Local Contract & Travel Positions Guide
How Local Contract and Travel Positions Give You Schedule Control, Higher Pay, and Career Flexibility: Choose Your Own Adventure
The Trap of Permanent Employment
When you took a permanent job at your hospital or clinic, it felt secure. Steady paycheck, benefits, a recognizable employment relationship. But somewhere along the way, that security became a cage.
Your employer knows you won’t leave easily. You have seniority, benefits vesting, institutional knowledge they depend on. So when they need someone to cover extra shifts, you get asked first. When someone calls in sick, you’re the backup plan. When the facility is short-staffed, they rely on your commitment.
The permanence that was supposed to be your safety net becomes your trap. You can’t say no without consequences. You can’t adjust your schedule without guilt. You’re locked in.
The Flexible Alternative: Two Paths to Freedom
There’s a completely different way to work in healthcare, one that puts YOU in control. It’s called flexible staffing, and it comes in two flavors: local contract work and travel positions. Both flip the power dynamic. You control the terms: which shifts you take, how many hours you work, when you’re available. Your employer pays more for that flexibility, typically 20-30% higher hourly rates than permanent positions.
This isn’t new. Locum work has been standard in medicine for decades. But allied health professionals are just starting to embrace it, and it’s transforming how they work.
What Flexible Staffing Actually Looks Like: Two Models
Model 1: Local Contract & Locum Work (Stay in Your City)
You work through a staffing agency or directly for facilities in your area on short-term contracts. Typical: 2-13 week assignments, or you pick up individual shifts week-to-week. You choose which assignments interest you—same city, no relocation required. Between assignments, you’re completely off—no work, no pressure. Pay: 20-35% higher than comparable permanent roles.
Best for:
- Professionals who want schedule control but prefer staying put
- People with family/community ties they don’t want to leave
- Those seeking higher pay without major lifestyle changes
- Professionals building experience in their home market
Model 2: Travel Positions (Relocation + Adventure)
You relocate to different cities or regions across Canada for fixed-term assignments (typically 8-26 weeks). You work in different healthcare facilities, build diverse experience, and earn premium compensation. Housing is often covered or subsidized. You get geographic flexibility—work in Alberta for 12 weeks, then move to BC, then back to Ontario. Pay: 25-40% higher than permanent roles, plus relocation/housing allowances.
Best for:
- Professionals seeking adventure and new experiences
- Early-career professionals building broad clinical experience
- People unattached to one location or wanting to explore Canada
- Those maximizing income and professional development simultaneously
- Professionals building resume diversity for specialization later
Hybrid Model (Most Flexible):
30% permanent part-time role (steady income, benefits, relationships) + 40% local contract work (flexibility, higher pay, stay home) + 30% travel assignments (when you want adventure).
The Real Benefits of Flexible Work
- Schedule Control:
Local: You work when you want. Need 6 weeks off? Done. Want to reduce to 20 hours? Your choice. Travel: You choose assignment duration and timing. Work 12 weeks, then take 2 weeks off, then pick another assignment.
- Higher Hourly Rate:
A physiotherapist earning $35/hour permanent might earn $45-50/hour on local contract or $50-55/hour on travel assignments. Over a year, this compounds significantly. Travel positions add housing/relocation allowances ($1,000-3,000+ per assignment).
- Reduced Burnout:
Local: You’re not trapped in understaffed facilities. If an assignment feels toxic, you finish your contract and move on. Travel: Built-in job rotation prevents stagnation. You leave before institutional problems wear you down.
- Career Variety:
Local: You work in different facilities in your area, using different techniques. Travel: You work across multiple provinces, healthcare systems, patient populations. This breadth prevents monotony and builds professional resilience.
- Professional Development:
With time off between assignments, you can pursue certifications or specializations. Travel professionals build diverse experience that accelerates career growth and specialization paths.
The Drawbacks (and How to Manage Them)
- Income Variability (especially travel):
Contract work isn’t always steady. Some months you’re booked solid; others are slower. Solution: build a financial cushion (6 months expenses) and maintain a stable part-time permanent role for baseline income.
