Bypass vs a traditional travel nurse agency
Bypass and a traditional travel nurse agency place you on the same kind of hospital contracts, as a W-2 employee with payroll, insurance and compliance handled. The difference is how the work is staffed: Bypass runs with software and a small operations team instead of a recruiter for every traveler, and passes that saving through as pay, so most Bypass contracts pay 10–20% more take-home than the standard agency package on the same job, about 14% on a typical one.
Reviewed October 22, 2026
Side by side
| Compared | Bypass | Traditional agency |
|---|---|---|
| Your employer | Magnet Medical, as a W-2 employee | The agency, as a W-2 employee |
| Where the jobs come from | Hospital contracts, mostly through vendor management systems (VMS) and managed service programs | The same: hospital contracts, mostly through VMS and managed service programs |
| Pay shown before you apply | Yes. Every listing shows weekly take-home and the standard agency package for the same job | Usually after a call with a recruiter |
| Take-home on the same contract | 10–20% more on most contracts, about 14% on a typical one | The standard agency package |
| Who runs your job search | You do: search, apply and upload documents yourself, with a small team handling submission, credentialing and payroll | A recruiter finds jobs, submits you and follows up |
| Credentialing and compliance | Included. Upload documents once; credentials are verified at the primary source | Included |
| Payroll and insurance | Weekly W-2 payroll, workers' comp, and $1M occurrence professional liability | Weekly W-2 payroll, workers' comp and professional liability |
| Best fit | Experienced travelers who know their specialty and the compliance routine | First-time travelers who want a recruiter guiding each step |
On today's open contracts
Median weekly take-home on open Bypass contracts, and how much more that is than the standard agency package on the same contracts. Across all of them: a median of 14% more. Updated hourly; as of October 2026.
| Specialty | Open contracts | Bypass median / week | More than agency / week |
|---|---|---|---|
| ER RN | 820 | $2,288 | +$268 |
| MedSurg RN | 682 | $2,209 | +$254 |
| MedSurg/Tele RN | 467 | $2,389 | +$290 |
| ICU RN | 465 | $2,394 | +$285 |
| L&D RN | 417 | $2,633 | +$310 |
| PCU RN | 375 | $2,389 | +$287 |
| Physical Therapy | 337 | $2,582 | +$303 |
| CT Tech | 329 | $2,696 | +$318 |
| Telemetry RN | 307 | $2,306 | +$270 |
| Operating Room RN | 294 | $2,607 | +$321 |
| Respiratory Therapist | 247 | $2,262 | +$258 |
| Cath Lab Tech | 201 | $3,072 | +$341 |
Why the same contract pays more on Bypass
Through a vendor management system, a hospital usually pays the same hourly rate for a traveler whichever agency places them. Out of that come your wages and stipends, employer taxes, insurance and compliance, which cost every agency about the same, and the agency's overhead, which does not.
A traditional agency pays for a recruiter for each group of travelers, plus account managers and sales. Bypass, run by Magnet Medical, replaces most of that with software: you see the jobs and the pay yourself, apply in a few clicks, and upload your documents once. The lower cost of placing you is passed through as pay.
What you give up
A good recruiter is real value. They hunt for jobs that fit you, push your profile with the hiring manager, and walk you through each step. On Bypass you run your own search and keep your documents current, and the facility moves faster when you answer quickly.
If this is your first travel contract, a traditional agency is a fine place to start. Once you know your specialty, the locations that work for you, and the compliance routine, you are paying for help you no longer need.
How to check the difference yourself
Every Bypass listing shows the weekly take-home and the standard agency package for the same contract side by side. To compare with an offer you already have, use the rate check: pick your specialty and it shows what open Bypass contracts pay this week, no account needed.
Quick answers
Does Bypass pay more than travel nurse agencies?
On the same contract, most Bypass contracts pay 10–20% more take-home than the standard agency package, about 14% on a typical contract. Every listing shows both numbers.
Is Bypass a real staffing agency?
Yes. Bypass is run by Magnet Medical, a licensed W-2 healthcare staffing company operating in 47 states and a member of NATHO, the National Association of Travel Healthcare Organizations. Travelers are W-2 employees with workers' comp and $1M occurrence professional liability coverage.
Do I still get a recruiter on Bypass?
Not a dedicated one. A small team submits you to facilities, handles credentialing and compliance, works with the facility on your behalf, runs weekly payroll, and answers the phone while you are on assignment. You run the search and keep your documents current.
Are the jobs on Bypass the same as at other agencies?
They are the same kind of jobs: hospital travel contracts, most of them posted through vendor management systems that many agencies submit to. The same contract can appear at several agencies; what differs is what each pays you on it.
Who should use a traditional agency instead?
First-time travelers, and anyone who wants a recruiter searching for them and guiding each step. That support is worth paying for when everything is new.