. Dedicated support throughout your assignment.
