Most Open Positions — Any RN Specialty

Travel ER Nurse Jobs 2026

$2,000–$4,000/week — crisis positions to $7,000/week. 80 active ER openings nationwide. The highest crisis pay ceiling in all of nursing. ACLS + TNCC + 1–2 years ER experience required.

🚨 80 Open Positions⚡ Crisis: $4,000–$7,000/wk🏥 Level I, II, III Trauma🪪 Compact License Preferred

Why ER is the Most In-Demand Travel Nursing Specialty

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Most Open Positions

ER has more open travel RN positions than any other specialty — 43 current openings. Emergency departments face constant turnover from burnout and high-acuity stress, creating a permanent need for travel nurses.

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Highest Crisis Pay Ceiling

When facilities hit ED diversion levels, crisis ER pay can reach $7,000/week — higher than ICU crisis rates in most cases. ER nurses who can start on short notice command the biggest premiums.

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Compact License = Every State

An NLC compact license covers 40+ states — meaning an ER RN can accept a crisis assignment in a new state the same week. No other specialty benefits more from the compact than ER.

Travel ER Nurse Pay by Facility Type — 2026

Facility Type	Weekly Pay	Patient Volume	Certifications Required
Level I Trauma Center	$2,600–$4,000/wk	80,000–150,000 visits/yr	ACLS, TNCC required; CEN strongly preferred
Level II Trauma Center	$2,400–$3,500/wk	40,000–80,000 visits/yr	ACLS, TNCC required
Urban / High-Volume ED	$2,400–$3,200/wk	50,000–100,000 visits/yr	ACLS required; TNCC strongly preferred
Community Hospital ED	$2,000–$2,800/wk	20,000–50,000 visits/yr	ACLS required; TNCC preferred
Pediatric ED (Standalone)	$2,200–$3,000/wk	Variable	ACLS, PALS required; ENPC preferred
Crisis / Rapid Response	$4,000–$7,000/wk	Staffing emergency	ACLS, TNCC, 2+ yrs ER exp, short-notice start

ER Nurse Certifications — Required vs. Premium

Required for Most ER Contracts

BLS — Basic Life Support — AHA or Red Cross. 2-year renewal. Non-negotiable.
ACLS — Advanced Cardiac Life Support — AHA. 2-year renewal. Required by virtually all ER contracts.
Active RN License — Compact preferred for 40+ state access. CA/NY require separate endorsement.
1–2 Years ER Experience — Post-licensure, in an ED setting. Travel agency verifies.

Premium Certifications — Higher Pay

TNCC — Trauma Nursing Core Course — +$100–$200/wk. Required at Level I/II trauma centers. 4-year renewal.
CEN — Certified Emergency Nurse — +$150–$250/wk. BCEN board cert. Demonstrates specialty mastery. 4-year renewal.
PALS — Pediatric Advanced Life Support — +$75–$150/wk. Required for mixed adult-peds EDs. 2-year renewal.
ENPC — Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course — +$75–$150/wk. Pediatric-specific ED care. 4-year renewal.
Charge RN / Triage Experience — +$150–$300/wk. Leadership experience commands premium rates.

80 Open Travel ER Positions

Top states: NM, AZ, CA, CO, TX, FL

Healthcare Travel Assignment

$3,640.85/wk

MarinHealth Medical Center · Greenbrae, CA

Healthcare Travel Assignment

$3,625.27/wk

Renown Health · Reno, NV

Healthcare Travel Assignment

$3,460/wk

Prowers Medical Center · Lamar, CO

Healthcare Travel Assignment

$3,366/wk

Prowers Medical Center · Lamar, CO

Healthcare Travel Assignment

$3,236/wk

University of Vermont Medical Center · Burlington, VT

Healthcare Travel Assignment

$3,207/wk

Central Vermont Medical Center · Montpelier, VT

Healthcare Travel Assignment

$3,186/wk

Boone Hospital Center · Columbia, MO

Healthcare Travel Assignment

$3,185/wk

Athol Memorial Hospital · Athol, MA

Healthcare Travel Assignment

$3,146/wk

Mercy Health Hospital and Trauma Center - Riverside · Rockford, IL

Healthcare Travel Assignment

$3,010/wk

Enloe Medical Center · Chico, CA

Healthcare Travel Assignment

$3,010/wk

Tsehootsooi Medical Center · Fort Defiance, AZ

Healthcare Travel Assignment

$2,976/wk

University of Vermont Medical Center · Burlington, VT

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do travel ER nurses make per week?

Travel ER nurses earn $2,000–$4,000/week in 2026, averaging $2,284/week nationally. Crisis and rapid-response ER positions pay $4,000–$7,000/week. Level I trauma centers and high-acuity urban EDs pay the most. California and New York ER positions command $2,600–$3,500/week.

What certifications do travel ER nurses need?

Required: BLS, ACLS, 1–2 years ER experience, active RN license. Highly preferred: TNCC (required at Level I/II trauma centers), CEN certification (+$150–$250/week), PALS for mixed adult-peds EDs. CEN adds the most value to your rate of any ER certification.

How much ER experience do I need to travel?

Most travel ER contracts require 1–2 years of emergency department experience post-licensure. Level I trauma centers and high-acuity facilities typically require 2+ years. The key skills: independent triage, STEMI/stroke/sepsis recognition, IV/IO access, and emergency medication administration.

What is the highest-paying ER travel nursing state?

California pays the most for travel ER nurses — $2,600–$3,500/week due to high cost of living stipends and California's AB 394 nurse staffing ratios (4:1 in ED). New York is second at $2,500–$3,200/week. Both require separate state licenses (6–10 weeks) since they are not NLC compact members.

Travel ER Nurse Jobs by State

State-specific pay tables, trauma center profiles, and live ER job boards.

ER Jobs CaliforniaUCSF, Cedars-Sinai, LAC+USC ER Jobs TexasMemorial Hermann, Parkland, HCA ER Jobs FloridaJackson Memorial, Tampa General ER Jobs New YorkBellevue, NYU Langone, SUNY ER Jobs WashingtonHarborview Level I, 0% income tax ER Jobs ArizonaBanner Thunderbird, Valleywise ER Jobs ColoradoDenver Health Level I, UCHealth ER Jobs OregonOHSU Level I, Emanuel Portland All Travel Nursing JobsFull specialty hub

More RN Specialty Pages

💙 Travel ICU Nurse Jobs

$2,200–$3,500/wk · Crisis to $7,500/wk

🩺 Travel OR Nurse Jobs

$2,200–$3,200/wk · CNOR cert premium

👶 Travel L&D Nurse Jobs

$2,200–$3,200/wk · AWHONN required

Find Your Next Travel ER Assignment

43 open ER positions. Tell us your ACLS/TNCC status, compact or individual license states, and preferred region — we'll match you to the highest-paying open position.

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