Travel Telemetry Nurse Salary Guide

A telemetry nurse is a registered nurse who focuses on cardiac monitoring. In this role, you must use oxygen saturation monitors, electrocardiogram (EKG) equipment, dialysis machines and blood pressure monitors to assess patient progress. Telemetry nurses also alert physicians and other healthcare providers when a patient's status changes, enabling them to make quick treatment decisions.

If you decide to become a telemetry nurse, expect to work with high-risk patients suffering from heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other serious medical conditions. Like other nursing professionals, telemetry nurses must follow state laws regarding scope of practice.

How do you become a telemetry nurse?

To become a telemetry nurse, you must complete an accredited nursing education program and pass the National Council of State Boards of Nursing certification exam, called the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). State boards of nursing use NCLEX scores to verify that candidates for licensure have the knowledge needed to provide high-quality patient care.

You must also obtain a state-issued nursing license and meet any other requirements established by your practice state. You must have Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support certifications. Many hospitals require telemetry certification, such as National Telemetry Certification through the National Telemetry Association. It's helpful to take a course in EKG readings to identify abnormal heart rhythms.

What credentials/licensing does a telemetry nurse require?

You must have Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support certifications. Many hospitals require telemetry certification, such as National Telemetry Certification through the National Telemetry Association. It's helpful to take a course in EKG readings to identify abnormal heart rhythms.

Many employers provide on-the-job telemetry training, but obtaining a professional certification may help you qualify for a broader range of jobs. The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses offers the Adult Progressive Care Nursing Certification and the TeleICU Adult Acute/Critical Care Nursing Certification. You must provide a minimum number of direct care hours to acutely ill adult patients to obtain either. You may be eligible if you complete 1,750 hours over a 2-year period or 2,000 hours in a 5-year period.

Average Travel Telemetry Nurse Salary

$2,144/week

This is equal to the nursing US average

Last updated on December 23, 2024. Based on 25,741 active jobs on Vivian.com in the last 7 days.

Salaries for Travel Telemetry Nurse compared to Registered Nurse National Averages

$2,144/week

This is equal to the nursing US average

$2,138/week

United States

Where do Travel Telemetry Nurses get paid the most?
StateAverage Weekly SalaryMax Weekly Salary
Maine$2,661$3,640
South Dakota$2,496$3,590
Vermont$2,495$3,082
New York$2,434$4,106
Montana$2,425$3,898
Wisconsin$2,416$3,606
Massachusetts$2,400$4,187
Utah$2,390$3,528
Idaho$2,387$3,819
Alaska$2,352$3,802
California$2,340$3,693
New Jersey$2,320$2,796
New Hampshire$2,288$3,449
Washington$2,261$3,483
Oregon$2,244$3,330
Missouri$2,222$3,663
Ohio$2,222$3,857
What cities pay the most for Travel Telemetry Nurses?
CityAverage Weekly SalaryMax Weekly Salary
Wolfeboro, New Hampshire$4,202$4,202
Manhattan, New York$3,401$3,401
San Mateo, California$3,344$3,344
Newburgh, New York$3,268$3,486
Redwood City, California$3,160$3,160
Roseville, California$3,157$3,157
Brockton, Massachusetts$3,115$3,115
South San Francisco, California$3,110$3,110
Falmouth, Massachusetts$3,082$3,082
Irvine, California$3,031$3,031
What are the highest paying Employers and Agencies for Travel Telemetry Nurse jobs?
Average Weekly SalaryMax Weekly Salary
Tallavera$3,516$3,516
Prokatchers$3,300$3,300
MedicalPeople Staffing, LLC$3,200$3,200
DT-Healthcare Staffing$3,197$3,370
HonorVet Technologies$3,081$3,802
Amergis$3,080$4,187
ND Global Consulting Services$3,076$3,783
PS Companies$3,065$3,398
Pikeville Health$2,990$2,990
Modern Healthcare Solutions$2,976$3,729

Last updated on December 23, 2024. Information based on active jobs on Vivian.com.

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Travel Telemetry Nurse Career Guide

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How can you increase your pay as a travel telemetry nurse?

To increase your earnings, consider accepting travel assignments. As noted, travel telemetry RNs earned almost 52% more than telemetry RNs with staff jobs at the beginning of April 2023. Travel nursing offers the potential to make significantly more without taking classes or paying for another certification exam.

How much does a travel telemetry nurse make?

