Becoming a traveling technologist is fairly easy, but it does take some significant planning. Here are just a few things to consider before taking an assignment for the very first time:
- Can you risk being unemployed for several weeks/months between assignments?
- Your health insurance might change with each assignment, and there might be waiting periods.
- Do you have pets?
- Are you (really) a team player?
- Can you handle adversity?
There is an old saying about “the grass being greener” that many of us have heard. Well, moving from a stable, full time job, to a contractor role has its advantages and disadvantages. As a veteran recruiter with almost 27 years of experience in the field, I’ve heard every story under the sun. However, some things rarely change and I will discuss them briefly in this article.
If you wish to become a travel technologist, first contact several travel companies that specialize in working with individuals in your profession and gain some clear insight. Don’t cut yourself short by only calling one company or taking advice from co-workers. Call at least three travel companies and compare notes. Depending on your modality, you might need to sign up with two or three companies to stay busy. When your contract is up with one company, they may not extend you or have another assignment readily available for you. Therefore, you might need to go with another company to avoid significant gaps in income.
Having health insurance is a must for most travelers, and some companies might have a waiting period to become eligible for health coverage. Keep this in mind when interviewing companies who will ultimately be your employer during the term of your contract. By the time you become eligible for benefits, your contract might be coming to an end shortly thereafter.
Those who will be travelling with pets might have limited housing options. Many small towns where travel techs are needed might have only a few places to choose from. The nicer housing options in the area can sometimes reject tenants who have pets. This issue might require you to board your pet or force you to live in a less desirable place during your assignment.
Some assignments are good, and some are not. Keep in mind that you are usually there for a specific reason, and sometimes this reason is due to poor management or high turnover. Being a team player and willing to do whatever it takes to help the facility is essential. Not all assignments are in resort areas with plenty of things to see and do while you are there. Make sure you are willing to fulfill your contract even if the situation is less than optimal. Leaving during your assignment is a surefire way to become blacklisted for future contracts.
New travelers should be aware that the amount of paperwork you have to do for each assignment can be redundant, especially if you are working through several contracting agencies. Keep in mind that each assignment is like starting a new job. Therefore, you’ll need to provide all of your immunization records, certifications, background check, drug test, etc. with each (different) assignment. Keeping these documents accessible, organized and in electronic format is essential for securing a contract.
Wages for travelers can be a little tricky, so be sure to break out your calculator. In many cases, contract companies may pay a lower base wage and provide travelers with a higher per diem rate that can provide tax advantages. Be sure to investigate the Meals & Incidental Expenses (M&IE) allowances through the General Service Administration website (www.gsa.org) to determine your allowances for the area you will be working in. Whereas your base hourly wage is taxable, some M&IE are not which might allow more take home pay. Also, be sure to consult with your accountant about working in different states and how state income taxes might affect your personal tax liabilities.
The most common thing people who are considering travel want to know is, “how much money does a traveler make”. Unfortunately, I cannot answer this question directly. Wages vary by specialty, years of experience in the field, the agency you work for, and the negotiated rate they have with the facility. Keep in mind that the agency you work for has a negotiated, or contracted rate (Bill Rate) with the facility you’ll be working at. If that rate is fixed at $100.00 per hour for example, that’s all they can bill the facility for your services. If they are paying you $40.00 per hour, plus per diem/M&IE, temp housing, travel expenses, health insurance, liability insurance, payroll taxes, etc., then all of that might add up to $75.00 per hour actually being paid out on your behalf. So, they are grossing $25.00 per hour to employ you in this example. It’s never appropriate to ask the travel company what their client bill rate is, and if you do, they will likely not tell you and just move on to the next person. The point is, this is a general idea of how it all works. If you feel you are not getting a good offer based upon what your friendly neighborhood travel buddy is telling you, their may be several factors for this. Knowing this information, checking the General Service Administration and asking your recruiter specific questions should help you with negotiations.
Finally, be sure to ask your recruiter about other variable expenses. For example, some companies will not offer to pay travel expenses to and from the city where you’ll be working. However, you should try to negotiate this upfront if possible. Other companies might cap your allowance to and from the city should you decide to drive there. This is usually reasonable. Your travel company should also pay for your background check and drug screen as part of the process. However, state licenses and other required certifications are sometimes your responsibility. In other words, if a state license is required to work in Arizona, then it might be your responsibility to pay for this license. For most medical imaging professionals, for example, a separate state license might be required in addition to the ARRT certification. You will most likely need to obtain this license in advance to qualify for an assignment. Some states can issue licenses fairly quickly, but others can take several weeks, or even months.
From my perspective, the overall job market for travelers seems very strong for most imaging and laboratory modalities. However, changes are likely on the horizon due to economic conditions, so you should do your own due diligence before deciding to make a significant career move. Obviously, the more diverse your skillset, the better chance you have of staying busy. While seeing new places, experiencing new work environments, and making better than average wages can be rewarding, traveling takes planning and just doesn’t work for everyone. If you do not mind the ups and downs and starting over in a new environment every few months, then it can be a rewarding adventure.
For more information on full-time wages and other incentives being offered to technologists, please see our 2022 Radiology Jobs & Compensation Review on our resources page.
