Do I need a Texas license to take a contract in Texas?

Texas is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) state — a multistate RN license is recognized for practice. If your home state is also a compact state, your multistate RN license is valid for Texas contracts on day one.

How does blended (taxable + stipend) pay work?

A standard travel package combines a taxable hourly rate with tax-free housing and meal stipends, provided you maintain a permanent tax home. The weekly totals shown here are blended — what hits your bank account before federal/state income tax on the hourly portion.

Is housing arranged or do I find my own?

Most travelers take the stipend and arrange housing (Furnished Finder, Airbnb monthly, extended-stay hotels). Company-arranged housing is available but typically reduces your weekly take-home.

What happens between contracts?

Most travelers line up the next contract 2–4 weeks before the current one ends. There's no employer-paid PTO — you build your own buffer. Some travelers take planned 1–2 week breaks between assignments.

What's the cost of living like in Texas?

Texas is below the national cost of living (~93%), so stipends stretch further — many travelers bank a significant share of weekly pay here.

How do I choose the right agency?

Compare pay packages line by line (hourly + stipend + benefits + reimbursements), not just the headline weekly number. Ask about cancellation policy, guaranteed hours, and whether your recruiter stays with you for the full assignment.

Staffing · TX

Locum Tenens in Texas

271+ open locum tenens contracts across Texas — averaging $8,000/week blended, with 5 top-rated agencies competing for your assignment.

Browse open contracts Talk to a recruiter

271+
Open contracts
$8,000
Avg weekly (blended)
5
Top agencies
Yes
Compact license

State overview

Why locum tenens choose Texas

Locum tenens physicians and APPs cover hospital, ED, and clinic gaps across Texas — with malpractice covered, travel reimbursed, and weekly pay.

Texas is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) state — a multistate RN license is recognized for practice. Top demand metros: Houston, Dallas–Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio.

Open contracts

Locum Tenens contracts in Texas

A snapshot of active assignments across the state. Sample data shown — recruiter sees live inventory.

Facility	City	Specialty	Length	Shift	Weekly	Start
Memorial Medical Center Level I Trauma	Houston, TX	Hospitalist	2 weeks	Nights 3x12	$7,975	Starts in ~1 week
St. Luke's Regional Academic Medical	Dallas–Fort Worth, TX	Emergency Medicine	4 weeks	Days 3x12	$8,100	Starts in ~2 weeks
University Health Community Hospital	Austin, TX	Anesthesia	8 weeks	Rotating 3x12	$8,250	Starts in ~3 weeks
Mercy General LTAC	San Antonio, TX	Psychiatry	2 weeks	Mid 4x10	$7,775	Starts in ~4 weeks
Mountain View Hospital Level I Trauma	Houston, TX	Family Medicine	4 weeks	Nights 3x12	$7,925	Starts in ~5 weeks
Coastal Regional Medical Academic Medical	Dallas–Fort Worth, TX	Surgery	8 weeks	Days 3x12	$8,050	Starts in ~1 week
Northside Trauma Center Community Hospital	Austin, TX	Radiology	2 weeks	Rotating 3x12	$8,200	Starts in ~2 weeks
Riverside Community Hospital LTAC	San Antonio, TX	Hospitalist	4 weeks	Mid 4x10	$7,725	Starts in ~3 weeks

Memorial Medical Center

$7,975/wk

Level I Trauma · Houston, TX

Hospitalist2 weeksNights 3x12Starts in ~1 week

St. Luke's Regional

$8,100/wk

Academic Medical · Dallas–Fort Worth, TX

Emergency Medicine4 weeksDays 3x12Starts in ~2 weeks

University Health

$8,250/wk

Community Hospital · Austin, TX

Anesthesia8 weeksRotating 3x12Starts in ~3 weeks

Mercy General

$7,775/wk

LTAC · San Antonio, TX

Psychiatry2 weeksMid 4x10Starts in ~4 weeks

Mountain View Hospital

$7,925/wk

Level I Trauma · Houston, TX

Family Medicine4 weeksNights 3x12Starts in ~5 weeks

Coastal Regional Medical

$8,050/wk

Academic Medical · Dallas–Fort Worth, TX

Surgery8 weeksDays 3x12Starts in ~1 week

Northside Trauma Center

$8,200/wk

Community Hospital · Austin, TX

Radiology2 weeksRotating 3x12Starts in ~2 weeks

Riverside Community Hospital

$7,725/wk

LTAC · San Antonio, TX

Hospitalist4 weeksMid 4x10Starts in ~3 weeks

Pay ranges

Locum Provider salary in Texas

Blended weekly = taxable hourly + tax-free housing/meal stipends. Annual assumes 48 contracted weeks.

Specialty	Weekly (blended)	Annualized
Hospitalist	$7,550 – $8,350	$362,400 – $400,800
Emergency Medicine	$7,650 – $8,450	$367,200 – $405,600
Anesthesia	$7,725 – $8,525	$370,800 – $409,200
Psychiatry	$7,825 – $8,625	$375,600 – $414,000
Family Medicine	$7,925 – $8,725	$380,400 – $418,800

Cost-of-living adjusted to Texas's index of ~93% of the national baseline.

Facility types

Where you'll work

The same role pays and feels different depending on the facility type.

Level I Trauma Centers

Highest-acuity emergency, surgical, and ICU work. Premium pay, intense pace, top-tier learning.

Academic Medical Centers

Teaching hospitals affiliated with medical schools. Complex cases, multidisciplinary teams, EHR-mature.

Community Hospitals

Mid-size facilities serving regional populations. Balanced acuity and steady, predictable schedules.

Long-Term Acute Care (LTAC)

Extended-stay medical units for medically complex patients — vent weaning, complex wound care, long IV courses.

Skilled Nursing Facilities

Post-acute rehab and long-term care. Strong demand for therapists, LPNs, and per diem RNs.

Outpatient & Ambulatory

Surgery centers, infusion clinics, and specialty outpatient practices. Daytime hours, predictable schedules.

Credentials

Required certifications

The baseline credentials for locum tenens working in Texas. Most agencies cover renewal fees for active travelers.

MD/DO
State medical license
DEA
Board certification
Malpractice coverage

Recruiter network

Top-rated agencies for this market

Independent ratings from working travelers. Sample illustrative data — your recruiter sees live inventory.

Vivian Health

4.7(12,400)

Response: Under 4 hrs

Travel RNAlliedPer diem

Transparent pay packages, no negotiations

Aya Healthcare

4.6(9,800)

Response: Same day

Travel RNCrisis

Largest contract inventory in the country

Cross Country Healthcare

4.5(7,200)

Response: Same day

Travel RNLocum

Day-one health benefits, 401k match

Medical Solutions

4.8(6,400)

Response: Under 2 hrs

Travel RNAllied

Dedicated recruiter for the full assignment

Trusted Health

4.7(4,100)

Response: Under 6 hrs

Travel RNICU/ER

Self-service job search, transparent stipends

Frequently asked

Locum Tenens in Texas: common questions

Same role, other states

Locum Tenens in California Locum Tenens in Florida Locum Tenens in New York Locum Tenens in Arizona Locum Tenens in Washington

Other roles in Texas

Travel Nurses in Texas Travel Allied Health in Texas Per Diem Nurses in Texas

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