Travel Psychiatric RN Jobs

Travel Psychiatric Nurse Jobs 2026

Psych RN travel contracts at hospital inpatient units, behavioral health hospitals, crisis stabilization centers, and community mental health programs. Typical open contracts run $1,650–$2,100/week, topping out near $2,450.

Active Jobs100+
Pay Range$1,650–$2,450/wk
Highest Current$2,749.2/wk
Contract Length13 weeks

Quick Answer

Travel psychiatric nurses earn $1,650–$2,100/week on typical open contracts in 2026, averaging $1,811, with a ceiling near $2,450. That is roughly 16% below the ~$2,150 average across travel RN contracts generally — psych is one of the lower-paying RN specialties to travel in, not a premium one. Massachusetts currently pays the most ($2,454); North Carolina has the most openings at a $1,554 average. A compact RN license covers 41 states and reaches most psych contracts we carry. If higher behavioral health pay is the goal, the licensed clinician roles — LCSW, LMFT, LPCC — run $2,379–$3,453.

Psych RN Travel Pay by State

Measured from our own open psychiatric RN contracts and refreshed every four hours — not estimates. Volume and rate pull in opposite directions: the state with the most openings is rarely the one paying the most.

StateAverage WeeklyTop Rate OpenOpen Contracts
California$2,126$2,280.1432
Missouri$2,221$2,65113
Virginia$1,874$2,02213
Massachusetts$2,327$2,451.357
Maine$2,158$2,2756
Ohio$1,845$1,9876
North Carolina$1,948$2,195.15
Arizona$1,944$1,9875
Colorado$1,793$1,930.024
Illinois$2,318$2,4073
Indiana$1,790$1,934.312
Michigan$2,749$2,749.21
Nebraska$2,365$2,3651
Tennessee$1,903$1,9031
Utah$1,812$1,8121

Across all 100 open psychiatric RN contracts the average is $2,076/week. For comparison, travel RN contracts across all specialties average about $2,150/week — psychiatric nursing pays below the RN field, not above it.

Open psychiatric RN contracts

100 open now — apply right here, it takes about a minute.

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Plymouth-Canton Community Schools

Plymouth, MI

$2,749/wk

20 weeks · 8hr Days

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Research Psychiatric Center

Kansas City, MO

$2,651/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Research Psychiatric Center

Kansas City, MO

$2,651/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Research Psychiatric Center

Kansas City, MO

$2,651/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Research Psychiatric Center

Kansas City, MO

$2,650/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Days

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Research Psychiatric Center

Kansas City, MO

$2,648/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Valley Springs Behavioral Health Hospital

Holyoke, MA

$2,451/wk

13 weeks · 8hr Mids

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Valley Springs Behavioral Health Hospital

Holyoke, MA

$2,451/wk

13 weeks · 8hr Mids

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Valley Springs Behavioral Health Hospital

Holyoke, MA

$2,451/wk

13 weeks · 8hr Mids

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Valley Springs Behavioral Health Hospital

Holyoke, MA

$2,451/wk

13 weeks · 8hr Mids

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Mosaic in Rockford

Rockford, IL

$2,407/wk

13 weeks · 8hr Days

NE - Behavioral Health RN $90

Regional West Medical Center

Scottsbluff, NE

$2,365/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

High Desert State Prison (HDSP)

Susanville, CA

$2,280/wk

47 weeks · 8hr Days

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Pelican Bay State Prison (PBSP)

Crescent City, CA

$2,278/wk

19 weeks · 8hr Days

Adult Psych RN - Days

St Mary's Regional Medical Center

Lewiston, ME

$2,275/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Days

Adolescent Psych RN - Days

St Mary's Regional Medical Center

Lewiston, ME

$2,275/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Days

IL - Behavioral Health RN - Nights

Touchette Regional Hospital

East Saint Louis, IL

$2,274/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

IL - Behavioral Health RN - Nights

Touchette Regional Hospital

East Saint Louis, IL

$2,274/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

St Mary's Regional Medical Center

Lewiston, ME

$2,272/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Days

Healthcare Travel Assignment

St Mary's Regional Medical Center

Lewiston, ME

$2,272/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

High Desert State Prison (HDSP)

Susanville, CA

$2,263/wk

16 weeks · 8hr Mids

Healthcare Travel Assignment

High Desert State Prison (HDSP)

Susanville, CA

$2,242/wk

27 weeks · 8hr Days

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP) & (SVSP/PP)

Soledad, CA

$2,233/wk

27 weeks · 8hr Days

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP) & (SVSP/PP)

Soledad, CA

$2,228/wk

28 weeks · 8hr Mids

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP) & (SVSP/PP)

