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10 Best Healthcare Staffing Agencies of 2026
This list is for registered nurses and allied health professionals choosing an agency for travel contracts or per diem shifts. We compared documented features, benefits and pay transparency on each agency's own pages for eight staffing agencies and two job marketplaces. Agencies are paid by facilities, so the real differences are job types, how openly pay is shown, benefits, housing and support. Scores weigh features at 40%, ease of use at 30% and value at 30%.
By the Mojolin research desk · Updated November 10, 2026 · 10 tools compared · Prices checked on vendor pages, latest November 10, 2026
Questions or corrections: editorial@mojolin.com
Mojolin is self-funded How we score
Aya Healthcare is our top pick: it offers the widest mix of travel, per diem, local and permanent jobs, a Shifts app for booking per diem work and day one medical coverage on travel assignments. Trusted Health is the best app-first option, with pay shown before you apply and auto-apply matching. AMN Healthcare and Medical Solutions are strong large agencies with exclusive facility contracts, Host Healthcare has the clearest benefits, and Vivian Health is the place to compare agencies before you pick one.
Top picks
Best overall
Aya Healthcare
9.1 / 10
Nurses and allied health workers who want travel, per diem and local jobs from one agency profile.
Read the review →Runner-up
Trusted Health
9.0 / 10
Travelers who want to see pay and job details in an app before applying, without phone calls.
Read the review →Also great
AMN Healthcare
8.8 / 10
Clinicians who want a large, established agency with exclusive facility contracts and per diem options.
Read the review →Comparison table
| # | Tool | Pricing | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aya Healthcare | Nurses and allied health workers who want travel, per diem and local jobs from one agency profile. | Free to create a profile; pay is set per assignment and shown in pay packages after you log in | 9.1 |
| 2 | Trusted Health | Travelers who want to see pay and job details in an app before applying, without phone calls. | Free tools for every clinician; Trusted is your employer on assignment and shows the pay rate before you apply | 9.0 |
| 3 | AMN Healthcare | Clinicians who want a large, established agency with exclusive facility contracts and per diem options. | Pay set per assignment; AMN publishes typical weekly gross pay ranges by specialty | 8.8 |
| 4 |  Medical Solutions | Travelers who want furnished housing handled for them and discounts on the road. | Personalized pay packages per assignment, with free furnished housing or a housing stipend | 8.7 |
| 5 |  Host Healthcare | First-time travelers and Canadian nurses who want close recruiter support. | Pay set per assignment; weekly pay with tax-free stipends where eligible | 8.6 |
| 6 |  Vivian Health | Clinicians who want to compare offers from several agencies before choosing one. | Free profile for clinicians; agencies and employers post the jobs | 8.5 |
| 7 |  Nomad Health | Self-directed travelers who prefer applying online to working through a recruiter. | Pay set per assignment; listings show pay rates up front | 8.4 |
| 8 |  Triage Staffing | Allied and rehab therapy travelers, including new grads, who want plain answers on pay. | Pay set per assignment; weekly pay rates shown on job listings whenever contracts allow | 8.3 |
| 9 |  AHS Staffing | Dialysis nurses and techs, and travelers who want low recruiter caseloads. | Pay set per assignment; AHS covers credentialing and licensing costs | 8.1 |
| 10 |  Trustaff | Travelers who want an established mid-size agency with a shared multi-brand app. | Free to join; pay set per assignment | 8.0 |
Scoring weights
Every tool gets three editorial scores out of 10, from vendor documentation, product pages and the published price. The overall score is the weighted average below, the same method on every list. Full method
The full ranking
Rank 1 · Best overall
Aya Healthcare
The largest US travel nursing and allied health agency, also placing per diem, local contract, permanent and locum clinicians.
ayahealthcare.com9.1
out of 10
Best for: Nurses and allied health workers who want travel, per diem and local jobs from one agency profile.
Aya Healthcare calls itself America's largest travel nursing and allied health staffing agency, and its job board backs that up with travel, local contract, per diem, permanent and locum roles in one place. You create a profile, log in to see pay packages and facility details, then tell your recruiter which jobs interest you.
For per diem work, Aya uses its Shifts app: you pick open shifts yourself or post availability and get matched when a shift opens. The rules are clear on its FAQ page: at least 1 year of experience, living within 1.5 to 2 hours of the facility, four days of availability a month, and 2 to 5 weeks of compliance before your first shift. Travel nurses get medical, dental and vision coverage from day one and sick time that accrues at 1 hour per 30 worked. The trade-off is that per diem pay is hourly only, and 401(k) matching takes a year.
