What new graduates actually earn traveling — and why it's dramatically more than permanent positions.
Travel pay depends on your discipline, setting and location, and it moves with the market, so we do not print a fixed salary range here. For current published travel pay by discipline (PT, PTA, OT, COTA and SLP), see the ProTherapy Staffing pay index, which publishes medians from its own contract book with the date they were measured.
Location: Rural and less popular locations pay premium rates. Popular destinations (beach cities, mountain towns) pay less. A new grad willing to go where others won't can earn top dollar.
Setting: SNF positions are the most common for new grads and pay well. Outpatient varies. See best settings for new grads.
Agency choice: This is the biggest lever you control. The same assignment through different agencies can pay noticeably differently because of different agency margins and how they structure your package.
Get your own health insurance. If you're under 26, stay on your parent's plan. Otherwise, a Marketplace plan often costs less than agency insurance premiums — and frees you to choose agencies purely on who pays the most. See our insurance guide.
Work with 2-3 agencies simultaneously. Compare packages for the same region. You'll be surprised how much they vary.
Be flexible on location. High-paying rural assignments for one contract fund a dream-location contract next.
Negotiate. Even as a new grad, ask if the rate can be improved. The worst answer is no.
Connect with professionals who specialize in placing new grad travelers.