212Live OR RN Travel Jobs · July 28 700+ 5-Star Reviews

OR Travel Nurse Jobs Across the U.S.

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Operating Room · nationwide
212
live jobs
$2,324
avg weekly pay iMarket pay is the average weekly rate across active assignments matching your specialty and location. Each job’s pay tier compares its weekly pay to this average.
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Browse Operating Room jobs by state
California 27 Texas 15 Georgia 13 Colorado 10 Florida 10 Massachusetts 9 Kentucky 7
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    Scrub, Circulate, and Service Lines

    Operating room travel nurse jobs are skill-specific work: most expect a couple of years of perioperative experience and the ability to scrub or circulate across service lines with little orientation. On a given day a traveler might move from a scheduled joint replacement to an overnight trauma case, and call is often built in. Assignments usually run 8 to 13 weeks, and the case mix differs sharply from one suite to the next. Right now 212 OR contracts are posted, spread across California, Texas, and Georgia. Travelers weighing a related path can compare PACU or cath lab travel roles.

    Live market data

    What OR travel contracts pay now

    Updated today

    Right now, OR contracts land mostly near the median, and the top weekly numbers belong to heavy-call rotations and specialty lines like hearts or trauma. See where the median falls on the chart below.

    $1,622 median $2,297 $3,268
    $2,297
    Median weekly
    $1,622–$3,268
    Typical range
    $3,268
    Top Operating Room Pay
    Based on 211 live Advantis Operating Room contracts. Weekly pay shown is marketplace contract value, not a staff-nurse wage.
    See the full Operating Room salary breakdown New Median & percentiles, pay by specialty & metro, hourly, and take-home

    Surgical Volume Keeps OR Demand Steady

    Operating room demand tracks surgical volume, and that volume is structural rather than seasonal. AHRQ hospitalization data show more than one in four inpatient stays involves at least one operating-room procedure, so perioperative staffing stays a standing hospital priority regardless of the calendar. Specialization is the other half of the story: the CNOR from the Competency and Credentialing Institute is the primary accredited perioperative certification, held by roughly 40,000 nurses, and it signals that a traveler can step into a service line with little ramp-up. Because case mix, call structure, and specialty rotations differ sharply from one suite to the next, an OR contract is defined as much by its service lines as by its location.

    Live market data · by state

    OR pay that goes further by state

    Updated today

    A top OR rate can lose to a cheaper market once rent and taxes come out, so this table ranks markets by estimated take-home, not just the sticker number. Each one carries a cited surgical-demand read.