Standout feature
One Aya profile covers travel, local contract, per diem and permanent jobs, so you can switch job types without changing agencies.
Use cases
Experienced ICU nurses
Compare 13-week travel contracts by pay package and facility
Outcome: A shortlist of contracts to send to a recruiter
Staff nurses wanting extra income
Book local per diem shifts through the Shifts app
Outcome: Extra shifts on days they choose, paid weekly
Key features
- Travel, local contract, per diem, permanent and locum jobs
- Log in to view pay packages and facility information before you apply
- Shifts app for booking per diem shifts yourself
- Medical, dental and vision coverage from the first day of a travel assignment
- Aya Scholars clinical ladder with tuition and certification exam reimbursement
Pros
- Aya describes itself as America's largest travel nursing and allied health agency
- One account covers travel, per diem and permanent roles
- Weekly direct deposit, with Friday paydays for per diem shifts
Cons
- Per diem shifts pay the hourly rate only, with no travel stipends
- Per diem work requires at least 1 year of experience and living within 1.5 to 2 hours of the facility
- 401(k) matching starts only after a year and 1,000 hours
Rank 2 · Runner-up
Trusted Health
An app-based travel and local contract agency for nurses and allied health workers that shows pay rates up front.
trustedhealth.com9.0
out of 10
Best for: Travelers who want to see pay and job details in an app before applying, without phone calls.
Trusted Health replaces the recruiter phone call with an app. You set your specialty, pay floor, locations, shift and start window, and its agents auto-apply you to matching travel or local contracts around the clock. Each listing shows the estimated weekly gross pay, contract length and shift before you apply, and the homepage publishes live market data such as average weekly pay and open positions.
Trusted becomes your employer on assignment, so it handles payroll and benefits: Day 1 medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) with employer match and accrued paid time off. A dedicated Advocate follows up with facilities, and support runs 24/7. Free tools, including a salary explorer, credential locker and CEU tracker, are open to every clinician. Partner facilities typically want a year of recent experience, so new grads will find fewer options here.
Standout feature
Pay rates, contract length and shift details are shown before you apply, so there is no back and forth to learn what a job pays.
Use cases
Travel nurses with a pay target
Set a weekly pay floor and let the app auto-apply to matches
Outcome: Submissions to fitting contracts without daily searching
Allied professionals
Compare weekly pay across cities before applying
Outcome: A clear view of which markets pay most
Key features
- Travel and local contract job matching in an app
- Pay rates shown before you apply
- Agents that auto-apply you to matching contracts 24/7
- Dedicated Advocate plus 24/7 support
- Day 1 medical, dental and vision insurance and a 401(k) with employer match
Pros
- Rates and job details are visible without talking to a recruiter
- Auto-apply submits you to matches quickly
- Free salary explorer, credential locker and CEU tracker
Cons
- Partner facilities usually want at least 1 year of recent specialty experience
- Less human hand-holding than a recruiter-led agency
- Focused on travel and contract work rather than permanent jobs
Rank 3 · Also great
AMN Healthcare
A publicly traded healthcare workforce company placing nurses, allied, physicians and other clinicians in travel, per diem and permanent roles.
amnhealthcare.com8.8
out of 10
Best for: Clinicians who want a large, established agency with exclusive facility contracts and per diem options.
AMN Healthcare is one of the oldest and largest names in healthcare staffing, with more than 30 years of placing clinicians and a publicly traded parent. Its nursing hub covers travel, local and per diem, contract, strike and permanent roles, plus a set of jobs it says are exclusive to AMN at partner facilities. It also places allied health, physicians, advanced practice clinicians, school therapists and interpreters.
AMN publishes typical weekly gross pay ranges from its own postings, for example $3,100 for medical surgical and $3,360 for ICU travel roles at the time we checked. The AMN Passport app tracks your application, credentials, assignments and timesheets, and the company offers licensing and credentialing help. The trade-off with an agency this size is that your experience rests on your recruiter, and the website mixes clinician and client content.
Standout feature
AMN publishes typical weekly gross travel pay by specialty from its own job postings.
Use cases
Labor and delivery nurses
Compare published weekly pay ranges before applying
Outcome: A realistic pay expectation for a travel contract
School-based therapists
Find travel or local school assignments
Outcome: A contract matched to the school year
Key features
- Travel, per diem, contract, strike and permanent nursing jobs
- Jobs exclusive to AMN at partner facilities
- AMN Passport app for applications, credentials, assignments and timesheets
- Licensure and credentialing support
- Allied, physician, advanced practice, schools and interpreter roles
Pros
- 30+ years connecting clinicians with facilities nationwide
- Publishes typical weekly gross pay by specialty
- Covers almost every clinical discipline
Cons
- Large company, so experience depends heavily on your recruiter
- Site is split between job seeker and client content, which takes more clicking
- Pay figures are typical ranges, not guaranteed rates
Rank 4
Medical Solutions
An Omaha-based staffing agency for travel, local, PRN and permanent nursing and allied health jobs.
medicalsolutions.com8.7
out of 10
Best for: Travelers who want furnished housing handled for them and discounts on the road.
