Travel ICU Nurse Jobs
Georgia 2026
$2,000–$3,500/wk
- Grady Memorial Hospital — the only Level I trauma center within 100 miles of Atlanta, busiest ER in Georgia, Burn ICU and MICU at $2,400–$3,200/wk
- Emory University Hospital CVICU — heart and lung transplant ICU, active ECMO program, cardiac surgery recovery at $2,600–$3,400/wk
- NLC Compact member — practice immediately with a multistate compact license from any of 40+ participating states, no separate GA endorsement required
- Georgia Stroke Belt — elevated statewide Neuro ICU demand year-round; rural critical access crisis rates reaching $2,500–$3,500/wk
Georgia Is a Full NLC Compact Member
Georgia joined the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) and accepts multistate compact licenses from all 40+ participating states. ICU travel nurses with a compact license can begin an assignment in Georgia immediately — no separate GA endorsement application, no waiting period. Non-compact nurses (from states like California, New York, or Illinois) must apply for Georgia RN endorsement before starting work. Georgia's Board of Nursing typically processes endorsement applications within 4–6 weeks.
Georgia 5.49% Flat Tax — Travel ICU Nurse Stipend Strategy
Georgia uses a flat income tax rate of 5.49% (being phased down to 4.99% by 2026). Unlike progressive-rate states, every dollar of taxable income is taxed at the same rate. For travel ICU nurses, the tax-free stipend structure minimizes exposure — your housing and meal stipends are not subject to Georgia income tax at all.
State Income Tax Comparison
Weekly Tax Cost on $3,000/wk Package
Assuming $1,200 taxable base wage per week (remainder tax-free stipend):
Estimates based on taxable base wage only. Individual tax situations vary. Consult a travel nurse tax advisor.
Stipend Strategy: Minimize Taxable Exposure in Georgia
Georgia taxes only your taxable base wage — not your housing or meal stipends. On a properly structured travel ICU contract with a $1,200 taxable base and $1,800 in tax-free stipends, your Georgia tax burden is approximately $66/week. Over a 13-week assignment that is roughly $858 in state income tax — a fraction of what you would pay in California ($2,080) or New York ($1,703). Georgia's flat rate also means no bracket creep — every dollar is taxed identically regardless of income level.
Why Travel ICU Nurses Choose Georgia
Five reasons Georgia stands out in the travel ICU nurse market for 2026.
NLC Compact Member State
Georgia is a full NLC Compact state. Practice immediately with your multistate compact license from any of 40+ participating states — no separate GA endorsement required. One of the fastest onboarding paths in the Southeast.
Grady Memorial — Highest-Acuity ICU in Georgia
Grady Memorial is the only Level I trauma center within 100 miles of Atlanta and the busiest ER in Georgia. Burn ICU, MICU, Neuro ICU, and Trauma ICU all operate at maximum capacity. The highest-acuity travel ICU assignment in the state.
Emory CVICU — Heart & Lung Transplant
Emory University Hospital runs one of the Southeast's premier heart and lung transplant ICU programs, with an active ECMO center. Travel CVICU nurses with transplant or ECMO experience command top-of-market rates in Georgia.
Georgia Stroke Belt — Neuro ICU Demand
Georgia lies within the Stroke Belt, a geographic region with elevated stroke incidence and mortality. Statewide Neuro ICU demand is elevated year-round, particularly at Level I trauma centers in Atlanta, Augusta, and Savannah.
Rural Crisis Rates — $2,500–$3,500/wk
Rural Georgia critical access hospitals face severe ICU nurse shortages. Crisis-rate contracts in underserved regions pay $2,500–$3,500/wk — among the highest ICU rates in the Southeast — for nurses willing to go off the beaten path.
Top 5 Georgia ICU Facilities for Travel Nurses
The highest-volume and highest-paying ICU assignments in GA — from Level I trauma centers to coastal regional hubs.
Grady Memorial Hospital
$2,400–$3,200/wkAtlanta • Level I Trauma — Busiest ER in Georgia
ICU Units: Burn ICU, MICU, Neuro ICU, Trauma ICU, CVICU
Only Level I trauma center within 100 miles of Atlanta. Emory teaching affiliate. Highest-acuity ICU caseload in the state — Burn ICU is the most specialized unit in Georgia.
Emory University Hospital
$2,600–$3,400/wkAtlanta • Academic Medical Center — ECMO Center
ICU Units: CVICU (heart/lung transplant), Transplant ICU, Trauma ICU (Midtown)
Heart and lung transplant ICU, solid organ transplant, ECMO program. Emory Midtown is a separate Level II trauma site. Highest-paying ICU contracts in Georgia.
WellStar Kennestone Hospital
$2,200–$2,900/wkMarietta • Level II Trauma
ICU Units: Cardiac ICU, MICU
High-volume WellStar system flagship. Cardiac ICU with active open-heart surgery program. CCRN preferred. Northwest Atlanta metro market.
