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: California, New Mexico, Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Colorado

Healthcare Travel Assignment

$3,670/wk

Mount Edgecumbe Medical Center · Sitka, Alaska

Healthcare Travel Assignment

$3,646.08/wk

MarinHealth Medical Center · Greenbrae, California

Healthcare Travel Assignment

$3,612.56/wk

Renown Health · Reno, Nevada

Healthcare Travel Assignment

$3,522.39/wk

Providence Seward Mountain Haven · Seward, Alaska

Healthcare Travel Assignment

$3,460/wk

Prowers Medical Center · Lamar, Colorado

Healthcare Travel Assignment

$3,366/wk

Prowers Medical Center · Lamar, Colorado

Healthcare Travel Assignment

$3,326/wk

Enloe Medical Center · Chico, California

Healthcare Travel Assignment

$3,257.5/wk

Providence Alaska Medical Center · Anchorage, Alaska

Healthcare Travel Assignment

$3,257.5/wk

Providence Alaska Medical Center · Anchorage, Alaska

Healthcare Travel Assignment

$3,257.5/wk

Providence Alaska Medical Center · Anchorage, Alaska

Healthcare Travel Assignment

$3,257.5/wk

Providence Alaska Medical Center · Anchorage, Alaska

Healthcare Travel Assignment

$3,207/wk

Central Vermont Medical Center · Montpelier, Vermont

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.

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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