Washington State Travel ICU Nurse Jobs
Harborview Level I Trauma · UW Medical Center · 0% State Tax
Washington State combines 0% income tax with Pacific Northwest ICU excellence — Harborview Medical Center is the four-state Level I trauma hub for WA, AK, MT, and ID. Travel ICU nurses earn $3,800–$4,800/week with more take-home than CA equivalents due to Washington's zero state income tax.
0% Washington State Income Tax — Every Dollar Counts
A $4,200/week WA ICU package nets more take-home than a $4,800/week CA package after California's 13.3% top rate. Travel ICU nurses who optimize for net pay often choose Washington over California.
Harborview — Pacific Northwest's Premier Trauma ICU
The only Level I trauma center serving WA, AK, MT, and ID. Harborview's SICU, burn ICU, and neurocritical care ICU are among the highest-acuity in the western US — and travel ICU positions there are consistently competitive.
Live Washington State Travel ICU Nurse Jobs
Updated every 4 hoursNew Washington ICU openings posted daily.
Submit ProfileWashington State ICU Travel Pay by Specialty (2025)
| ICU Specialty | Weekly Package | Key WA Facilities | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trauma SICU / TICU | $4,200 – $4,800 | Harborview Medical Center | BLS, ACLS, CCRN preferred, TNCC |
| Burn ICU | $4,000 – $4,600 | Harborview (UW Medicine burn center) | BLS, ACLS, burn nursing experience |
| Neurocritical Care ICU | $4,000 – $4,600 | Harborview, UW Medical Center | BLS, ACLS, CCRN-K preferred |
| CVICU / Cardiac Surgery | $4,200 – $4,800 | UW Medical Center, Swedish Medical Center | BLS, ACLS, cardiac surgery ICU exp, IABP |
| MICU / Medical ICU | $3,800 – $4,400 | UW MC, Virginia Mason, MultiCare Tacoma | BLS, ACLS, CCRN preferred |
| PICU / Pediatric ICU | $4,000 – $4,600 | Seattle Children's Hospital | BLS, PALS, CCRN-Peds, peds ICU exp req |
| Rural / CAH ICU (Eastern WA) | $4,200 – $5,000 | Deaconess/MultiCare Spokane, Kadlec Richland | BLS, ACLS; higher pay for rural shortage premium |
Top Washington State ICU Facilities for Travel Nurses
Harborview Medical Center (Seattle)
Level I Trauma — UW Medicine- Only Level I trauma center in WA, AK, MT, and ID — four-state referral hub
- Regional burn center (only ABA-verified burn center in the Pacific Northwest)
- Level I PICU + adult trauma ICU + CVICU + neurocritical care
- UW School of Medicine academic teaching hospital — high-acuity cases
- County hospital serving King County's most vulnerable populations
- Travel ICU nurses work alongside fellows, residents, and specialized attendings
UW Medical Center (Seattle)
Level I Trauma — UW Medicine- UW Medicine flagship hospital — 450+ beds, Level I trauma
- Top-ranked cardiac surgery program; CVICU is one of strongest in WA
- Level III NICU, comprehensive cancer center ICU, transplant ICU
- NCI-designated cancer center = complex oncology ICU cases
- Multiple ICU units across main campus + Montlake campus
- Travel nurses at UW MC command top WA ICU pay rates
Seattle Children's Hospital
Level I Pediatric Trauma- US News top 10 children's hospital; Pacific Northwest pediatric hub
- Level I pediatric trauma, Level IV NICU, Cardiac ICU (CICU)
- Complex congenital heart disease program
- PICU travel positions require 2+ years peds ICU experience
- Academic center; research-heavy culture
- Affiliated with UW Medicine; strong interdisciplinary teams
Providence Swedish Medical Center (Seattle)
Level II Trauma- Largest private hospital in WA; multiple Seattle campuses
- Swedish First Hill, Cherry Hill, Ballard, Issaquah, Edmonds
- Strong cardiovascular ICU program (open heart + structural heart)
- Neuroscience institute — neurocritical care ICU
- Providence system spans WA, OR, CA — multi-state travel easier
- One of highest-volume Level II trauma systems in Seattle metro
MultiCare Health System (Tacoma/Pierce County)
Level II Trauma- MultiCare Tacoma General: Level II trauma + largest community hosp in Tacoma
- Strong MICU and CVICU travel nurse demand
