Travel Nursing in New Orleans, LA

33 openings from $1,978–$3,224/week in New Orleans, LA — ICU, PACU, LTAC. Pay by specialty, what it costs to live there, and 43 furnished places to stay.

33 openings from $1,978–$3,224/week right now.

Housing in New Orleans

43 furnished rentals available for travel nurses.

Browse New Orleans housing

Cost of living in New Orleans

Prices in New Orleans-Metairie, LA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) run 7% lower overall.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024, where 100 is the national average.

Rent in New Orleans

The federal ceiling on tax-free lodging reimbursement in New Orleans is $133–$179 per night, plus up to $80 a day for meals (GSA, FY2026). That is a maximum, not what agencies pay.

How New Orleans pay compares

For the same specialties, New Orleans pays about 2% above the national median, across 21 open listings. Once local prices are counted, that is worth about +10%. Each opening is compared with the national median for its own specialty, so the figure is not distorted by which specialties happen to be hiring here.

Licensing

Louisiana is a Nurse Licensure Compact state, so an active multistate license covers you here. A single-state license from elsewhere does not.

Open assignments in New Orleans

• ICU RN — $2,376/week
• PACU RN — $2,217/week
• LTAC RN — $1,978/week
• Emergency Room RN — $2,460/week
• Operating Room RN — $2,532/week
• L&D RN — $2,486/week
• Progressive Care Unit RN — $2,235/week

What New Orleans pays by specialty

Weekly package on assignments open now, for specialties with at least three priced postings.

• ICU — $2,460/week median ($2,167–$3,224), 19 open
• LTAC — $1,985/week median ($1,978–$2,177), 3 open
• Operating Room — $2,546/week median ($2,532–$2,795), 3 open

See all 33 openings in New Orleans

Hospitals hiring in New Orleans

3 hospitals in New Orleans are hiring travel nurses, 33 openings in all. Each page lists the openings by specialty with advertised weekly pay, cost of living and housing nearby.

• Ochsner Medical Center Acute — 24 open · median $2,376/week advertised · 1,023 beds
• University Medical Center New Orleans — 5 open · median $2,167/week advertised · 310 beds
• Touro Infirmary — 4 open · median $2,486/week advertised · 270 beds

Other cities in Louisiana

• Lafayette — 12 openings
• Marrero — 12 openings
• Baton Rouge — 6 openings
• Houma — 3 openings
• Slidell — 3 openings
• Opelousas — 2 openings
• Shreveport — 2 openings
• Covington — 1 opening

Resources

• Travel nursing in Louisiana
• Travel nursing by state
• Hospitals in New Orleans
• Housing across Louisiana
• Travel Nurse Housing Guide
• Travel Nurse Pay Explained
• Pay Calculator

Common questions

How much do travel nurses make in New Orleans, LA?

Open assignments in New Orleans run $1,978 to $3,224 a week. Operating Room is highest at $2,546; LTAC lowest at $1,985.

Do I need a Louisiana nursing license?

Louisiana is a Nurse Licensure Compact state, so an active multistate license covers you here. A single-state license from elsewhere does not.

Is New Orleans expensive for travel nurses?

Against the national average, New Orleans runs utilities 29% below, housing 14% below and groceries and goods 6% below. The rest, services, sits within a few points of average. (BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024, where 100 is the national average.)

What is rent for a travel nurse in New Orleans?

The market rate for a one-bedroom in New Orleans is $1,260 a month (HUD Fair Market Rent, 2025, utilities included). CircleRN lists 43 furnished places here.

How much of a travel nurse package is tax-free in New Orleans?

The federal ceiling on untaxed lodging in New Orleans is $133–$179 a night, plus up to $80 a day for meals (GSA, FY2026). That is a maximum, not what agencies pay, and stipends are only untaxed while you maintain a permanent tax home elsewhere.