Soledad, CA

$2,225/wk

26 weeks · 8hr Mids

Healthcare Travel Assignment

High Desert State Prison (HDSP)

Susanville, CA

$2,202/wk

16 weeks · 8hr Mids

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Mission Hospital

Asheville, NC

$2,195/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Days

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Mission Hospital

Asheville, NC

$2,192/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP) & (SVSP/PP)

Soledad, CA

$2,183/wk

27 weeks · 8hr Days

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP) & (SVSP/PP)

Soledad, CA

$2,183/wk

27 weeks · 8hr Mids

Healthcare Travel Assignment

High Desert State Prison (HDSP)

Susanville, CA

$2,182/wk

15 weeks · 8hr Days

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP) & (SVSP/PP)

Soledad, CA

$2,182/wk

26 weeks · 8hr Mids

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Valley Springs Behavioral Health Hospital

Holyoke, MA

$2,161/wk

13 weeks · 8hr Mids

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Valley Springs Behavioral Health Hospital

Holyoke, MA

$2,161/wk

13 weeks · 8hr Mids

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Valley Springs Behavioral Health Hospital

Holyoke, MA

$2,161/wk

13 weeks · 8hr Mids

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Ironwood State Prison (ISP)

Blythe, CA

$2,156/wk

18 weeks · 8hr Mids

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility (RJD)

San Diego, CA

$2,124/wk

32 weeks · 8hr Mids

Healthcare Travel Assignment

California Correctional Institution (CCI)

Tehachapi, CA

$2,118/wk

45 weeks · 8hr Mids

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP) & (SVSP/PP)

Soledad, CA

$2,115/wk

13 weeks · 8hr Days

Healthcare Travel Assignment

California Correctional Institution (CCI)

Tehachapi, CA

$2,111/wk

27 weeks · 8hr Days

Healthcare Travel Assignment

California Correctional Institution (CCI)

Tehachapi, CA

$2,097/wk

26 weeks · 8hr Mids

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF)

Chowchilla, CA

$2,096/wk

27 weeks · 8hr Mids

Healthcare Travel Assignment

California Correctional Institution (CCI)

Tehachapi, CA

$2,090/wk

28 weeks · 8hr Mids

Healthcare Travel Assignment

California Correctional Institution (CCI)

Tehachapi, CA

$2,090/wk

28 weeks · 8hr Days

Healthcare Travel Assignment

California Correctional Institution (CCI)

Tehachapi, CA

$2,090/wk

27 weeks · 8hr Days

Healthcare Travel Assignment

California Correctional Institution (CCI)

Tehachapi, CA

$2,090/wk

27 weeks · 8hr Mids

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Calipatria State Prison (CAL)

Calipatria, CA

$2,082/wk

27 weeks · 8hr Days

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility (RJD)

San Diego, CA

$2,065/wk

31 weeks · 8hr Mids

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Kern Valley State Prison (KVSP)

Delano, CA

$2,055/wk

28 weeks · 8hr Days

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility (RJD)

San Diego, CA

$2,053/wk

27 weeks · 8hr Days

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility (RJD)

San Diego, CA

$2,051/wk

26 weeks · 8hr Mids

Emergency Psych RN - Nights

St Mary's Regional Medical Center

Lewiston, ME

$2,041/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Centra Health Rehabilitation Hospital

Lynchburg, VA

$2,022/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Mule Creek State Prison (MCSP)

Ione, CA

$2,022/wk

16 weeks · 8hr Days

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Centra Health Rehabilitation Hospital

Lynchburg, VA

$2,022/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Centra Health Rehabilitation Hospital

Lynchburg, VA

$2,022/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Centra Health Rehabilitation Hospital

Lynchburg, VA

$2,022/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Centra Health Rehabilitation Hospital

Lynchburg, VA

$2,022/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Centra Health Rehabilitation Hospital

Lynchburg, VA

$2,022/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

California Institution for Women (CIW)

Corona, CA

$2,006/wk

27 weeks · 8hr Days

Healthcare Travel Assignment

San Quentin Rehabilitation Center (SQ)

San Quentin, CA

$1,994/wk

13 weeks · 10hrs Days

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Columbus Springs Dublin

Dublin, OH

$1,987/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Days

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Columbus Springs Dublin

Dublin, OH

$1,987/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Canyon Vista Medical Center

Sierra Vista, AZ

$1,987/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Canyon Vista Medical Center

Sierra Vista, AZ

$1,987/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Highland Springs

Highland Hills, OH

$1,973/wk

12 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Research Psychiatric Center

