Travel Nursing in Austin, TX: Hospitals, Pay, and What to Do on Days Off

Austin has quietly become one of the most competitive travel nursing markets in Texas. The med-center growth around Dell Seton, St. David's, and Ascension Seton has driven steady demand for travelers across most specialties — and the city itself is a genuinely good place to spend 13 weeks if you like food, music, and warm weather.

The Austin healthcare market in one paragraph

Austin's main hospital systems are Ascension Seton (Dell Seton Medical Center is the Level 1 trauma center and academic flagship), St. David's HealthCare (HCA-affiliated, multiple campuses including Round Rock and South Austin), and Baylor Scott & White (with Round Rock and Pflugerville campuses). Children's care is concentrated at Dell Children's Medical Center. Each system runs its own contracting cadence, but as a traveler you will most often interface through a VMS that covers all of them.

Specialties in highest demand in Austin

ICU, ED, OR, L&D, NICU, and Cath Lab tend to lead the boards. Med-Surg Tele and PCU are perennial. Allied health (Cath Lab Tech, MRI Tech, CT Tech) has steady demand at Dell Seton and St. David's North Austin Medical Center.

See current open contracts in Texas for the live picture.

Pay range you can expect

Austin sits in the upper-middle of the Texas pay range — generally above San Antonio, comparable to Dallas-Fort Worth, below Houston Med Center. Specialty mix matters more than raw geography:

• ICU: typically $2,400–$3,200/wk
• ED: $2,300–$3,100/wk
• L&D: $2,400–$3,000/wk
• Med-Surg Tele: $2,000–$2,600/wk
• Cath Lab: $2,800–$3,800/wk

Stipends are higher than south Texas because the GSA per-diem rate for Austin is in the higher tier. Your blended take-home will reflect that.

Where to live as a 13-week traveler

The honest answer: anywhere with quick I-35 access. Specifically:

• South Austin / Bouldin / Travis Heights — close to Dell Seton, walkable to South Congress, decent for furnished month-to-month.
• Mueller — central, planned community, easier for travelers without cars.
• East Austin — cheaper than south, food scene, longer drive to St. David's North.
• Round Rock — if you are working St. David's RR or Baylor RR, just live there. The commute from central Austin is rough.

Things to do on your days off

• Barton Springs Pool. 68 degrees year-round, fed by an underground aquifer, downtown.
• Lady Bird Lake trail. 10-mile loop, free, good for clearing your head before night shift.
• The food. Skip the touristy spots on Congress. Locals: Veracruz All Natural for tacos, Loro for Asian-Texas BBQ, Uchi if your stipend is generous.
• Day trips. Hamilton Pool (book ahead), Krause Springs, Enchanted Rock, Fredericksburg wine country, Lockhart BBQ.
• Music. ACL tape recording is free. Live music every night at Continental Club, Antone's, Saxon Pub. Check ACL Festival and SXSW dates if your contract overlaps.

What to know before you sign

• Texas heat. Late June through early September is brutal. Plan errands and outdoor activity for early morning.
• Tax home rule applies. Texas has no state income tax, but you still need a tax home elsewhere to keep stipends non-taxable. See travel nurse taxes 101.
• Allergy season is real. Cedar fever (December–February) is a thing. If you are sensitive, stock up.
• Traffic. I-35 is congested 6:30–9 AM and 4–7 PM. Pick your shift and your housing accordingly.

The bottom line

Austin is a strong travel market with good pay, good food, and enough non-work things to do that 13 weeks goes fast. Submit early — the well-paying jobs at Dell Seton and St. David's flagships fill quickly.

See open Texas travel jobs to find current Austin and surrounding-market contracts.