New York City is the highest-volume surgical market in the US — MSK, NYU Langone, NYP Cornell, and Columbia all compete for CNOR-certified travel OR nurses at $3,200–$4,800/week.
New York State does not participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). Every travel nurse working in NY must obtain a separate New York RN license by endorsement from the NY State Education Department (SED). Processing typically takes 4–6 weeks from completed application submission. CatSol begins your NY license application the moment you commit to a NY OR contract — do not delay this step.
NY State Income Tax: 4–10.9% Progressive
New York State uses a progressive income tax scale. Only your taxable pay (not tax-free housing or meal stipends) is subject to NY state tax. Most travel nurses with proper tax-home documentation receive a meaningful portion of their package tax-free.
NYC City Tax: 3.078–3.876% (Residents Only)
New York City imposes an additional city income tax on NYC residents (3.078–3.876%). Travel nurses who maintain a permanent tax home outside NYC are not NYC residents and are not subject to the NYC city income tax surcharge. Consult a travel nurse tax specialist to ensure your tax-home documentation is current.
#1 in US
NYC Surgical Volume
Highest-volume surgical market in the United States by total case volume
60+
Level I/II Trauma Centers
Level I and Level II trauma centers statewide — most of any state east of the Mississippi
World-Ranked
MSK OR
Memorial Sloan Kettering is the world's largest dedicated cancer center — oncological OR volume is unmatched
NYU · Cornell · Columbia
Academic Medical ORs
Top academic medical programs with complex surgical training programs and robotic OR centers
da Vinci Leaders
Robotic Surgery
NYU Langone is among the highest-volume robotic surgery centers globally; Cornell and Columbia also leaders
Albany · Buffalo · Rochester
Upstate NY Hubs
Regional surgical centers serving large rural catchment areas — strong demand, lower cost of living
Updated every 4 hours from live contract database. OR positions fill fast — apply early.
NY OR positions open frequently — start your license now.
OR contracts in NYC move within days of posting. Priority candidates with NY license on file get first access.
Join NY OR Priority ListManhattan, New York City
Manhattan (Upper East Side), New York City
3 Manhattan Campuses + Brooklyn + Long Island
Manhattan, New York City
Albany, New York (Upstate)
$3,800–$4,800/wk
Extreme DemandWorld's largest cancer center OR. Oncological complexity, long specialized cases, top MSK pay.
$3,600–$4,500/wk
Very High DemandNYP Cornell and Columbia Presbyterian lead open-heart and LVAD programs. High acuity, premium pay.
$3,400–$4,200/wk
Very High DemandNYU Langone ranked #1 orthopedic nationally. Joint replacement, spine, sports ortho — high volume.
$3,400–$4,200/wk
High DemandLong complex cases, specialized instrumentation. Columbia and NYU flagship neurosurgery programs.
$3,600–$4,400/wk
Very High Demandda Vinci certified nurses command premium. NYU among the world's highest-volume robotic centers.
$3,200–$4,000/wk
High DemandBellevue, Kings County, Bronx Lebanon, Albany Medical — Level I trauma 24/7 or call OR contracts.
| Location | Weekly Pay (Total Package) | Housing Stipend (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| NYC (Manhattan) | $3,800–$4,800 | ~$3,500/mo |
| NYC (Outer Boroughs) | $3,500–$4,500 | ~$2,800/mo |
| Long Island | $3,200–$4,200 | ~$2,200/mo |
| Albany | $3,000–$3,800 | ~$1,600/mo |
| Buffalo | $2,900–$3,600 | ~$1,400/mo |
| Rochester | $2,900–$3,500 | ~$1,400/mo |
Pay ranges are estimates based on current contract market data. Actual packages vary by facility, shift, specialty, and certifications.
RN License — New York State
RequiredNY is NOT NLC compact — allow 4–6 weeks. Apply immediately upon contract commitment.
BLS (Basic Life Support)
RequiredAHA BLS required at all NY OR facilities. Must be current.
ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support)
Required for ORRequired at most NY hospitals, especially Level I trauma and academic ORs.
CNOR (Certified Nurse Operating Room)
Highly PreferredMost major NYC ORs prefer or require CNOR. Some MSK and academic contracts require it.
CRNFA (Registered Nurse First Assistant)
Premium PayFirst assistant role — premium pay $4,200–$5,500/wk. Requires CRNFA credential and surgical experience.
Periop 101 Completion
PreferredAORN Periop 101 completion recognized at NY academic ORs for nurses building specialized OR experience.
Robotic Surgery Certification
PreferredIntuitive Surgical da Vinci training preferred at NYU, Cornell, Columbia robotic OR programs.
No — New York is NOT a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). Travel OR nurses must obtain a separate New York RN license by endorsement. The NY State Education Department (SED) typically processes endorsement applications in 4–6 weeks from the date your completed application is received. CatSol submits your NY license application as soon as you commit to a NY OR contract. Apply well before your intended start date — do not wait.
Travel OR nurses in Manhattan (NYC) earn $3,800–$4,800/week in total package pay. This includes taxable base pay plus tax-free housing and meal stipends for qualifying travelers with a permanent tax home outside NYC. Outer borough NYC OR contracts (Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island) typically range $3,500–$4,500/week. NYC pay is driven by the highest surgical volume in the US and the city's structural premium for healthcare professionals.
CNOR is strongly preferred or explicitly required at most major NYC OR facilities. Memorial Sloan Kettering, NYU Langone, and NYP Weill Cornell frequently require CNOR for travel OR nurses. Upstate NY facilities (Albany, Buffalo, Rochester) may accept candidates without CNOR but strongly prefer it for experienced travelers. CRNFA (Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant) is a separate credential that commands premium pay $4,200–$5,500/wk for first assistant OR roles.
MSK is the world's largest dedicated cancer center and its operating room program is unlike any other in the US. Every surgical case is oncological — the team, instrumentation, and case complexity are entirely oriented around cancer surgery. Travel OR nurses at MSK develop specialized oncological OR experience that is highly transferable to cancer centers nationally. MSK also runs a Periop 101 partnership. Pay is top-of-market for NYC at $3,800–$4,800/wk.
New York State has a progressive income tax ranging from 4% to 10.9% depending on taxable income. For travel nurses, only the taxable portion of their pay package (not tax-free stipends) is subject to NY state tax. Additionally, if you work in New York City (all five boroughs), NYC residents pay an additional NYC city income tax of 3.078–3.876%. Non-NYC-residents working in NYC are NOT subject to the NYC city tax — only residents. Travel nurses who maintain a permanent tax home outside NYC are not NYC residents and therefore avoid the NYC city tax surcharge.
CRNFA stands for Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant. A CRNFA is an RN who has completed additional training and certification to serve as first assistant during surgical procedures — handling tissue, providing hemostasis, closing incisions, and assisting the surgeon directly. NY ORs — particularly academic medical centers and Level I trauma facilities — actively hire CRNFAs for travel contracts. CRNFA travel pay in NY ranges $4,200–$5,500/week, significantly above standard OR RN rates. The CRNFA credential requires prior CNOR certification plus first assistant training.
NY license takes 4–6 weeks — start now. CatSol handles your license application and finds you the right NYC OR contract at MSK, NYU, Cornell, or upstate NY.