    Tap a green value, or an underlined heading, to see how each number is calculated.
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    State Open jobs Compact Median pay Income tax Market outlook
    Illinois 5 No $2,640 $1,558 4.95% flat ~27% of RNs plan to retire within 5 years IL Nursing Workforce Center
    Pennsylvania 6 Yes ✓ $2,568 $1,473 3.07% flat ~8% RN shortfall by 2038 (~11,970 FTE) HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    West Virginia 4 Yes ✓ $2,429 $993 up to ~4.58% (graduated) Above balance; aging/rural Appalachian demand HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Wisconsin 5 Yes ✓ $2,485 $1,251 up to 7.65% (graduated) Surplus statewide; distribution & specialty-mix demand HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    New Hampshire 4 Yes ✓ $2,638 $2,030 0% ~7% RN shortfall by 2038; aging population HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Oregon 4 No $2,554 $1,706 up to 9.9% (graduated) ~6% RN shortfall by 2038; Portland-anchored HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Kentucky 7 Yes ✓ $2,410 $1,104 3.5% flat Near balance; metro + rural Appalachian demand HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    North Dakota 3 Yes ✓ $2,355 $1,074 up to 2.5% (graduated) Statewide surplus; frontier/oil-region demand HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Washington 6 Yes ✓ $2,550 $2,013 0% Among 10 largest RN shortages · ~17% by 2038 (~15,020 FTE) HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    South Carolina 4 Yes ✓ $2,383 $1,343 0%–6% graduated (top 6%) Among 10 largest RN shortages · ~12% by 2038 (~7,250 FTE) HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    California 27 No $2,654 $2,599 up to 13.3% (graduated) ~78,000 RNs not working in nursing (57% age 65+) CA BRN · UCSF 2022
    Indiana 6 Yes ✓ $2,338 $1,233 2.95% flat ~5,000 more nurses needed by 2031 (72% of need met) Indiana Hospital Assn. · IU Bowen
    New Mexico 4 Yes ✓ $2,346 $1,295 up to 5.9% (graduated) Slight RN shortage (~2% by 2038); below-avg density HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Oklahoma 3 Yes ✓ $2,295 $1,120 up to 4.5% (graduated) Among 10 largest RN shortages · ~13% by 2038 HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Kansas 4 Yes ✓ $2,273 $1,122 up to 5.58% (graduated) Above balance; rural hospitals at closure risk HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Missouri 5 Yes ✓ $2,264 $1,136 up to 4.7% (graduated) Statewide balance; KC/STL turnover + rural gaps HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Arizona 4 Yes ✓ $2,368 $1,706 2.5% flat Population & retiree growth sustain metro demand BLS Occupational Outlook
    Maine 6 Yes ✓ $2,333 $1,645 up to 7.15% (graduated) ~6% RN shortfall by 2038; aging population HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    New York 6 No $2,487 $2,369 up to 10.9% (graduated) + NYC local ~40,000 nurse shortage by 2030; 17,000+ RN openings/yr NY State DOH · DOL
    Louisiana 3 Yes ✓ $2,179 $1,127 3.0% flat Among 10 largest RN shortages · ~11% by 2038 (~5,680 FTE) HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Iowa 3 Yes ✓ $2,150 $1,097 3.8% flat Near balance; rural/critical-access distribution demand HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Virginia 4 Yes ✓ $2,288 $1,741 up to 5.75% (graduated) Among 10 largest RN shortages · ~8% by 2038 (~8,020 FTE) HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Massachusetts 9 No $2,385 $2,289 5.0% flat + 4% surtax >$1M (top 9.0%) Surplus statewide; turnover/specialty-driven demand HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Idaho 4 Yes ✓ $2,134 $1,405 5.3% flat ~6% RN shortfall by 2038; below-avg RN density HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Texas 15 Yes ✓ $2,111 $1,517 0% 57,000+ RN shortfall by 2032 (~16%) TX DSHS 2024 · 739 hospitals
    Colorado 10 Yes ✓ $2,175 $1,839 4.4% flat ~15% RN shortfall by 2030 (~10,000 nurses) CO Center for Nursing · Mercer
    Ohio 3 Yes ✓ $2,014 $1,219 2.75% flat Surplus statewide; high-acuity & rural distribution demand HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Georgia 13 Yes ✓ $2,064 $1,548 4.99% flat Among 10 largest RN shortages · ~20% by 2038 (~25,110 FTE) HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Tennessee 4 Yes ✓ $1,970 $1,176 0% 8,500+ RN shortfall projected by 2035 TN Hospital Assn.
    Florida 10 Yes ✓ $2,048 $1,935 0% 59,000+ nurse shortage by 2035 (vacancy 7.8%) FL Hospital Assn.
    North Carolina 6 Yes ✓ $1,792 $1,373 3.99% flat ~12,500 RN shortfall by 2033 (~11%) NC Nursecast · UNC Sheps
    Illinois · 5 open
    Median pay $2,640 2-BR rent $1,558 State tax 4.95% flat Compact No
    Outlook: ~27% of RNs plan to retire within 5 years IL Nursing Workforce Center
    Pennsylvania · 6 open
    Median pay $2,568 2-BR rent $1,473 State tax 3.07% flat Compact ✓
    Outlook: ~8% RN shortfall by 2038 (~11,970 FTE) HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    West Virginia · 4 open
    Median pay $2,429 2-BR rent $993 State tax up to ~4.58% (graduated) Compact ✓
    Outlook: Above balance; aging/rural Appalachian demand HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Wisconsin · 5 open
    Median pay $2,485 2-BR rent $1,251 State tax up to 7.65% (graduated) Compact ✓
    Outlook: Surplus statewide; distribution & specialty-mix demand HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    New Hampshire · 4 open
    Median pay $2,638 2-BR rent $2,030 State tax 0% Compact ✓
    Outlook: ~7% RN shortfall by 2038; aging population HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Oregon · 4 open
