Pennsylvania Travel Nurse Pay Guide: Salary, Top Hospitals & Cost of Living (2026)
Pennsylvania Travel Nurse Pay Guide: Salary, Top Hospitals & Cost of Living (2026)
Pennsylvania is one of the most underrated travel nursing destinations in the country. With two major metro healthcare markets in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, a flat state income tax of just 3.07%, and — as of July 2025 — full membership in the Nurse Licensure Compact, Pennsylvania offers a combination of strong pay, accessible licensing, and genuine clinical variety that few states match.
This guide covers what travel nurses actually earn in Pennsylvania in 2026, how the state’s tax structure affects take-home pay, the NLC update and what it means for licensing, and which markets and health systems generate the most assignments.
Pennsylvania Travel Nurse Pay: 2026 Overview
Based on active market data as of March 2026, Pennsylvania travel nurse pay averages $2,195 per week with a range of $1,388 to $3,266 across specialties and markets. High-demand specialty contracts in Philadelphia — particularly in IR, Cardiovascular OR, and Cath Lab — push toward the top of that range.
| Pay Metric | 2026 Figure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Statewide average weekly package | $2,195 – $2,216 | All specialties, all markets — March 2026 |
| Statewide range | $1,388 – $3,266 | 104 active RN travel jobs statewide |
| Philadelphia weekly range | $1,114 – $4,256 | Wider range driven by specialty demand |
| Top specialty packages (IR, CV-OR, Cath Lab) | $3,266 – $3,325 | Active postings as of March 2026 |
| State income tax rate | 3.07% flat | One of the lowest flat rates in the country |
Sources: AMN Healthcare active Pennsylvania travel RN postings (104 jobs) — March 2026. Philadelphia range from AMN L&D market data, March 30, 2026.
Pennsylvania’s Big News for Travel Nurses: NLC Membership
This is the most important Pennsylvania travel nursing update of 2025-2026: Pennsylvania officially and fully implemented its Nurse Licensure Compact membership on July 7, 2025. After passing NLC legislation in 2021 and spending four years in a partial implementation phase, Pennsylvania is now a complete compact member.
What this means in practice: nurses from any of the 40+ other NLC member states can now accept Pennsylvania assignments without obtaining a separate Pennsylvania license. And Pennsylvania-based nurses can now travel to any other compact state under their single multistate license.
For travel nurses coming from compact states, Pennsylvania’s NLC status is a meaningful practical advantage — assignments can start faster without waiting weeks for license endorsement processing. This is one reason assignment volume in Pennsylvania has increased since mid-2025.
Pennsylvania Income Tax: A Genuine Advantage
Pennsylvania’s flat 3.07% state income tax rate is one of the most travel-nurse-friendly tax structures in any state that levies income tax. Unlike Oregon (8.75%), California (up to 13.3%), or New York (up to 10.9%), Pennsylvania applies the same low rate regardless of income level — there are no higher brackets for higher earners.
| State | Income Tax on Taxable Wages | NLC Member? |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 3.07% flat | Yes (since July 2025) |
| New York | Up to 10.9% | No |
| Oregon | Up to 9.90% | No |
| California | Up to 13.3% | No |
| Massachusetts | 5% | Not yet fully implemented |
One nuance worth knowing: Pennsylvania municipalities levy their own local earned income taxes on top of the state rate, typically 1-2% in smaller cities and higher in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Philadelphia’s combined city and school district wage tax is among the highest local rates in the country. For travel nurses living outside city limits during their assignment, this local tax is generally not a factor — but if you choose housing within Philadelphia city limits, factor it into your net pay calculation.
For a deeper look at how state income taxes affect your travel nurse package, see our Travel Nurse Tax Strategy guide and our breakdown of Are Travel Nurse Stipends Really Tax-Free?
Top Pennsylvania Markets for Travel Nurses
Philadelphia
Philadelphia is Pennsylvania’s dominant travel nursing market and one of the most significant healthcare hubs on the East Coast. The city is home to a dense concentration of major academic medical centers, teaching hospitals, and specialty facilities. Penn Medicine (Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Presbyterian), Jefferson Health, Temple University Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital are among the major systems actively using travel nurses.
Philadelphia assignments generate the highest weekly packages in the state, with active postings ranging from $1,114 to $4,256 per week depending on specialty. High-acuity specialties — IR, Cardiovascular OR, Cath Lab, ICU, and L&D — command the upper range. The Philadelphia metro area has moderately elevated housing costs relative to the statewide average, so stipend management matters here more than in secondary markets.
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is Pennsylvania’s second major market and home to UPMC — one of the largest healthcare systems in the country. UPMC operates dozens of hospitals across the region, and its scale means consistent travel nursing demand across specialties and locations. Allegheny Health Network is the other major Pittsburgh system with active travel assignments.
Pittsburgh packages tend to run slightly below Philadelphia’s top-end rates but often represent better net value once housing costs are factored in. The Pittsburgh metro is significantly more affordable for furnished rentals than Philadelphia, which means your stipend goes further. Allegheny County adds a 1% local sales tax, but the income tax burden at assignment is comparable to the rest of the state.
