UPMC 40-hospital system, CHOP Level IV NICU, Penn Medicine/HUP, Jefferson Health — plus one of the lowest state income tax rates in the Northeast.
Pennsylvania became a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state in 2020, joining 40+ states in the multistate compact. Travel nurses holding a compact multistate license can begin practicing in Pennsylvania immediately — no separate PA endorsement required.
Pennsylvania imposes a flat 3.07% state income tax on all wages — one of the lowest state income tax rates in the United States and well below the national average of approximately 5%. This represents a meaningful net pay advantage for travel nurses compared to most neighboring states.
| State | Income Tax Rate | vs. PA |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 3.07% (flat) | — |
| Ohio | 3.99% (flat) | +0.92% |
| Maryland | 5.75% | +2.68% |
| Massachusetts | 5.0% | +1.93% |
| New Jersey | 8.97% | +5.90% |
| New York | 10.9% | +7.83% |
Note: Philadelphia imposes a 3.44% city wage tax on non-Philadelphia residents working within city limits (CHOP, HUP, Jefferson, Temple). Pittsburgh has no city wage tax for non-residents.
Five factors that make Pennsylvania one of the Northeast's top travel nursing markets.
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center operates 40+ hospitals across PA, MD, and NY — the dominant travel nursing employer in Western Pennsylvania with centralized credentialing.
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is consistently ranked #1 or #2 nationally (US News). Level IV NICU with 100+ beds, ECMO, neonatal cardiac surgery. Highest-credential NICU placement in the Northeast.
Pennsylvania joined the Nurse Licensure Compact in 2020. Compact license holders from 40+ states can begin practicing in PA immediately — no endorsement wait.
Pennsylvania's 3.07% flat state income tax is one of the lowest in the Northeast — well below NY (10.9%), NJ (8.97%), MD (5.75%), and the national average (~5%).
Penn Medicine / HUP, Jefferson Health, Temple University Hospital, and Main Line Health form one of the largest academic hospital clusters on the East Coast.
The highest-demand travel nursing employers across Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and the Lehigh Valley.
Flagship UPMC facility. Centralized credentialing covers all UPMC system hospitals.
RNC-NIC required. 100+ NICU beds. ECMO, neonatal cardiac surgery. Philadelphia city wage tax (3.44%) applies.
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania — top academic center in the Philadelphia cluster.
Major Philadelphia academic system. Philadelphia city wage tax applies to non-residents.
PA's 3rd largest city market. Level I trauma hub serving the Lehigh Valley. No city wage tax.
Weekly gross package ranges by market, April 2026. Taxable vs. non-taxable splits vary by contract.
| Region / Key Facilities | Weekly Pay Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia (HUP, Jefferson, Temple, CHOP) | $2,600–$3,500/wk | Top academic system rates; CHOP NICU at premium. Philadelphia city wage tax (3.44%) applies. |
| Pittsburgh Metro (UPMC Presbyterian, UPMC Mercy) | $2,600–$3,400/wk | Flagship Level I trauma; ICU/NICU premium. No city wage tax for non-residents. |
| Lehigh Valley (LVHN Allentown) | $2,300–$2,900/wk | PA's 3rd largest city; Level I trauma hub for the Lehigh Valley region. |
| Hershey / Central PA (Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey) | $2,200–$2,800/wk | Academic + rural draw; Penn State Health flagship. |
| Reading / Lancaster (Tower Health, Penn Medicine Lancaster) | $2,100–$2,600/wk | Regional hospital market; growing demand for med-surg and step-down. |
| Rural PA (Potter, Tioga, Cameron counties) | $2,200–$2,700/wk | Critical access + shortage premium; housing stipends often above average. |
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Pennsylvania is experiencing significant travel nurse demand across UPMC, CHOP, Penn Medicine, and Jefferson Health. New positions open weekly — contact us to get matched to current openings.
Get Matched to PA JobsUPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) is one of the largest integrated health systems in the United States, operating 40+ hospitals across Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New York, plus international operations. For travel nurses, UPMC is the dominant employer in Western Pennsylvania and one of the most recognizable health systems for contract placements nationally.