    Median pay $2,554 2-BR rent $1,706 State tax up to 9.9% (graduated) Compact No
    Outlook: ~6% RN shortfall by 2038; Portland-anchored HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Kentucky · 7 open
    Median pay $2,410 2-BR rent $1,104 State tax 3.5% flat Compact ✓
    Outlook: Near balance; metro + rural Appalachian demand HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    North Dakota · 3 open
    Median pay $2,355 2-BR rent $1,074 State tax up to 2.5% (graduated) Compact ✓
    Outlook: Statewide surplus; frontier/oil-region demand HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Washington · 6 open
    Median pay $2,550 2-BR rent $2,013 State tax 0% Compact ✓
    Outlook: Among 10 largest RN shortages · ~17% by 2038 (~15,020 FTE) HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    South Carolina · 4 open
    Median pay $2,383 2-BR rent $1,343 State tax 0%–6% graduated (top 6%) Compact ✓
    Outlook: Among 10 largest RN shortages · ~12% by 2038 (~7,250 FTE) HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    California · 27 open
    Median pay $2,654 2-BR rent $2,599 State tax up to 13.3% (graduated) Compact No
    Outlook: ~78,000 RNs not working in nursing (57% age 65+) CA BRN · UCSF 2022
    Indiana · 6 open
    Median pay $2,338 2-BR rent $1,233 State tax 2.95% flat Compact ✓
    Outlook: ~5,000 more nurses needed by 2031 (72% of need met) Indiana Hospital Assn. · IU Bowen
    New Mexico · 4 open
    Median pay $2,346 2-BR rent $1,295 State tax up to 5.9% (graduated) Compact ✓
    Outlook: Slight RN shortage (~2% by 2038); below-avg density HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Oklahoma · 3 open
    Median pay $2,295 2-BR rent $1,120 State tax up to 4.5% (graduated) Compact ✓
    Outlook: Among 10 largest RN shortages · ~13% by 2038 HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Kansas · 4 open
    Median pay $2,273 2-BR rent $1,122 State tax up to 5.58% (graduated) Compact ✓
    Outlook: Above balance; rural hospitals at closure risk HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Missouri · 5 open
    Median pay $2,264 2-BR rent $1,136 State tax up to 4.7% (graduated) Compact ✓
    Outlook: Statewide balance; KC/STL turnover + rural gaps HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Arizona · 4 open
    Median pay $2,368 2-BR rent $1,706 State tax 2.5% flat Compact ✓
    Outlook: Population & retiree growth sustain metro demand BLS Occupational Outlook
    Maine · 6 open
    Median pay $2,333 2-BR rent $1,645 State tax up to 7.15% (graduated) Compact ✓
    Outlook: ~6% RN shortfall by 2038; aging population HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    New York · 6 open
    Median pay $2,487 2-BR rent $2,369 State tax up to 10.9% (graduated) + NYC local Compact No
    Outlook: ~40,000 nurse shortage by 2030; 17,000+ RN openings/yr NY State DOH · DOL
    Louisiana · 3 open
    Median pay $2,179 2-BR rent $1,127 State tax 3.0% flat Compact ✓
    Outlook: Among 10 largest RN shortages · ~11% by 2038 (~5,680 FTE) HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Iowa · 3 open
    Median pay $2,150 2-BR rent $1,097 State tax 3.8% flat Compact ✓
    Outlook: Near balance; rural/critical-access distribution demand HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Virginia · 4 open
    Median pay $2,288 2-BR rent $1,741 State tax up to 5.75% (graduated) Compact ✓
    Outlook: Among 10 largest RN shortages · ~8% by 2038 (~8,020 FTE) HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Massachusetts · 9 open
    Median pay $2,385 2-BR rent $2,289 State tax 5.0% flat + 4% surtax >$1M (top 9.0%) Compact No
    Outlook: Surplus statewide; turnover/specialty-driven demand HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Idaho · 4 open
    Median pay $2,134 2-BR rent $1,405 State tax 5.3% flat Compact ✓
    Outlook: ~6% RN shortfall by 2038; below-avg RN density HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Texas · 15 open
    Median pay $2,111 2-BR rent $1,517 State tax 0% Compact ✓
    Outlook: 57,000+ RN shortfall by 2032 (~16%) TX DSHS 2024 · 739 hospitals
    Colorado · 10 open
    Median pay $2,175 2-BR rent $1,839 State tax 4.4% flat Compact ✓
    Outlook: ~15% RN shortfall by 2030 (~10,000 nurses) CO Center for Nursing · Mercer
    Ohio · 3 open
    Median pay $2,014 2-BR rent $1,219 State tax 2.75% flat Compact ✓
    Outlook: Surplus statewide; high-acuity & rural distribution demand HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Georgia · 13 open
    Median pay $2,064 2-BR rent $1,548 State tax 4.99% flat Compact ✓
    Outlook: Among 10 largest RN shortages · ~20% by 2038 (~25,110 FTE) HRSA 2023–2038 · long-term
    Tennessee · 4 open
    Median pay $1,970 2-BR rent $1,176 State tax 0% Compact ✓
    Outlook: 8,500+ RN shortfall projected by 2035 TN Hospital Assn.
    Florida · 10 open
    Median pay $2,048 2-BR rent $1,935 State tax 0% Compact ✓
    Outlook: 59,000+ nurse shortage by 2035 (vacancy 7.8%) FL Hospital Assn.
    North Carolina · 6 open
    Median pay $1,792 2-BR rent $1,373 State tax 3.99% flat Compact ✓
    Outlook: ~12,500 RN shortfall by 2033 (~11%) NC Nursecast · UNC Sheps
    No states match those filters. Try removing one.
    Market-outlook figures cited to each state's primary source.
    Illustrative only — not take-home pay or tax advice. Travel pay often includes tax-free stipends, and no-income-tax states stretch further. Estimated value = median weekly contract pay × 4.33 weeks, minus the typical 2-BR rent. Pay & open jobs: live Advantis inventory; 2-BR rent: HUD FMR FY2026; state income tax: Tax Foundation 2026; compact: NCSBN.
    Good to know

