Travel Nurse Pay in Georgia – Updated
Travel Nurse Pay in Georgia: What to Expect in 2025
Working as a contract nurse or per diem nurse in Georgia opens doors to flexibility, premium pay rates, and the chance to grow your experience across different healthcare settings. Whether you’re comparing travel nursing jobs, exploring remote RN jobs, or looking into per diem nursing positions, it’s essential to understand the factors that impact your earnings so you can make informed decisions and advocate for fair compensation.
Below, you’ll find everything you need to know about travel nurse pay in Georgia, average hourly rates, and how variables like specialty and location shape your paycheck.
Contract vs. Per Diem Nursing in Georgia
When you partner with a nursing staffing agency or medical staffing agency, you’ll likely choose between contract assignments and per diem shifts:
- Contract Nursing Jobs: You’ll sign an agreement to work a set number of hours over a defined period, such as 8–13 weeks. Many contract nursing jobs offer guaranteed hours, premium rates for urgent needs, and stipends for housing and travel.
- Per Diem Nursing Jobs: “Per diem” means “per day.” These shifts are typically scheduled a week at a time, providing maximum flexibility for nurses who prefer short-term or occasional work. Per diem nurses often receive higher hourly rates to compensate for the lack of long-term commitment and benefits.
Whether you’re drawn to the stability of a contract or the freedom of per diem nursing shifts, you’ll be paid hourly, with rates that can fluctuate based on demand and specialty.
What Factors Impact Nurse Pay Rates?
No two assignments are exactly the same. Here are the main factors that determine what you’ll earn as a travel nurse or per diem nurse in Georgia:
1. Location
Urban areas like Metro Atlanta and Savannah typically offer higher compensation compared to rural hospitals and clinics. Travel nurse jobs in Atlanta often pay a premium to attract experienced RNs to high-volume facilities.
2. Specialty
Your area of expertise makes a significant difference. Roles in the emergency department, ICU, operating room, and critical care nursing often command the highest hourly rates. Specialized skills like medical imaging, radiology technologist jobs, or dialysis RN contracts can further boost your earning potential.
3. Experience and Credentials
More years in the field—and specialty certifications—qualify you for higher-paying assignments. Rapid response nursing jobs and crisis response contracts also tend to pay more due to urgency and complexity.
4. Facility Type
Pay can vary depending on whether you’re working in an acute care hospital, skilled nursing facility, outpatient clinic, or rehab center. Some settings offer incentives like retention bonuses or completion bonuses.
5. Travel Requirements
Assignments requiring you to commute 50+ miles often include additional stipends or elevated pay rates to offset costs and time away from home.
Average Hourly Pay for RNs and LPNs
While rates fluctuate weekly based on demand and season, here’s what you can generally expect in Georgia:
- General RN: $40–$46 per hour
- General RN (Metro Atlanta): $48–$55 per hour
- Specialty RN (ICU, OR, ED): $55–$75+ per hour, depending on urgency and shortage areas
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN): $25–$40 per hour
- LPN (Metro Atlanta): $30–$45 per hour
These figures often include travel stipends and housing allowances. For high-paying travel nursing companies or crisis response contracts, rates can exceed $80 per hour in peak demand.
Understanding Pay Packages from Agencies
Some agencies bundle housing and travel reimbursements, while others pay a higher hourly rate without stipends.
Before accepting a contract, review details carefully:
- Hourly base pay
- Housing allowance or provided housing
- Meal and incidentals stipends
- Travel reimbursements
- Completion and referral bonuses
If you’re unsure whether a pay package is competitive, compare it with similar contract nursing jobs.
Tips to Earn More as a Travel Nurse
- Get certified in high-demand specialties like emergency room nurse staffing, ICU nursing, or radiology technologist work.
- Consider rapid response nursing or ICU contract nurse positions for premium rates.
- Pick up flexible options like weekend nursing contracts or extra per diem shifts to maximize income.
- Keep your licenses and certifications current to qualify for the broadest range of assignments.
Start Your Nursing Assignment in Georgia
If you’re ready to explore per diem nursing jobs in Georgia or secure a travel nurse contract with competitive pay and benefits, Staff Relief, Inc. is here to help.
Contact us today to learn more about available contracts and start earning what you deserve.