From Mayo Clinic Rochester — the world's most prestigious travel nursing destination — to Hennepin Healthcare's Level I trauma center and rural critical access hospitals across greater MN. NLC Compact state. Tax-free stipends offset Minnesota's 9.85% income tax rate.
NLC Compact flexibility, Mayo Clinic academic prestige, winter surge premiums, and 10,000 lakes waiting after your shift.
Minnesota is a Nurse Licensure Compact member. Your multistate license activates immediately — no separate MN application required.
Travel nurses at Mayo Clinic Rochester work alongside world-ranked specialists. The exposure is unmatched — top-ranked in 17+ specialties.
January–February brings extreme cold-weather illness spikes. Christmas and New Year gaps create premium crisis-rate opportunities statewide.
Iron Range and southern MN critical access hospitals offer $2,400–$3,000/wk with housing stipends. Smaller towns, bigger paychecks.
Boundary Waters canoe wilderness, 10,000+ lakes, ski season at Lutsen, and year-round state parks — Minnesota rewards adventurous travelers.
Minnesota's hospital network spans a world-renowned academic medical center, major Twin Cities health systems, and a statewide network of critical access hospitals.
World-famous academic medical center. #1 in US rankings. Travel nurses rotate across Saint Marys Hospital and Rochester Methodist Hospital. CRNA and OR nurses in highest demand.
Academic Medical Center affiliated with UMN. Large health system across the Twin Cities metro. Transplant, oncology, and high-acuity ICU specialty units.
Level I trauma center serving North Minneapolis. Safety-net hospital with high ER and ICU throughput. Culturally diverse patient population — Somali and Hmong communities.
One of the largest private hospitals in Minnesota. Allina Health flagship. Strong cardiac, neurology, and women's health programs. Magnet-recognized nursing culture.
Minnesota's only dedicated pediatric health system. Dual campuses. NICU, PICU, and pediatric oncology travel nurses in continuous demand. High-acuity peds experience required.
Weekly package rates include tax-free housing and M&IE stipends. Minnesota's 9.85% top income tax rate applies only to taxable wages — stipends are exempt.
| Market | Weekly Package |
|---|---|
| Mayo Clinic Rochester | $2,400–$3,400 |
| Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul) | $2,200–$3,200 |
| Duluth (Essentia Health, St. Luke's) | $2,100–$2,800 |
| St. Cloud (CentraCare) | $2,000–$2,700 |
| Rural Greater MN | $2,400–$3,000 |
Rates are estimated weekly package totals as of Q2 2026. Actual pay varies by agency, specialty, experience, and shift. Stipend eligibility requires a legitimate tax home.
Updated every 4 hours from our live job feed. Last updated: April 27, 2026.
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Browse All JobsMinnesota winters are no joke — and hospitals know it. January and February drive the most aggressive travel nurse recruiting in the state.
Pneumonia, hypothermia, and cardiac events spike sharply when windchills drop below -20°F. ER and ICU units across Minneapolis, Duluth, and rural MN see sustained surge from mid-December through February.
Christmas and New Year PTO requests from permanent staff create short-notice openings — often at crisis-rate premiums. Travel nurses who can start quickly command the highest per-week packages of the year during this window.
Children's Minnesota sees NICU and PICU RSV surge from October through February. Adult ICUs statewide absorb flu complications. If you're willing to brave the cold, Minnesota winters pay more than most warmer states in summer.
Outside the Twin Cities and Rochester, Minnesota has dozens of critical access hospitals serving vast rural communities. Nursing shortages are acute and pay packages are competitive.
Northeastern Minnesota's Iron Range has a tight-knit mining community with aging demographics and limited specialist access. Critical access hospitals here rely heavily on travel nurses — and they pay accordingly. Outdoor recreation access is exceptional: Boundary Waters Canoe Area is your backyard.
Southern Minnesota's agricultural communities have large immigrant worker populations — Somali, Hmong, and Latino communities — creating cultural competency demand. Med-surg and ER nurses with bilingual skills or multicultural experience are highly valued. CentraCare and Mayo Health System operate regionally here.
High-demand specialties across Minnesota's hospital network in 2026.
Mayo Clinic Rochester is one of the most sought-after CRNA travel destinations in the world. Complex surgical caseloads, academic environment, and stipends that offset Minnesota's income tax.
Hennepin Healthcare's Level I trauma designation means continuous high-acuity ICU demand. MICU, SICU, and trauma ICU positions available year-round.
Children's Minnesota runs a Level III/IV NICU across two campuses. Travel NICU nurses are in steady demand, especially during winter flu and RSV surge seasons.
Minnesota has significant BH staffing gaps statewide. Twin Cities BH travel RN demand spiked post-pandemic. See our dedicated MN behavioral health jobs page.
Yes. Minnesota is a full Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state. If you hold a multistate compact license from your home state, you can practice in Minnesota immediately without applying for a separate state license. This is one of the biggest advantages for travel nurses considering MN assignments.
Travel RNs at Mayo Clinic Rochester typically earn $2,400–$3,400 per week in total package, depending on specialty and shift. CRNA and OR nurses command the highest rates. The academic prestige of Mayo also attracts competitive agency contracts — pay is generally above the Minnesota state average for travel nursing.
Mayo Clinic Rochester most commonly recruits travel nurses in OR (surgical), CRNA (anesthesia), ICU (cardiac, neuro, surgical), oncology, and transplant. ER travel nurses are also periodically needed. Mayo's complex case mix requires minimum 2 years of specialty experience.
Yes — January and February are peak crisis-staffing months in Minnesota. Extreme cold-weather illnesses (pneumonia, hypothermia, cardiac events) drive ER and ICU admissions well above baseline. Christmas and New Year holiday staffing gaps also create short-notice crisis-rate slots, often with premium pay above normal contract rates.
Minnesota has one of the highest state income tax rates in the US — up to 9.85% at the top bracket, with a lowest bracket of 5.35%. However, travel nurse tax-free stipends (housing and M&IE) are not subject to state income tax. Twin Cities hospital contract rates are high enough that most travel nurses net favorably compared to lower-tax states. Consult a travel nurse tax specialist for your personal situation.
M Health Fairview (University of Minnesota Health) is an academic medical center affiliated with the University of Minnesota — it focuses on complex specialty care, transplant, and research. Hennepin Healthcare is a county-owned safety-net Level I trauma center serving North Minneapolis. Hennepin sees a higher volume of trauma and ER cases; M Health Fairview handles more elective complex cases and transplants. Both are in downtown Minneapolis and regularly hire travel nurses.
NLC Compact means you can start your Minnesota assignment in days, not weeks. CatSol recruiters have direct relationships with Mayo Clinic, M Health Fairview, and Hennepin Healthcare. Get matched to the right facility for your specialty.
Last updated: April 27, 2026 • Revalidates every 4 hours • NLC Compact verified