Travel Nursing in Idaho

Idaho is one of the most dynamic states and best-kept secrets in America. Nestled on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains, this state has everything from mountains, plains, deserts, and lakes. Whatever fits your fancy in terms of outdoor scenery and exploring, you are sure to be able to find many opportunities to enjoy yourself.

This state is home to a large city with sprawling communities on the periphery, as well as many rural towns with small, critical access facilities. From Sun Valley to Boise, to Coeur d’Alene, breathtaking scenery exists in all corners of the state. There is a plethora of activities to enjoy regardless of the season. If exploring new places with amazing outdoor adventures seems appealing to you, Idaho might need to jump to the top of your travel nursing list.

Looking for open travel nurse assignments in Idaho? Speak with a recruiter today!

How Much Do Travel Nurses Make In Idaho?

According to Indeed.com, Idaho is currently paying travel nurses an average of $2,204 per week. With the rapidly changing travel nurse pay sweeping across the nation, this rate still remains at the average price for most states at this time. It is also important to take into consideration that your overall expenses will most likely be lower than states with higher weekly pay. Currently, the highest-paying cities in Idaho according to Indeed.com are as follows:

Pocatello – $2,922/week
Coeur d’Alene – $2,592/week
Lewiston – $2,477/week
Meridian – $2,383/week
Idaho Falls – $2,265/week

Highest-paying specialties in Idaho

If you are searching for the highest paying contracts, you will typically find those in some of the smaller towns in Idaho as the larger cities have less of a need. But, there are still many specialties that are paying well and proving a wide degree of options for nurses to choose from. As of the summer of 2023, these are the top-paying specialties based on current contracts for a 36-hour week.

Operating Room – $2,830/week
Labor and Delivery – $2,763/week
Progressive Care Unit – $2,555/week
ICU – $2,519/week
Ortho/Trauma RN – $2,410/week

Top 5 Hospitals In Idaho

If you are a nurse who likes to work with the best, and most nationally ranked hospitals in a region, check out Idaho’s top contenders.

1. St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center

Location: Boise
Nationally Ranked: 2 High Performing Specialties
- Pulmonary and Lung
- Urology
High Performing: 19 Procedures/Conditions

2. St. Alphonsus Medical Center

Location: Boise
High Performing: 7 Procedures/Conditions

3. Mountain View Hospital

Location: Idaho Falls
High Performing: 2 Procedures/Conditions

4. Intermountain Cassia Medical Center

Location: Burley
High Performing: 1 Procedure/Condition

5. Franklin County Medical Center

Location: Preston
High Performing: 1 Procedure/Condition

Looking for open travel nurse assignments? Speak with a recruiter today!

Cost of Living for Travel Nurses in Idaho

The cost of living in Idaho ranks in the “very average” category when compared to the rest of the country. As a matter of fact, it actually is ranked at number 28 in cost of living from a 2022 survey, landing it in the most average ranking of all. Idaho has received a reputation recently for being a landing zone for thousands of Californians leaving their home state, so for them, living expenses seem cheap!

As is true with most states, housing is the biggest expense in Idaho and is highly dependent on which city you are looking to live in. The median price to rent a 1-bedroom apartment in the state is $839. So, if you are interested in taking a travel contract, you will most likely be looking for a fully-furnished place, which makes your average rent closer to $1,000. Idaho severely lacks public transportation, so if you are looking for easy access to travel around the cities, you will need to have your own car.

Pros & Cons of Travel Nursing in Idaho

Pros of Travel Nursing in Idaho

Idaho is full of activities to participate in year-round. From nationally known ski resorts scattered all over the state and amazing lakes to play in during the summer, to the hundreds of hot springs thrown about, you will always be able to find an adventure to embark on.
The weather allows for defined seasons, but they do not get unbearably hot or cold. Of course, there are always outlier days, but the lack of humidity helps make the temperatures feel bearable every day.
Get a taste of wide open spaces, and rural living. If you don’t choose to live in a small town, you will at least drive through many on your excursions.
Idaho is very affordable. With the average cost of living, it makes it tolerable to pay more for extra fun activities.
There are many destination cities within the state to explore. From the top region to the eastern mountains, to the metropolis of Boise, there are many different opportunities for jobs as well as fun.

Cons of Travel Nursing in Idaho

It is growing quickly. The secret of this state has been exposed, and thousands of people have been flocking to move here. This has made some of the locals bitter to new people, and newer residents have to fight for respect.
With this influx of people, specifically from California, the housing market has been rising which has caused an inflation of just about everything else in the region.
There is a lack of cultural diversity. If you are looking for a city center full of a wide range of people groups, you won’t find it in Idaho. The state in general is full of a very similar group of people that look and vote the same.
If you are not a fan of guns, this will not be the state for you. Idahoans are proud of their guns, and many of their hobbies include them to some extent. However, if this interests you, this can be one of the biggest pros.
Limited big cities. With one large city in the entire state, there are limited opportunities to find and shop for specific items. This also means that flying out can have added challenges if you are not living close to Boise Airport.

Things To Do on Your Days Off

As mentioned several times already, there are ample opportunities for day-off adventures in Idaho. With 130 hot springs in the state, you could fill your entire contract just by chasing your next soaking session. Some of the most notable are Kirkham Hot Springs, Mountain Village Resort, Boat Box Hot Springs, and Goldbug Hot Springs. This is a great activity that you can do year-round, although some of them are not accessible in the winter due to road closures.

With a total of 14 ski resorts state-wide, there are plenty of opportunities to either learn a new skill or have the most fun bouncing around the state skiing or snowboarding. From Sun Valley, Brundage, Schweitzer, and even Bogus Basin, you will have access to see a large portion of the state on clear days from the top of the peaks. These mountains all have some great mountain bike opportunities in the summer as well, so be sure to check them out even if there isn’t any snow on the ground.

Idaho also has some very noteworthy lakes. The famous Coeur d’Alene on the north side of the state is a wonderful, fun city to check out. This would be a fantastic weekend trip, and you could pair it with visiting Sandpoint as well. Stanley Lake and Redfish Lake are also incredible trips to take and explore via kayak or paddle boards on those hot, summer days. If you don’t have a ton of time and are in the Boise area, grab a tube and float the river and end the day with one of the wonderful eateries downtown.

Why Idaho?

Idaho truly is an incredible state. For many people searching for adventure and interested in a state that they could both call home or just stop in for a while, Idaho has so much to offer. Although there is not an extensive network of hospitals to choose from, life outside of work can help provide enough reason to come visit for a time. This is a wonderful state to visit year-round, and your friends will be dying to visit and go on adventures.

Find travel nursing assignments near you by speaking with a recruiter today.