Medical Solutions places nurses and allied health professionals in travel, local, PRN and permanent jobs, and its travel page leads with personalized pay packages, day one medical insurance and free furnished housing. Housing is pet-friendly, or you can take a stipend and find your own place. GO Rewards adds discounts on rental cars, hotels and apparel, and customer care runs around the clock.
The company says it has exclusive partnerships with large health systems, which gives its travelers priority access to some jobs. Most assignments are 13 weeks, though it has seen them as short as four and as long as 24 weeks, and you are not bound to take another after finishing. PRN and per diem workers get a dedicated recruiter and 24/7 support. Placement usually takes one to six weeks after an interview, and you hear pay details from your recruiter rather than in a public rate list.
Standout feature
Free furnished, pet-friendly housing is part of the travel offer, with a stipend as the alternative.
Use cases
Travelers with pets
Book pet-friendly furnished housing for a 13-week contract
Outcome: Housing arranged before arrival
Local nurses
Pick up PRN shifts with a dedicated recruiter
Outcome: Flexible work close to home
Key features
- Travel, local, PRN and permanent placements
- Day one medical, dental and vision insurance
- Free furnished, pet-friendly housing or a housing stipend
- GO Rewards discounts on rental cars, hotels and apparel
- 24 hour customer care
Pros
- Exclusive partnerships with large health systems
- Housing can be fully arranged for you
- No contract binding you to more assignments after the current one
Cons
- Most assignments run 13 weeks, so short stints are less common
- Getting placed can take one to six weeks after interview
- Pay details come through a recruiter rather than shown up front
Rank 5
Host Healthcare
A recruiter-led travel agency for nursing, allied and therapy professionals, with local contracts too.
hosthealthcare.com8.6
out of 10
Best for: First-time travelers and Canadian nurses who want close recruiter support.
Host Healthcare is a recruiter-led agency for travel nursing, allied and therapy jobs, plus local contracts. You fill in an 8-question form, a dedicated recruiter calls, then helps you through matching, offers, licensing and housing. Support is available 24/7 by call, text, live chat or DM.
The benefits are among the most clearly documented of any agency we compared: day 1 medical, dental and vision that stay active between assignments less than 30 days apart, a Fidelity 401(k) you can join at once with a match of 100% on the first 3% and 50% on the next 2% after 6 months and 500 hours, and immediate vesting. Host also reimburses licenses and certifications and gives free unlimited CEUs. It has guidance for Canadian nurses working in the US. If Host books your housing, you give up the housing stipend, and there is no per diem shift app.
Standout feature
Medical, dental and vision coverage stays active between assignments that are less than 30 days apart.
Use cases
Canadian RNs
Get help with the logistics of a first US travel contract
Outcome: Licensing and housing sorted with one recruiter
Travelers taking short breaks
Keep health coverage between contracts
Outcome: No gap in benefits for breaks under 30 days
Key features
- Travel and local jobs for nursing, allied and therapy
- Day 1 medical, dental and vision, kept active between assignments under 30 days apart
- 401(k) from day one with match after 6 months and 500 hours
- License and certification reimbursements and free unlimited CEUs
- Housing team that can find and book your stay
Pros
- Benefits stay active in short gaps between contracts
- Immediate 401(k) vesting on employer match
- Guidance for Canadian nurses moving to US contracts
Cons
- Travel focus, with no per diem shift booking
- Booking housing through Host removes housing stipend eligibility
- Process starts with a recruiter call rather than self-service
Rank 6
Vivian Health
A free healthcare job marketplace listing travel, staff, local contract and per diem jobs from many agencies and employers.
vivian.com8.5
out of 10
Best for: Clinicians who want to compare offers from several agencies before choosing one.
Vivian Health is not a staffing agency. It is a marketplace where agencies and health systems post travel, staff, local contract, per diem and locum jobs, so you can compare offers before choosing an agency. Listings show pay, and the homepage counts hundreds of thousands of travel contracts at any time.
You build one universal profile and use it to apply, then chat with recruiters in real time. The app adds instant alerts, a pay analysis tool, employer reviews and a resume builder. Vivian says more than 3 million clinicians have joined, and it was founded in 2017 as NurseFly before IAC rebranded it. The catch is that applying brings recruiter contact from several agencies, and you still sign your contract with one of them, so check the agency behind each listing.