Augusta University Medical Center
$2,000–$2,700/wkAugusta • Level I Trauma — Academic Teaching Hospital
ICU Units: MICU, SICU, Neuro ICU
Academic medical center near Fort Eisenhower (formerly Fort Gordon). Military-adjacent market. Neuro ICU volume from regional referrals. Lower competition than Atlanta.
Memorial Health University Medical Center
$2,200–$2,800/wkSavannah • Level I Trauma — Coastal Georgia
ICU Units: MICU, SICU, Cardiac ICU
Savannah coastal lifestyle market. Lower competition than Atlanta. Regional Level I hub for coastal Georgia and South Carolina border.
Georgia ICU Travel Nurse Pay by Market — 2026
All-in weekly packages including tax-free housing and meal stipends. Rates vary by unit, experience, and CCRN certification.
| Market | Facility Type | Weekly Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Grady Memorial — Burn ICU / Trauma | Level I Trauma | $2,400–$3,200/wk |
| Emory CVICU — Heart/Lung Transplant | Academic ECMO Center | $2,600–$3,400/wk |
| WellStar Kennestone — Cardiac ICU | Level II Trauma | $2,200–$2,900/wk |
| Augusta University — MICU/Neuro ICU | Level I Trauma (Academic) | $2,000–$2,700/wk |
| Savannah — Memorial Health | Level I Trauma (Coastal) | $2,200–$2,800/wk |
| Rural GA Critical Access Crisis | Shortage Rate | $2,500–$3,500/wk |
Rates as of April 2026. All packages subject to change based on facility needs and market conditions. Contact CatSol for current confirmed rates.
Live Georgia ICU Travel Nurse Jobs
Updated every 4 hours from active assignments
Georgia ICU Shortage — New Openings Weekly
Georgia ICU contracts are filled quickly. Grady Memorial's volume and Emory's transplant programs mean new ICU openings post every week. Submit your profile now so our recruiters can match you to the next available GA ICU contract.
Get Notified of GA ICU OpeningsGrady Memorial Hospital ICU Deep Dive
Grady Memorial is Georgia's highest-acuity hospital — the only Level I trauma center within 100 miles of Atlanta, the busiest ER in the state, and the primary teaching affiliate of Emory University School of Medicine. No other facility in Georgia offers this combination of specialization, volume, and academic intensity.
Burn ICU
Nationally recognized burn program. One of the most specialized ICU units in the Southeast. Inhalation injury, major burn critical care, wound care, skin grafting recovery. Burn-certified ICU nurses are in extreme shortage nationwide.
Medical ICU (MICU)
High-acuity Atlanta urban medical ICU. Multisystem organ failure, septic shock, respiratory failure, drug toxicity, and complex medical critical care. Enormous patient volume from the busiest ER in Georgia.
Neurological ICU (Neuro ICU)
Stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, TBI, status epilepticus, and post-neurosurgical recovery. Elevated demand from Georgia Stroke Belt referrals. Continuous EEG monitoring and high ICP management.
Trauma ICU
Only Level I trauma center in a 100-mile Atlanta radius. Penetrating and blunt trauma, hemorrhagic shock, poly-trauma. Highest trauma volume in the state funneled through one facility.
Cardiovascular ICU (CVICU)
Cardiac surgery recovery, post-interventional cardiac care. High-complexity CVICU caseload reflecting the cardiovascular burden of Grady's patient population.
Emory Teaching Integration
Grady serves as primary teaching affiliate for Emory University School of Medicine. Travel ICU nurses work alongside Emory medicine residents and fellows in all ICU units — a unique academic environment at a safety-net hospital.
Grady Memorial Travel ICU Contract Details
Pay Range
$2,400–$3,200/wk
Experience Required
2+ years recent ICU experience
Certification
CCRN strongly preferred; adds $200–$300/wk
Unique Advantage
Work alongside Emory medicine residents & fellows
Emory University Hospital CVICU — Heart & Lung Transplant
Emory University Hospital runs one of the Southeast's most active heart and lung transplant programs — an ECMO center with complex cardiac surgery ICU care that draws patients from across the region. For travel CVICU nurses with transplant or ECMO experience, Emory offers the highest-paying ICU contracts in Georgia.
Emory CVICU — Heart Transplant
Heart transplant ICU, LVAD management, ECMO. Most complex cardiac ICU in Georgia. $2,600–$3,400/wk for transplant-experienced travel nurses.
Emory CVICU — Lung Transplant
Lung and heart-lung transplant ICU. ECMO bridge to transplant. Mechanical ventilation and pulmonary critical care expertise required.
Emory Midtown — Trauma ICU
Emory Midtown is a separate Level II trauma center with active MICU and Trauma ICU. Lower competition than Grady. Strong WellStar partnership.
Premium CVICU Rates at Emory
Travel ICU nurses with CVICU, heart or lung transplant, LVAD, or ECMO experience command $2,600–$3,400/wk at Emory University Hospital — the highest ICU rates in Georgia. CCRN adds $200–$300/wk on top of base package.