According to Vivian Health's salary data for the week ending April 1, 2023, the average weekly salary for travel telemetry nurses was $2,329. Travel contracts usually last for 13 to 26 weeks, corresponding to a salary of $30,277 to $60,554 per assignment.

Do travel telemetry nurses earn more than staff telemetry nurses?

Travel telemetry nurses typically earn significantly more than staff telemetry nurses. During the week ending April 1, 2023, Vivian Health’s salary data indicated that the national average for staff roles was $38.77 per hour, or $1,550.80 per week for 40-hour workweeks. During this same period, travel positions paid an average of $2,329 per week, an increase of just under 52%.

What states employ the most telemetry nurses?

The BLS lumps telemetry nurses with the RN occupational category. According to the BLS, the states below had the highest employment levels for registered nurses in May 2021:

  • California: 324,400

  • Texas: 217,630

  • New York: 188,300

  • Florida: 187,920

  • Pennsylvania: 149,270

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Travel Telemetry Nurse FAQs

What is a Telemetry RN?

Telemetry nurses are a type of progressive care nurse who must have a high degree of technical expertise and advanced medical knowledge to effectively work with patients at high risk for complications. Due to their technical skills and specialized knowledge, telemetry RNs are solidly in demand and well paid. They most often work at hospitals in telemetry or step-down units, but they also may be employed by clinical, outpatient, and long-term care facilities. Work setting is just one factor that influences the salary of telemetry RNs.

Telemetry nurses are registered nurses who specialize in using a variety of technical medical equipment to monitor a patient's heart rhythms, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, respiration, and other vital data. They care for patients who’ve left intensive care units but require close monitoring of their vital signs to detect any potential signs of distress. Telemetry nurses also perform traditional nursing duties.

To work in telemetry, you must first complete the educational requirements to become a registered nurse. These include earning a two-year associate degree in nursing or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from a nursing program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). However, many facilities prefer telemetry nurses with a BSN. All graduates must pass the NCLEX-RN exam to become licensed RNs.

How a Telemetry RN salary is based

As with any nursing profession, factors such as years of experience, work setting, and the state and city where the facility is located can have significant impacts on how a telemetry RN is compensated. Entry-level nurses earn lower base salaries than experienced nurses and nurses who work in hospitals tend to earn more than those who work in outpatient settings.

Certain states and cities consistently have higher base salaries for telemetry nurses. California is frequently the highest paying state for telemetry nurses, but other states on the West and East Coasts and in the New England area also pay higher than others. Many southern states and North Central states often have lower base salaries. However, states with lower salaries also usually have lower costs of living.

Telemetry nurses need the same bedside skills as other registered nurses, but you need additional skills, including running stress tests and utilizing an electrocardiogram machine to monitor a patient’s heart. You must also be skilled at interpreting this data and know when to start standard interventions to stabilize the patient. If you already possess these essential skills, it could influence your base salary.

Relevant certifications can also play a role. Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support certification provides you with the training to effectively respond if a patient goes into cardiac arrest. Many healthcare facilities require this certification and may require telemetry certification. Required certifications may not have any bearing on your base salary, but if a certification isn’t required, get it to boost your knowledge and your base telemetry RN salary.

How to increase your Telemetry RN salary

Furthering your education is generally a guaranteed way to increase your telemetry nursing salary. Gaining a Master of Science in Nursing also opens the door to an advanced practice role, such as a telemetry nurse practitioner. APRN positions also give your salary a boost.

Telemetry RNs should always consider pursuing one or more professional certifications to enhance their professional credibility and demonstrate their higher level of clinical competence, which should earn an increased salary. The National Telemetry Association offers certification after passing the Telemetry Certification in Cardiac Arrhythmia Interpretation exam. The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) also offers two options applicable to telemetry.

You're eligible to take the Progressive Care Certified Nurse exam after either working directly with acutely ill patients for 1,750 hours over a two-year span or 2,000 hours over a five-year span. The CCRN-E is a specialty certification for nurses who primarily care for acutely/critically ill patients in a centralized or remotely based teleICU setting. You can sit for this exam after completing 1,750 hours in a teleICU or a combination of teleICU and direct patient care of acutely/critically ill adult patients in a two-year span or completing 2,000 hours in a five-year span. Both certifications are available to telemetry RNs or APRNs.

Where can I learn more about working as a Travel Telemetry Nurse?

Take a look at Vivian's Travel Telemetry Nurse Career Guide for more information, including required education, responsibilities, pros and cons and more.