- Deaconess Hospital Spokane: Eastern WA Level II trauma hub
- Kadlec Regional Medical Center (Richland/Tri-Cities): Level III
- MultiCare system spans Pierce, King, Spokane, and Benton counties
- Lower cost of living in Tacoma vs Seattle; strong WA ICU pay
Eastern Washington (Spokane / Tri-Cities)
Mixed Trauma Levels- Eastern WA has distinct nursing shortage vs Seattle metro
- Providence Sacred Heart (Spokane): Level II trauma, largest hospital E. WA
- MultiCare Deaconess Spokane: competitive Level II ICU market
- Desert-climate; 300+ sunny days/year vs Seattle's rain
- Rural premium rates: Eastern WA ICU contracts pay +$200–$400/week over Seattle
- WSU Elson Floyd College of Medicine = growing academic program
Washington vs California vs Texas — Travel ICU Nurse Comparison
| Factor | 🌊 Washington | ☀️ California | ⭐ Texas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peak ICU Weekly Pay | $4,200–$4,800 | $4,500–$5,500 | $3,200–$3,800 |
| State Income Tax | 0% | 1%–13.3% | 0% |
| NLC Compact | No — WA license req | No — CA license req | Yes |
| Effective Net Pay (Tax-Adj) | Very High | Moderate | High |
| Level I Trauma Centers | 2 (Harborview + UW) | 16+ | 14+ |
| License Processing | 4–8 weeks | 8–16 weeks | NLC — immediate |
| Cost of Living (Seattle) | High | Very High | Low–Moderate |
| Nursing Compact Expansion | Pending (bill introduced) | No plans | Already compact |
Washington State Travel ICU — FAQs
Q.How much do travel ICU nurses make in Washington State?
Travel ICU nurses in Washington State earn $3,800–$4,800/week total package. Trauma ICU (Harborview) and cardiac ICU (UW Medical Center, Swedish) command the highest rates. Washington's 0% state income tax is a major advantage — a $4,200/week WA package often results in more take-home than a $4,800/week California package after CA's income tax.
Q.Is Washington State part of the NLC Compact for travel nurses?
No. Washington State is not currently an NLC Compact member, though legislation to join has been introduced. For now, travel ICU nurses must obtain a Washington RN license before working in WA. The WA Department of Health Nursing Commission typically processes applications in 4–8 weeks — faster than California's 8–16 weeks. Apply early before your target start date.
Q.What makes Harborview Medical Center unique for travel ICU nurses?
Harborview is the only Level I trauma center in a four-state region (Washington, Alaska, Montana, Idaho). It receives the most complex multi-system trauma, burn, TBI, and surgical cases in the Pacific Northwest. The experience at Harborview's SICU, burn ICU, and neurocritical care units is professionally transformative. Travel ICU nurses who do a Harborview rotation significantly strengthen their critical care credentials.
Q.What certifications do I need for travel ICU nursing in Washington?
Universal requirements: WA RN license, BLS (AHA), ACLS (AHA). For Harborview and UW Medical Center: CCRN certification is preferred (often required for CVICU), 2+ years ICU experience at Level III or above, and TNCC for trauma ICU. CCRN-K (administrator version) is accepted at some facilities. Eastern WA facilities have slightly more flexible experience requirements in exchange for rural premium rates.
Q.Should I travel ICU to Seattle or Eastern Washington?
Seattle (Harborview, UW Medical Center, Swedish) offers the highest prestige, most complex cases, and broadest specialty options. However, Seattle housing costs are high (GSA lodging ~$2,600–$3,400/month equivalent). Eastern Washington (Spokane, Tri-Cities) has a rural premium (+$200–$400/week above Seattle base rates), lower cost of living, and less competition for positions — often resulting in better total net income. Many travel ICU nurses alternate between Seattle for experience and Eastern WA for take-home optimization.
Washington ICU — 0% Tax, Top-Tier Trauma
CatSol places travel ICU nurses at Harborview, UW Medical Center, Seattle Children's, Swedish, MultiCare, and Eastern WA facilities — with full licensing support.