Standout feature
One profile lets you compare travel and per diem offers from many agencies side by side.
Use cases
New travelers
Compare pay for the same specialty across agencies
Outcome: A shortlist of agencies worth calling
Per diem seekers
Search local PRN listings near home
Outcome: Several options from different employers
Key features
- Travel, staff, local contract, per diem and locum jobs in one search
- Pay shown on listings for comparison
- One universal profile to apply to many employers
- Real-time chat with recruiters
- Pay analysis tool, employer reviews and resume builder in the app
Pros
- See many agencies' offers side by side
- Large volume of travel contract listings
- Free for clinicians
Cons
- Vivian is a marketplace, not an agency, so you still sign with an agency
- Several recruiters may contact you
- Listing quality depends on the posting agency
Rank 7
Nomad Health
A digital travel job marketplace for nurses and allied health workers with no commission-based recruiters.
nomadhealth.com8.4
out of 10
Best for: Self-directed travelers who prefer applying online to working through a recruiter.
Nomad Health runs travel nursing and allied health hiring as a digital marketplace. You build a profile, search jobs whose listings show pay rates, shift structure and requirements, and apply in as little as one click. Nomad does not employ commission-based recruiters and says the savings go into pay and benefits.
Help comes from Nomad Navigators, who guide credentialing and handle payroll, benefits and escalations, plus Clinical Navigators who are experienced clinicians. Benefits start on the first day of an assignment and include medical, dental and vision, malpractice insurance, travel reimbursement, licensing reimbursement, 24/7 counseling and a 401(k) with matching after a set time. The app lets you manage hours and pay. Nomad suits confident travelers; first-timers who want a recruiter to advocate for them may prefer a traditional agency.
Standout feature
Nomad does not use commission-based recruiters, and every listing shows its pay rate.
Use cases
Repeat travel nurses
Apply to several contracts in one evening
Outcome: Multiple applications with saved profile data
Travel respiratory therapists
Filter jobs by pay and shift
Outcome: Contracts that meet their pay target
Key features
- Online profile and one-click applications
- Listings with pay rates, shift structure and requirements
- Nomad Navigators and Clinical Navigators for support
- Benefits from the first day of an assignment, including malpractice insurance
- License and certification reimbursement for Nomad jobs
Pros
- No commission-based recruiters
- Pay shown on every listing
- Jobs in all 50 states
Cons
- Travel only, with no per diem shift booking
- Less personal guidance than a recruiter-led agency
- 401(k) matching starts after a set time
Rank 8
Triage Staffing
A travel staffing agency for nursing, allied, rehab therapy, lab and radiology professionals.
triagestaff.com8.3
out of 10
Best for: Allied and rehab therapy travelers, including new grads, who want plain answers on pay.
Triage Staffing places travelers in nursing, allied health, lab, radiology, cardiopulmonary and rehab therapy jobs, and its tone is unusually direct about pay. Its job board shows a weekly pay rate whenever contracts allow, and its pay guide explains stipends, taxes and the questions to ask before you sign.
Benefits start on Day One: nationwide medical plans with two options and an HSA, plus MetLife dental and vision. Triage publishes its weekly premium rates so you can compare a contract before signing. You can contribute to a 401(k) from your first paycheck, with a Safe Harbor match after one year and 1,000 hours. Most specialties need two years of experience, but rehab therapists can start once they pass their boards, and new rehab grads get a $1,500 sign-on bonus after three consecutive assignments. Triage also places traveling pairs.
Standout feature
Triage publishes its benefit premiums so travelers can compare the true value of a contract.
Use cases
New grad physical therapists
Take a first travel contract right after boards
Outcome: Travel work plus a sign-on bonus path
Traveling couples
Find assignments in the same area for two specialties
Outcome: Contracts that keep them together
Key features
- Travel jobs across nursing, allied, lab, radiology and rehab therapy
- Weekly pay rates shown on listings when contracts allow
- Day One medical, dental and vision with nationwide plans and an HSA option
- 401(k) contributions from the first paycheck
- Matching for traveling pairs
Pros
- Published benefit premiums so you can compare contracts
- Rehab therapy new grads can start after passing boards
- $1,500 sign-on bonus for new rehab grads taking three consecutive assignments
Cons
- Most specialties need 2 years of experience
- Travel focus with no per diem program
- 401(k) match needs one year and 1,000 hours
Rank 9
AHS Staffing
An Oklahoma-based travel agency for nursing, dialysis and allied health professionals.
ahsstaffing.com8.1
out of 10
Best for: Dialysis nurses and techs, and travelers who want low recruiter caseloads.
