Why California is the Best State for Travel Nursing

With California being the most populated state in the U.S, over 38 million residents, the state is in a constant need of nurses. If you’re interested in travel nursing, you’ll probably find yourself in California at some point. I mean, what’s there not to love about living in California? There are so many pretty aspects of the geological side ie: mountains, cool weather, clean beaches, and the overall “aesthetic”.

 

Opportunities

California has 3 major hospital organizations located in different places of the state! In other states, there is typically only one or two major hospital organizations, in which can limit a traveling nurse’ earning potential. This would not allow them to go to new organizations because of a strict contract they sign within that main organization. However, in the state of California, there are three main organizations. Kaiser Permanente is the largest with over 38 hospitals throughout the state. Dignity Health operates at least 32 hospitals, and Sutter Medical Foundation operates at least 19 hospitals. The opportunities are endless. Of course there are other smaller hospital organizations, in which have their own benefits. Smaller Organizations can sometimes offer more pay, which is always a major factor when searching for jobs.

Pay

You may have heard that California is very expensive and the cost of living is through the roof. While the cost of living may be slightly higher than other places, minimum wage starts at $11.50 an hour! If you compare annual salaries from Florida travel nurses to California travel nurses, the annual salary is dramatically different. In Florida the average annual salary for travel nursing is $56,600 a year, whereas in California its $85,600! That’s a $29,600 difference in annual pay (before taxes). As you can see, not only is there endless opportunities in California for travel nursing, but the pay is 40.78% higher. This pay difference will help even out the cost of living making it more attractive to live in a very desirable location.

Location

When looking at lists of the most popular U.S. states to visit, California is always at the top of the list. Why? Well, California is known for it’s diversity in people, landscapes and communities! You can travel an hour east and see the desert, an hour north and play in the snow (during winter), and an hour west to tan at the beach all in one day! Not to mention, there’s no humidity! California truly has something to offer for everyone, no matter the demographic.

 

So, the next time you hear that the “west coast is the best coast”, you’ll have a tad bit more insight to understand why. The annual pay is above the national average, the location is versatile and beautiful and the opportunities are endless! So, what are you waiting for? Sign up with KPG Healthcare today!
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