- Benefits & Job Security:
You don’t get employer health insurance or pension. Solution: buy individual insurance and contribute to an RRSP yourself. The higher hourly rate accounts for this.
- Relationship Building (especially travel):
You’re constantly meeting new teams. Some miss the stable workplace community. Solution (local): maintain a part-time permanent role. Solution (travel): connect with other traveling professionals; many travel assignments have veteran travelers who mentor new ones.
- Relocation Stress (travel only):
Moving every 8-26 weeks requires flexibility and adaptability. Solution: Start with shorter assignments (8-12 weeks) to test the lifestyle before committing to longer terms.
Choosing Your Model: Local vs. Travel
How to decide between local contract and travel positions?
Ask yourself:
- Do I want to stay in my city? → Local contract is perfect.
- Am I early-career wanting diverse experience? → Travel builds your resume fast.
- Do I have family/community ties I want to maintain? → Local contract respects that.
- Am I seeking maximum income and adventure? → Travel is your answer.
- Want the best of both? → Do both over time (travel early-career for experience, then settle into local contract for stability).
Real Stories: Local vs. Travel
Sarah (PT, 7 years experience) chose LOCAL contract work: “I wanted schedule control but didn’t want to leave my family in Vancouver. Local contract work pays me $50/hour vs $35 permanent, and I choose my own schedule. Some weeks I work 20 hours, some weeks 40. I’m making 40% more money with better work-life balance and I never left my city.”
Marcus (Respiratory Therapist, 3 years experience) chose TRAVEL assignments: “I wanted to experience different provinces and build diverse clinical skills before specializing. I did a 12-week assignment in Alberta, then 8 weeks in BC, then back to Ontario. Housing was covered, my hourly rate was $55 (vs $38 permanent), and I learned respiratory protocols from different healthcare systems. Now at 4 years experience, I’m specialized in ECMO management and commanding premium positions anywhere I want.”
Jennifer (OT, 5 years experience) chose HYBRID: “I work 2 days/week permanent (for benefits and relationships), pick up local contract shifts when I want income boosts, and I do one travel assignment per year (3 months in a different province). This gives me stability, flexibility, and adventure. I earn about $75,000/year when I want, plus all the variety.”
FAQ’s
Is contract/travel work stable enough for me?
Yes, if you prepare. Build a 6-month financial cushion and maintain steady part-time permanent work. Many professionals combine permanent + flexible work for stability + flexibility.
Will travel work hurt my specialization plans?
No. Diverse travel experience often accelerates specialization because you’ve seen how different facilities approach your specialty. Travel early-career, then focus your travel assignments on your specialization.
Can I move between local and travel work?
Absolutely. Many professionals do both, travel assignments for 2 years, then settle into local contract work in a preferred city. Or alternate: one year travel, then back to local. It’s your choice.
How much do travel assignments pay vs local contract?
Travel typically pays 10-15% more than local contract ($50-55/hour vs $45-50/hour), PLUS housing/relocation allowances ($1,000-3,000+ per assignment). Over a year, travel can earn $15,000-25,000 more.
Conclusion: Flexibility Is Power
Whether you choose local contract work or travel assignments, flexible staffing puts you in control. You’re no longer trapped by one employer’s demands. You earn more, work when you want, and build a career on YOUR terms.
Local contract gives you schedule freedom without relocation. Travel gives you adventure, maximum income, and broad experience. Many professionals do both at different career stages.
The key: flexible staffing transforms you from employee to independent professional. And that changes everything.
Sources
Canadian Association of Temporary & Staffing Services. (2025). Healthcare Staffing Trends Report. Retrieved from catsus.ca
Statistics Canada. (2025). Contract Work and Gig Economy in Healthcare. Retrieved from statcan.gc.ca
Health Quality Ontario. (2025). Flexible Workforce Models and Retention Study. Retrieved from hqontario.ca
Canadian Healthcare Management Association. (2025). Locum and Contract Staffing in Healthcare. Retrieved from chma.ca
Magnus HRS connects allied health professionals with both local contract and travel positions across Canada. Work when you want, where you want. Earn premium rates and build the career YOU choose. Explore local flexibility or travel adventure with opportunities designed for you. Contact us.