    What OR Travel Nurses Want to Know

    Which certs help most on OR travel contracts?
    OR roles run on an active RN license plus BLS and ACLS, and many prefer or require the CNOR from the Competency and Credentialing Institute, the primary accredited perioperative certification. Pediatric or specialty suites may ask for added credentials. If you scrub as well as circulate, say so, dual-role travelers clear credentialing into more rooms and more shortlists.
    What surgical settings do these travel assignments cover?
    Travelers work in hospital surgical suites and ambulatory surgery centers, from community programs to academic and trauma-designated sites. Many are multi-suite ORs running high-volume cases like total joints, open-heart, robotic, and trauma, and the facility's case mix shapes the day. Ask for the case mix by service line before you accept; it predicts your days better than the facility's size.
    Do OR travel nurses scrub, circulate, or both?
    OR travel roles can be scrub-only, circulate-only, or both, often within set specialties like orthopedics or cardiac. The posting spells out which role and specialties a contract covers, so confirm both before you shortlist it. Dual-role postings usually pay no differently, but they widen which suites will take you and how quickly you extend. Confirm both role and lines before you shortlist.
    How is OR travel nursing different from PACU or pre-op?
    OR travel nurses work inside the surgical suite during the procedure, scrubbing or circulating, while pre-op preps patients beforehand and PACU recovers them after anesthesia. The three share a perioperative pathway but use different skill sets, and most OR contracts expect intra-operative experience specifically. If your background is PACU or pre-op, build intra-operative time in a staff role first; OR contracts rarely bridge that gap.
    What sets weekly pay on OR travel contracts?
    OR weekly pay tracks the service line and call burden first, with cardiac and trauma lines and heavy call sitting at the top, then location, shift, and overtime. Government wage benchmarks for RNs frame the wider market, but the number that matters is the live weekly rate on each posting, shown up front. each listing shows its own current weekly pay up front. Heavy-call rotations move the real total more than the base rate does.
    What experience do OR travel assignments expect?
    Most postings want a couple of years of perioperative experience and comfort with the relevant service line and equipment, since travelers step in with little orientation. A CNOR or documented case experience in lines like orthopedics, cardiac, or robotics strengthens an application. Each posting states the expected experience, so match it to your background. Bring case logs to submission; they settle borderline screens quickly.
    How does call work on OR travel contracts?
    Many OR contracts build in call, especially at trauma centers and hospitals running emergency and add-on cases overnight, so weekend and night coverage can be part of the schedule. The shift details show the base shift, and the posting lays out call expectations, which often lift pay on heavier rotations. Clarify response-time expectations and how call-backs pay before you sign.