AHS Staffing focuses on travel work in three areas: nursing, dialysis and allied health, each with its own recruiting team. The process is simple: apply, talk with a recruiter, get matched to jobs by your saved preferences, then accept an offer. AHS says it keeps recruiter ratios low so travelers get more attention.
The agency covers the costs of getting you compliant and can expedite licensing for an on-time start. Most travelers take its housing stipend, though housing help is available. Pay is weekly by direct deposit, with full benefits and a 401(k) match. The AHS app sends new job alerts and stores compliance documents, assignment details and timecards. Job volume is smaller than at the national giants and per diem work is not offered, but the dialysis team makes it a natural first stop for dialysis nurses and techs.
Standout feature
A dedicated dialysis travel team is rare among the agencies we compared.
Use cases
Dialysis nurses
Find travel dialysis contracts with a specialist recruiter
Outcome: Assignments matched to dialysis experience
CT technologists
Get alerts for new allied travel jobs
Outcome: Early notice of matching contracts
Key features
- Travel nursing, dialysis and allied jobs
- Credentialing and licensure reimbursement with expedited licensing
- Housing stipend or housing assistance
- Mobile app for job alerts, compliance documents and timecards
- Weekly pay with full benefits and a 401(k) match
Pros
- Specialist dialysis travel team
- Recruiters keep caseloads low
- Covers compliance and licensing costs
Cons
- Smaller job volume than the largest agencies
- Travel only, no per diem shifts
- Few published benefit details
Rank 10
Trustaff
A travel nursing and allied health agency founded in 2002, part of Ingenovis Health.
trustaff.com8.0
out of 10
Best for: Travelers who want an established mid-size agency with a shared multi-brand app.
Trustaff has placed travel nurses and allied health professionals since 2002 and is part of Ingenovis Health, which also owns other staffing brands. It says more than 4,000 travelers are on assignment and that it is Joint Commission certified. Joining is free: create an account, complete your profile with experience and education, then apply for travel assignments.
The Ingenovis Health app lets you search jobs, filter by preferences, upload documents and checklists, and update one profile across several of its companies. Trustaff lists guaranteed hours and employee discounts among its benefits and pays referral bonuses of up to $1,000. The downsides are that detailed benefit terms sit behind the benefits portal rather than on public pages, and there is no per diem option, so it fits travelers better than local shift workers.
Standout feature
One Ingenovis Health login updates your profile across several staffing companies.
Use cases
Travel nurses
Search assignments and upload credentials from a phone
Outcome: A ready profile for quick submission
Allied travelers
Refer a colleague to an assignment
Outcome: A referral bonus of up to $1,000
Key features
- Travel nursing and allied health assignments
- Ingenovis Health app with one login across its staffing companies
- Document and checklist uploads from your phone
- Guaranteed hours and employee discounts listed among benefits
- Referral bonus up to $1,000
Pros
- More than 20 years in healthcare staffing
- Joint Commission certified
- 4,000+ travelers on assignment
Cons
- Benefit details sit behind a login
- Travel focus with no per diem program
- Fewer self-service tools than app-first agencies
Frequently asked questions
+What is the best healthcare staffing agency?
Aya Healthcare is our top pick for most nurses and allied health workers because one profile covers travel, per diem, local and permanent jobs and travel contracts include day one medical coverage. Trusted Health is the best alternative if you want pay rates shown in an app before you apply.
+Which healthcare staffing agency is best for per diem shifts?
Aya Healthcare lets credentialed clinicians book per diem shifts in its Shifts app, with weekly pay, though it asks for 1 year of experience and four days of availability a month. AMN Healthcare and Medical Solutions also place local and PRN clinicians.
+Do nurses pay to join a staffing agency?
Aya, Trusted Health, Vivian Health and Trustaff all state that creating a profile or joining is free. Agencies are paid by the facilities they staff, and your pay is set per assignment.
+Which travel nursing agencies show pay up front?
Trusted Health and Nomad Health show pay on every listing, Triage Staffing shows a weekly rate whenever contracts allow, and AMN Healthcare publishes typical weekly gross pay by specialty. Vivian Health shows pay on listings from many agencies.
+Is Vivian Health a staffing agency?
No. Vivian Health says it is a marketplace where agencies and employers post travel, staff, local contract and per diem jobs. You compare offers there, then sign your contract with the agency behind the listing.
About this list
Updated November 10, 2026 by the Mojolin research desk. Mojolin is self-funded
Questions or corrections: editorial@mojolin.com
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