Travel nursing contracts in Salem, OR advertise a median of $2,207 a week, with the middle half between $2,145 and $2,263, across 21 open nursing contracts on CircleRN. These are advertised weekly totals before tax, usually including tax-free stipends; for almost all postings the figure is the top of an advertised range. Not take-home pay.
60 openings from $1,966–$2,599/week in Salem, OR — Pre/Post Op, Operating Room, ICU. Pay by specialty, what it costs to live there, and 15 furnished places to stay.
60 openings from $1,966–$2,599/week right now.
15 furnished rentals available for travel nurses.
Prices in Salem, OR (Metropolitan Statistical Area) run 4% higher overall.
| Category | Index | vs national |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 103.6 | 4% higher |
| Housing | 110.3 | 10% higher |
| Utilities | 104.7 | 5% higher |
| Groceries and goods | 105.3 | 5% higher |
| Services | 100.3 | at the national average |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024, where 100 is the national average.
| Unit | Monthly | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,220 | HUD Fair Market Rent 2025, utilities included |
| One bedroom | $1,275 | HUD Fair Market Rent 2025, utilities included |
| Two bedroom | $1,630 | HUD Fair Market Rent 2025, utilities included |
| Three bedroom | $2,270 | HUD Fair Market Rent 2025, utilities included |
| Typical asking rent, all sizes | $1,744 | Zillow Observed Rent Index 2025 |
The federal ceiling on tax-free lodging reimbursement in Salem is $113 per night, plus up to $68 a day for meals (GSA, FY2027). GSA names roughly 300 higher-cost destinations individually; Salem is not one, so the national standard rate applies. That is a maximum, not what agencies pay. Look up the exact rate for any ZIP code.
For the same specialties, Salem pays about 5% below the national median, across 21 open listings. Once local prices are counted, that is worth about -8%. 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.
Oregon is not a Nurse Licensure Compact state, so you need a Oregon license to work here even if you hold a multistate license. Check your license with the compact checker.
Weekly package on assignments open now, for specialties with at least three priced postings.
1 hospital in Salem is hiring travel nurses, 60 openings in all. Each page lists the openings by specialty with advertised weekly pay, cost of living and housing nearby.