Best Travel Nursing Companies in 2026

Aya Healthcare is one of the largest travel nursing companies in the United States, and that scale is its main advantage. A larger job pool means more choice across states, specialties, facility types, and start dates, which helps when you have a specific location or schedule in mind. Its platform also lets nurses track credentials, contracts, and pay in one place.

The trade-off is personal feel. Some travelers report that a very large company can feel less personal than a smaller agency, especially if recruiters change. If job choice matters most to you, Aya is a strong first application, but still compare individual offers line by line, because pay varies by assignment.

Travel Nurse Across America, known as TNAA, is a frequent pick for first-time travelers because its support model is recruiter led and structured. Day-one benefits, licensing help, travel reimbursement, and a loyalty program for returning nurses are commonly cited strengths. TNAA also provides an assignment benefits summary that outlines pay, per diems, and estimated take-home pay before an assignment begins.

TNAA generally requires at least a year of acute care experience, which is standard across the industry. As with every agency, the headline weekly rate is only part of the picture, so ask for the taxable rate, housing stipend, and meal stipend split in writing before you accept.

AMN Healthcare is another of the largest travel nursing employers, with deep relationships across hospital systems and managed service programs. Its AMN Passport app lets clinicians search assignments, manage credentials, submit timesheets, and stay in contact with a recruiter. Medical, dental, and vision options are available from day one on eligible assignments.

Scale brings both choice and process. A large company may have more steps for credentialing and onboarding than a boutique agency, but it also offers more facility options. If you want access to large hospital systems and a mature app, AMN is a strong option to compare alongside Aya.

Host Healthcare is often cited for its benefits package, including day-one coverage and retirement options, plus a dedicated housing team. That support matters when you are moving every 13 weeks and need housing sorted quickly. A benefits-focused agency can also save money over a contract, even if its headline weekly rate is slightly lower than a competitor.

Host is mid-size compared with Aya and AMN, so its job pool is smaller, though still national. If benefits, housing help, and a stable recruiter relationship matter more to you than the absolute largest job list, Host deserves a place in your comparison.

Medical Solutions is known for recruiter continuity, with many travelers keeping the same recruiter across contracts. That continuity helps, because a recruiter who knows your license states, specialty, housing needs, and preferences can match you faster and avoid repeated onboarding questions. It is also a supportive option for first-time travelers.

The job pool is smaller than Aya or AMN, so you may have fewer choices in a very specific location. If you value a long-term recruiter relationship and steady support over maximum job volume, Medical Solutions is a strong fit.

Triage Staffing has built its brand around clear, direct communication about pay and benefits, often described as Real Talk. That transparency helps when you are comparing offers, because you can see what is included and what is not, rather than guessing at hidden deductions. Day-one life insurance and retirement options are also cited strengths.

Transparency alone does not mean the highest pay on every contract. Use Triage as a benchmark offer when you compare agencies, and ask every agency for the same breakdown: taxable rate, housing stipend, meal stipend, travel reimbursement, and any bonus conditions.

Trusted Health suits nurses who prefer to search and apply directly rather than waiting for a recruiter to send jobs. Its platform shows pay packages transparently, and its Care Team and Advocate model provides support through search, onboarding, and assignment. Benefits include day-one medical, dental, and vision coverage on many assignments, plus weekly direct deposit.

That self-directed model is a strength for independent travelers and a drawback for nurses who want a recruiter to drive the search. If you like controlling your own job hunt and comparing offers online, Trusted is worth trying alongside a traditional agency.

Fusion Medical Staffing focuses on personal recruiter relationships and support across travel nursing and allied health roles. A dedicated recruiter can help with credentialing, housing, travel, and assignment questions, which reduces the admin burden of moving for work. That personal touch appeals to travelers who want one point of contact.

Fusion is less well known than Aya or AMN, so its job inventory in a specific specialty or state may be smaller. If you prefer a smaller agency feel and are willing to compare its offers against a larger agency, Fusion can be a good second application.

Cross Country Healthcare is a long-established national agency with a history dating back to the 1980s in published comparisons. Its preferred vendor relationships at many Magnet and large hospitals can open doors that smaller agencies cannot, and it covers a wide range of nursing specialties and allied roles.

As a large company, its processes can feel formal, and recruiter experience can vary. Experienced travelers who know what they want from an assignment, and who value facility access, often do well with Cross Country, especially when they compare its offers against one or two other agencies.