Kansas City, MO

$1,966/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Research Psychiatric Center

Kansas City, MO

$1,966/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Research Psychiatric Center

Kansas City, MO

$1,966/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Research Psychiatric Center

Kansas City, MO

$1,965/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Research Psychiatric Center

Kansas City, MO

$1,963/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

El Dorado Springs Behavioral Health

Tucson, AZ

$1,952/wk

8 weeks · 12hr Days

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Sycamore Springs

Lafayette, IN

$1,934/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Days

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Moberly Regional Medical Center

Moberly, MO

$1,931/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Moberly Regional Medical Center

Moberly, MO

$1,931/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Moberly Regional Medical Center

Moberly, MO

$1,931/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Denver Springs

Englewood, CO

$1,930/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Denver Springs

Englewood, CO

$1,930/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Starr Regional Medical Center - Athens

Athens, TN

$1,903/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

El Dorado Springs Behavioral Health

Tucson, AZ

$1,896/wk

6 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

El Dorado Springs Behavioral Health

Tucson, AZ

$1,896/wk

6 weeks · 12hr Days

Healthcare Travel Assignment

California Institution for Women (CIW)

Corona, CA

$1,859/wk

10 weeks · 8hr Mids

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Mission Hospital - Memorial Campus

Asheville, NC

$1,855/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Mission Hospital - Memorial Campus

Asheville, NC

$1,855/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Centra Health Rehabilitation Hospital

Lynchburg, VA

$1,819/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Ogden Regional Medical Center

Ogden, UT

$1,812/wk

12 weeks · 12hr Nights

Emergency Psych RN - Nights

St Mary's Regional Medical Center

Lewiston, ME

$1,812/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Centra Health Rehabilitation Hospital

Lynchburg, VA

$1,735/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Centra Health Rehabilitation Hospital

Lynchburg, VA

$1,735/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Centra Health Rehabilitation Hospital

Lynchburg, VA

$1,735/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Centra Health Rehabilitation Hospital

Lynchburg, VA

$1,735/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Centra Health Rehabilitation Hospital

Lynchburg, VA

$1,735/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Centra Health Rehabilitation Hospital

Lynchburg, VA

$1,735/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Columbus Springs Dublin

Dublin, OH

$1,713/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Days

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Columbus Springs Dublin

Dublin, OH

$1,713/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Highland Springs

Highland Hills, OH

$1,698/wk

12 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Denver Springs

Englewood, CO

$1,655/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Denver Springs

Englewood, CO

$1,655/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Sycamore Springs

Lafayette, IN

$1,646/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Days

Healthcare Travel Assignment

Frye Regional Medical Center

Hickory, NC

$1,644/wk

13 weeks · 12hr Nights

Live Psychiatric RN Travel Jobs

Updated every 4 hours from CatSol's live inventory.

Top States for Travel Psych RN Jobs

CA

32

open positions

MO

13

open positions

VA

13

open positions

MA

7

open positions

ME

6

open positions

OH

6

open positions

Psych RN Travel Requirements

Active RN License

Compact or state endorsement. Compact covers 41 states; CA, NY, MA, IL require separate license.

1–2 Years Psych Experience

Inpatient psychiatric nursing required. Most hospital contracts: 1 yr minimum. Correctional psych: 2 yrs preferred.

BLS / ACLS

Both required by most facilities. AHA certification preferred. CatSol will confirm facility-specific requirement.

CPI / De-escalation Training

Crisis Prevention Intervention or NVCI training. Many facilities require or strongly prefer this.

PMH-BC Certification (Optional)

ANCC Psychiatric-Mental Health RN Board Certification. Adds $1–$4/hr and strengthens your profile in competitive markets.

CCHP-RN (Corrections Optional)

Correctional health certification. Adds $2–$5/hr on CDCR and TDCJ contracts. Apply after 2 yrs corrections experience.

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California Behavioral Health — Which Credential It Hires

CDCR operates under a federal Coleman consent decree requiring mandated psychiatric staffing levels, and it is a real source of behavioral health contracts. It is worth being precise about which credential it hires: California correctional behavioral health is filled through Licensed Psychiatric Technicians and licensed clinicians — LPT $2,017 average, LCSW up to $3,422, LMFT $2,701 — rather than psychiatric RNs. We have never placed a psych-specialty RN on a California contract, so a CA BRN endorsement will not open this work to you.

Find Your Next Psych RN Travel Contract

CatSol's corrections-specialist recruiters place travel psychiatric nurses at CDCR, TDCJ, and hospital behavioral health units. Transparent pay. Fast credentialing. Real recruiter support.

Search Psych RN Jobs →