For example, you could take any of the following strategies to earn an even higher travel nursing salary: Get additional training for an in-demand specialty. If a facility asks you to extend your contract, you may ask for an extension bonus and an hourly pay raise. Want a bonus for signing on with a new agency or be willing to work that shift that no one else will take? Especially in the beginning of your career, it can be helpful to be open to new situations and experiences. In some cases, your stipends as a travel nurse will be just that — a stipend, which means that you receive it no matter what.