Hershey and Central Pennsylvania
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is one of the most active travel nurse employers in central Pennsylvania, with consistent assignment availability in Hershey (7 active jobs in March 2026). As a Level 1 trauma center and academic medical center, it generates demand across specialties including ICU, OR, and ER. The Hershey area offers lower housing costs than either major metro, making it a strong option for nurses prioritizing net take-home over gross weekly rate.
Erie and Other Regional Markets
Erie is a significant secondary market in western Pennsylvania, with 16 active travel RN jobs as of March 2026 — the second highest concentration in the state after Philadelphia. UPMC Hamot and Saint Vincent Hospital are the primary facilities. Altoona and other regional markets generate lower volumes but consistent demand, particularly for Med-Surg and Telemetry.
Pennsylvania Pay by Specialty
| Specialty | Estimated Weekly Package | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Interventional Radiology | Up to $3,325 | Highest active PA posting as of March 2026 |
| Cardiovascular OR | Up to $3,284 | Active posting March 2026 |
| Cath Lab | $2,800 – $3,200+ | 3 active PA Cath Lab jobs — March 2026 |
| ICU / Critical Care | $2,500 – $3,000 | Consistent demand in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh |
| Operating Room | $2,400 – $2,900 | 7 active OR jobs statewide — March 2026 |
| L&D / Mother-Baby | $2,203 avg (up to $4,256) | Philadelphia L&D market data — March 30, 2026 |
| Telemetry / Step-Down | $2,000 – $2,500 | Strong volume across all PA markets |
| Med-Surg | $1,600 – $2,200 | Statewide availability including regional markets |
Specialty figures based on active AMN Healthcare Pennsylvania job postings and market data — March 2026. Individual offers vary by facility, shift, and agency.
Pennsylvania vs. Neighboring States: Is PA Worth It?
Pennsylvania sits in a competitive region for travel nurses. New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts are nearby alternatives, but Pennsylvania’s tax structure makes it meaningfully more attractive than it might initially appear.
Compared to New York, Pennsylvania’s 3.07% flat rate is dramatically lower than New York’s top rate of 10.9%. A nurse earning $2,000/week in taxable wages would pay roughly $61 in Pennsylvania state tax versus $218 in New York on that same taxable income — a difference that compounds over a 13-week contract. See our New York Travel Nurse Pay Guide for a full comparison.
Compared to New Jersey — which is not an NLC member and has a progressive income tax up to 10.75% — Pennsylvania is clearly more favorable on both tax and licensing dimensions for most travelers.
The honest tradeoff: Pennsylvania’s weekly gross pay averages are not at the top of the national market. California, Washington, and New York generate higher gross packages. But once you account for Pennsylvania’s low income tax, compact licensing convenience, and more affordable secondary markets like Hershey and Pittsburgh, the net value picture is often better than the headline rates suggest.
Cost of Living: What Your Stipend Is Working Against
Pennsylvania’s cost of living varies considerably by market, which directly affects how far your housing stipend goes.
Philadelphia is moderately expensive by East Coast standards — meaningfully cheaper than New York City or Boston but more expensive than Pittsburgh or Hershey. Furnished short-term rentals in desirable Center City neighborhoods run high, but the Philadelphia metro has substantial suburban housing inventory where stipend dollars go further. Choosing housing in the Main Line suburbs or South Jersey side of the metro can significantly reduce your out-of-pocket housing costs while keeping you within a reasonable commute.
Pittsburgh is one of the most affordable major metros in the Northeast for travel nurses. Furnished rentals are accessible at reasonable price points across multiple neighborhoods, which means your housing stipend is more likely to cover actual costs — or even generate surplus — compared to higher-cost markets.
Hershey and regional markets offer the best stipend-to-cost ratio in the state. Lower housing costs relative to stipend amounts mean a smaller gross package in Hershey can produce better real savings than a larger package in Philadelphia.
Quick Reference: Pennsylvania Travel Nursing Facts (2026)
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Compact state? | Yes — fully implemented July 7, 2025 |
| Licensing body | Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing |
| State income tax | 3.07% flat — all income levels |
| Sales tax | 6% statewide; 7% in Allegheny County (Pittsburgh); 8% in Philadelphia |
| Average weekly package | $2,195 – $2,216 (all specialties) |
| Top specialty packages | $3,266 – $3,325 (IR, CV-OR, Cath Lab) |
| Top health systems | Penn Medicine, UPMC, Jefferson Health, Temple Health, Allegheny Health Network, Penn State Health |
| Primary markets | Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Hershey, Erie, Altoona |
References
Pay Data
AMN Healthcare, active Pennsylvania travel RN job postings (104 jobs) — March 2026
AMN Healthcare, Pennsylvania market overview — March 1, 2026
AMN Healthcare, Philadelphia L&D market data — March 30, 2026
Tax Information
Tax Foundation, Pennsylvania income tax rate — 2026
Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, personal income tax rates — pa.gov/revenue
SmartAsset, Pennsylvania Income Tax Calculator — 2026
Licensing
HealthTrust, NLC state list and Pennsylvania implementation — January 2026
Pennsylvania Department of State, Nurse Licensure Compact page — pa.gov
NCSBN, NLC official compact membership — nursecompact.com
Methodology
Weekly package figures represent combined taxable wages and non-taxable housing/meals stipends for candidates who qualify for tax-free stipends. State and specialty figures sourced from active agency postings and should be treated as market estimates. Last updated: March 2026.