Georgia Stroke Belt — Elevated Neuro ICU Demand Statewide
Georgia is part of the Stroke Belt — a geographic region of the southeastern United States with significantly higher stroke incidence and mortality rates compared to the national average. This drives year-round, elevated Neuro ICU demand at facilities statewide.
Neuro ICU Demand by Region
- Atlanta (Grady Memorial)Primary Neuro ICU for urban Atlanta. Highest volume statewide.
- Augusta (Augusta University)Regional Neuro ICU hub for eastern Georgia and SC border.
- Savannah (Memorial Health)Coastal Georgia Neuro ICU serving regional stroke referrals.
- Macon (Piedmont Macon)Central Georgia Piedmont system cardiac and Neuro ICU hub.
- Rural GeorgiaCritical access Neuro ICU shortage. Crisis rates $2,500–$3,500/wk.
Why Stroke Belt = Reliable Neuro ICU Work
Elevated stroke incidence
Georgia stroke mortality rates exceed national average by 10-20%
Ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke
Subarachnoid hemorrhage, AIS, ICH — diverse Neuro ICU caseload
TBI from trauma volume
Grady Level I trauma adds TBI, post-neurosurgical to Neuro ICU
Year-round demand
No seasonal slowdown — stroke is consistent 52 weeks per year
CCRN + Neuro ICU Experience = Premium Rates
Travel Neuro ICU nurses with CCRN certification and 2+ years of neurological critical care experience are among the most in-demand ICU subspecialists in Georgia. CCRN adds $200–$300/wk on top of base packages. At Level I centers with high Neuro ICU volume — Grady, Augusta University, and Memorial Health Savannah — Neuro ICU travel nurses routinely fill contracts within days of posting.
Georgia Travel ICU Nurse FAQ
Common questions from travel ICU nurses considering Georgia assignments.
Is Georgia an NLC Compact state for ICU nurses?
Yes. Georgia is a full NLC Compact member state. ICU nurses holding a multistate compact license from any of the 40+ participating states can practice in Georgia immediately without a separate GA endorsement. Non-compact nurses must apply for Georgia RN endorsement before starting an assignment. The Georgia Board of Nursing typically processes endorsement applications within 4-6 weeks.
What does Grady Memorial pay travel ICU nurses?
Travel ICU nurses at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta typically earn $2,400-$3,200 per week all-in for MICU and Trauma ICU roles. The Burn ICU commands the highest rates due to its extreme specialization. Grady is the only Level I trauma center within a 100-mile radius of Atlanta and the busiest ER in Georgia, creating sustained, high-acuity ICU demand year-round.
What ICU specialties are in highest demand in Georgia?
Neuro ICU demand is elevated statewide due to the Georgia Stroke Belt. CVICU demand is strong in Atlanta at Emory University Hospital (heart and lung transplant, ECMO) and Grady Memorial. MICU and Trauma ICU demand is concentrated at Level I centers in Atlanta, Augusta, and Savannah. Rural Georgia critical access hospitals face acute ICU shortages with crisis-rate pay of $2,500-$3,500/wk.
How does CCRN certification affect Georgia ICU pay?
CCRN certification adds $200-$300 per week on Georgia ICU travel contracts. Emory University Hospital, WellStar Kennestone, and Augusta University Medical Center list CCRN as strongly preferred. At Emory CVICU (heart transplant, ECMO), CCRN combined with cardiac surgery recovery experience can push weekly packages toward the top of the $2,600-$3,400 range. Over a 13-week assignment, CCRN can add $2,600-$3,900 in total compensation.
How does Georgia 5.49% flat tax compare to surrounding states?
Georgia levies a 5.49% flat state income tax (being phased down toward 4.99%). On a $3,000/week travel ICU package with a $1,200 taxable base wage, Georgia costs roughly $66/week in state income taxes — significantly better than New York (10.9%, $131/week) or California (13.3%, $160/week), comparable to Colorado (4.4%, $53/week), and higher than Tennessee and Florida (both 0%). Georgia is firmly mid-tier in the Southeast for tax treatment.
What makes Grady Memorial unique for travel ICU nurses?
Grady Memorial is the only Level I trauma center within a 100-mile radius of Atlanta and the busiest emergency department in Georgia. It operates a nationally recognized Burn ICU, a high-volume MICU, and a Neuro ICU serving the highest-acuity cases in the region. As the primary Emory University School of Medicine teaching affiliate, travel ICU nurses work alongside Emory residents and fellows at a pace and acuity level unmatched by any other facility in the state.
Explore More Travel Nursing Resources
Find Your Georgia ICU Contract
$2,000–$3,500/wk • NLC Compact • Grady Memorial Burn & Trauma ICU • Emory CVICU
CatSol Healthcare Staffing connects experienced ICU travel nurses with top Georgia facilities — from Grady's nationally recognized Burn ICU to Emory's heart transplant CVICU and coastal Savannah contracts. Our recruiters specialize in ICU placement and know the Georgia market.