You Need to Try Bay Area Travel Nursing Right Now

Is Bay Area Travel Nursing Worth It?

In short, absolutely yes. I took an assignment in the San Francisco Bay Area last year and loved it so much that I even extended my contract. It was one of my favorite assignments so far, but I had no idea what to expect as I drove my car down the coast to move there temporarily (besides for what I read in one of my favorite nurse blogs). Here I will share my experiences and insights on Bay Area travel nursing. I hope it will inspire some to take a contract there!

Is Bay Area Travel Nursing Actually High Paying?

Okay let’s start with the pay because honestly that’s what pulled me in first. I worked at an LTACH in the East Bay and my pay package was around $4,400 per week plus overtime. Throughout my assignment there, I averaged over $5,000 per week, working an extra shift every other week.

Not only that, but I was given a bonus at the end of my contract, and my year-to-date gross pay was over $30,000 at the beginning of February.

So yes, Bay Area Travel Nursing is definitely high paying. One of the biggest reason for this is the high, tax-free stipend rates. San Francisco and Los Angeles have two of the highest stipend rates in the country, which is why they are both consistently offering some of the best contracts.

Is Bay Area Weather Actually Nice?

Coming from Washington State, that winter in the Bay was my sunniest winter of my life thus far. This winter (2023/2024) I’m down in Los Angeles which I will say is even sunnier but yes. It’s actually nice. I’ll include some pictures instead of trying to explain…

How Are the People In The Bay Area?

When I moved down to California, I didn’t know anybody. However, the people of the Bay are surprisingly very welcoming and sweet.

Since I was there during the winter, I was there for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. For all three holidays, I was invited to join families there to celebrate. It was so wholesome 🙂

Not only that, but the friends I met there showed me all around the city. I was able to explore the markets, the parks, and even went to some concerts.

I’m still friends with some of the people I met in California, and I was able to make memories with them that I wouldn’t trade for the world.

How Is Public Transportation In the Bay Area?

Unlike my hometown in Washington, and here in LA, SF actually has some decent public transportation.

My favorite was the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transport) system which can bring you all around the bay.

Aside from the BART, there are buses that go all around the city as well as scooters and bikes that I utilized as well.

I did have my car while I was there, but while I was in SF, I really didn’t need it.

How Is the Food In The Bay Area?

The food was definitely my favorite part of the Bay. From Oakland, to SF, down to San Jose, there are some really amazing restaurants.

This is where I discovered hot pot, soup dumplings, and birria tacos. There is every type of cuisine here, and I loved it.

What is The Cost of Living In The Bay Area?

The cost of living in the Bay Area is notoriously high. High stipends = high cost of living, that’s just how it is.

Personally, I spent about $2,000 per month on a place for myself, then later moved in with some friends I met there to lower the cost of rent since travel nurses need to duplicate their expenses (pay rent in two areas).

Gas was expensive, as expected, but what I did not expect was the price of parking! Overnight parking was $45, and when I started paying monthly, it was $300 per month just to park. Wild.

Going out to restaurants and bars isn’t cheap either. It is normal to spend $50 on a dinner or $20 on cocktails.

The Final Consensus: Bay Area Travel Nursing Will Change Your Life, Period

High cost of living aside, Bay Area travel nursing is 100% worth it. The year-round sunshine, amazing food, and my new friends are what really cause SF to have a special place in my heart. And the shopping lol.

Not only that, but it was on this assignment that I really decided to keep better track of my finances which has really helped my overall financial health and investment portfolio.

I would love to return to the Bay someday for another assignment.

Trying to decide between an assignment in SF and LA? Check out my recent post about my experience travel nursing in Los Angeles.