Travel nurses entering the UPMC system go through UPMC's centralized credentialing process — completing credentialing once grants access to all UPMC system facilities. UPMC contracts pay $2,400–$3,500/wk depending on specialty and facility.
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is consistently ranked among the top 2–3 children's hospitals in the United States (US News & World Report). CHOP operates a Level IV NICU — the highest AAP acuity level — with 100+ NICU beds, full on-site pediatric subspecialties, ECMO, neonatal cardiac surgery, and neonatal neurocritical care.
For travel NICU nurses, a CHOP contract is the highest-credential NICU placement available in the Northeast. The experience and credentialing earned at CHOP is recognized nationally. Pay runs $2,800–$3,500/wk.
Philadelphia imposes a city wage tax on all individuals who earn wages within city limits. The rate for non-Philadelphia residents is 3.44%. This applies to travel nurses working at any Philadelphia-based facility: CHOP, Penn Medicine / HUP, Jefferson Health (Thomas Jefferson University Hospital), and Temple University Hospital.
Travel nurses comparing Philadelphia vs. Pittsburgh contracts should factor in the city wage tax difference — which can total $41+ per week — when evaluating net take-home pay. Pittsburgh contracts often net more despite similar gross package amounts.
Yes. Pennsylvania joined the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) in 2020. Travel nurses holding a multistate compact license from any of the 40+ NLC member states can practice in Pennsylvania immediately without applying for a separate PA endorsement. Non-compact state nurses (CA, NY, IL, etc.) must apply for PA RN endorsement, which typically takes 3–5 weeks. PA requirements include a clean license with no active discipline.
Travel nurses working within the UPMC system earn $2,400–$3,500/wk depending on specialty and facility. ICU and NICU positions at UPMC Presbyterian (Pittsburgh flagship) and UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh (Level IV NICU) are at the high end. UPMC uses centralized credentialing — completing it once grants access to all UPMC system facilities.
Philadelphia imposes a city wage tax of 3.44% on all wages earned within city limits by non-Philadelphia residents. This applies to travel nurses working at CHOP, Penn Medicine/HUP, Jefferson Health, and Temple University Hospital. On a $1,200/wk taxable base, this adds approximately $41/wk in city tax on top of Pennsylvania's 3.07% flat state income tax. Pittsburgh has no city wage tax for non-residents — a meaningful net pay difference to factor into contract comparisons.
Yes. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Level IV NICU requires RNC-NIC certification, a minimum of 2 years Level III NICU experience, NRP certification, and BLS (AHA). CHOP is one of the most selective NICU placements available — it operates 100+ NICU beds with ECMO, neonatal cardiac surgery, and neonatal neurocritical care. Pay runs $2,800–$3,500/wk.
Pennsylvania's 3.07% flat income tax is one of the lowest in the Northeast. Comparison: PA 3.07% vs. NY 10.9%, NJ 8.97%, MD 5.75%, OH 3.99%, MA 5.0%, DE 6.6%. On a $3,000/wk PA package with a $1,200 taxable base, PA income tax is approximately $37/wk. Note: Philadelphia city wage tax (3.44%) adds ~$41/wk for non-residents working within Philadelphia city limits. Pittsburgh contracts carry no city wage tax.
Top in-demand travel nursing specialties in Pennsylvania include: NICU (especially at CHOP and UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh), ICU/CVICU (UPMC Presbyterian, HUP), Labor & Delivery (UPMC, Penn Medicine), Emergency Department (multiple Level I trauma centers), Med-Surg/Step-Down (regional and rural critical access hospitals), and Behavioral Health (statewide shortage).
UPMC, CHOP, Penn Medicine, Jefferson Health — our recruiters know the PA market and will match you to the right contract. NLC Compact accepted. 3.07% flat tax. $2,200–$3,500/wk.
Questions? Call or text your recruiter. No pressure — just real market intel and fast contract matching.