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Which Travel Nursing Agencies Rank Highest in 2026?
Full Comparison Table
Side-by-side view of all ratings and features
How Do I Choose the Right Travel Nursing Agency?
The "best" agency depends on what matters most to you. Consider these questions as a filter:
- Are you prioritizing pay? Aya Healthcare and Fusion Medical consistently rank highest for hourly rates and bonus structures.
- Do you want recruiter support? Host Healthcare and TNAA have the strongest 1-on-1 recruiter relationships.
- Is housing a deal-breaker? Host Healthcare and Aya both have dedicated housing departments.
- Are you a new grad? Host Healthcare and Fusion Medical have specific new grad programs.
- Do you want flexibility? Fusion Medical and FlexCare offer varied contract lengths and per diem options.
- Do you need maximum job options? Aya and AMN Healthcare have the largest contract databases.
Pro tip: Sign up with 2-3 agencies simultaneously. This lets you compare offers for the same assignment and gives you negotiating leverage without being overwhelming to manage.
What Questions Should I Ask a Travel Nursing Agency?
- What is your bill rate to the hospital? Transparency about bill rate helps you understand if the agency is taking an excessive margin.
- What is included in housing? Does the stipend cover utilities? Is housing furnished? Can I select my own housing?
- Are benefits available day 1? Many agencies wait 30-90 days. Day-1 benefits are a major advantage.
- What is your average time-to-placement? This shows how efficient their job-matching process is.
- Will my recruiter stay consistent? High turnover means you'll re-explain your needs constantly.
- What happens if I extend? Some agencies drop pay on extensions. Get the extension offer in writing.
- How do you handle conflicts during placement? Ask about their escalation process if issues arise on your assignment.
What Are Red Flags When Choosing an Agency?
- They ask you to pay upfront fees. Legitimate agencies make money from the hospital bill rate, not from nurses.
- They won't disclose the bill rate. Transparency is a sign of confidence in their margins.
- Housing is mandatory and expensive. You should have options, and housing stipends should be market-competitive.
- They pressure you to sign immediately. Good agencies know you'll work with them—no hard sell needed.
- The recruiter is unreachable or slow to respond. This is how they'll behave during your 13-week assignment.
- Reviews mention sudden pay cuts or broken promises. Check Glassdoor, Indeed reviews, and the TravelNursingCentral forums.
- They won't put contract terms in writing. Email confirmations of pay, housing, and benefits are non-negotiable.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to this rankings, the top three agencies are Aya Healthcare (#1), Host Healthcare (#2), and Travel Nurse Across America (#3). However, "best" depends on your priorities—Aya is strongest for pay, Host for support, and TNAA for transparency and new grad-friendliness.
Most experienced travel nurses recommend 2-3 agencies simultaneously. This lets you compare pay packages for the same assignment, gives you negotiating leverage, and increases your job options without becoming unmanageable. Start with your top choice, then add a second backup after your first contract.
No. Legitimate travel nursing agencies never charge nurses fees. They make money from the bill rate paid by hospitals minus your compensation package. If an agency asks you to pay application fees, licensing fees, or any upfront costs, that is a major red flag and you should walk away immediately.
Don't just look at hourly rate. Compare the total compensation package: taxable hourly rate + housing stipend + meals and incidentals stipend + travel reimbursement + health insurance quality + 401k match. Use our agency vs. staff pay calculator to run the numbers with your actual figures. Ask for the hospital bill rate if possible—it tells you the agency's margin.
Most agencies require 1-2 years of acute care experience. Some agencies like Host Healthcare and Fusion Medical have new grad travel programs, but these are limited and typically offer lower pay with longer orientation periods (4-8 weeks instead of 2). If you're a new grad, focus on Host, Fusion, or TNAA, and expect lower initial pay.
With top agencies like Aya or Host, placement typically takes 2-4 weeks from your initial conversation to start date. Smaller agencies may be faster (1-2 weeks) but with less job volume. Having your documents ready (licenses, certifications, background check, references) speeds up the process. Crisis contracts can sometimes be filled in days but with lower pay and less choice.
Most top-ranked travel nursing agencies offer 24/7 on-call support, but the quality varies. Aya Healthcare and Host Healthcare are consistently rated highest for around-the-clock clinical and recruiter support — nurses on assignment can reach a live person at 2 a.m. if there's a housing issue or contract emergency. TNAA, AMN Healthcare, Fusion Medical, FlexCare, and Cross Country also maintain 24/7 on-call lines. Trusted Health is an app-first platform with more limited live phone support — a tradeoff for its transparency features. When evaluating agencies, ask directly: "Who do I call at 3 a.m. if my housing falls through?" The answer tells you everything about their real support model.