A 24-year-old earns $9,000 a month as a travel nurse in a maximum-security prison: "I'm not afraid, but I'm aware."

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During his nursing shifts, Kevin Levu encounters unexpected hazards, such as the possibility of being assaulted with a weapon.

Levu, a travel nurse, works at Pelican Bay State Prison, which houses some of the most violent inmates in California. He tells CNBC Make It that he deals with some of the most dangerous people who have violated other people's rights or taken lives.

Levu says, 'It is what it is,' and he simply does his job and strives to provide the best care for people.

Levu, an army veteran who studied nursing while on active duty, believes his military training equipped him for the job.

"He says, "I'm not afraid, but I treat them like prisoners of war. I don't turn my back to them, I don't leave pens out, and I always have my equipment, like prison keys, on me.""

Levu, the clinic nurse at the 2,200-inmate penitentiary, is responsible for managing the medical clinic, administering medications, monitoring inmates on suicide watch, and responding to medical emergencies caused by prison violence.

Nurses who travel often work temporary assignments in areas with nursing shortages across the U.S., typically in hospitals or long-term care facilities.

In addition to the high demand for travel nurses in correctional facilities, which often pay better due to the added risk and stress involved, the extra pay attracted Levu to a six-month contract at Pelican Bay in Crescent City, Northern California.

Levu, who is projected to earn about $112,000 in 2024, says he doesn't want to set a limit on what could make him even more money. Levu works a full-time schedule with occasional overtime, covering the morning shift from 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., five days a week.

He says that being a travel nurse offers him a lot of flexibility in his life. He enjoys the freedom to choose where and when he works, negotiate his pay, and feel valued for his efforts.

'An experience where the world suddenly feels so big'

Levu, a first-generation American, has always dreamed of becoming a soldier, inspired by his "extremely pro-American" Vietnamese family who fled their country after the communist government took power.

In 2017, when Levu graduated from high school at 17, he requested his parents to sign a consent form to enlist in the army. It took him "a few weeks" to convince his mother.

He wasn't interested in being a basic infantry enlistee; instead, Levu sought a role that would be beneficial after leaving the army.

After completing three months of basic training in Oklahoma, Levu moved to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, to pursue a career in nursing.

Early in his training, Levu witnessed his "first CPR incident" when a baby in a neonatal intensive care unit suffered cardiac arrest, which made the responsibility of the job hit him.

"Levu describes the scene as "alarms blaring, a non-responsive baby, and parents screaming in the background." He adds, "It felt like the world suddenly felt so big.""

I didn't have a passion for nursing until I witnessed the loss of life.

Their confidence and dedication to their work definitely motivated me," he says. "They were like, 'I've got you, I'll get you out of this' — that really inspired me.

Becoming a travel nurse and doubling his pay

Levu's father opened a successful convenience store named after him, which allowed the family to invest in other properties like homes and an almond farm.

""Seeing my parents' success and the long hours they worked inspired me to believe that I could achieve more than them," says Levu, who began working in a shop at the age of 9."

In 2020, Levu left active duty and became a reservist living in Fresno, California, with his parents. Since then, he has been taking pre-requisite courses at Fresno City College to become a registered nurse, which offers a wider scope of practice and greater autonomy over patients compared with LVNs. Additionally, he has been working mostly part-time for about $20 per hour as a nurse at a long-term care facility.

Travel nursing was always a consideration for him, but it became more appealing when he returned home after the Covid-19 lockdowns and saw job listings offering $50 to $60 an hour. He was excited about the possibility of making his life revolve around this type of work.

In 2023, Levu paused his studies and took on a short-term job as a travel nurse at a county jail in Placerville, California.

Although he initially earned an hourly wage of approximately $20, his total compensation was higher due to a tax-free weekly reimbursement of around $1,000 for housing expenses. Reimbursements or stipends are typical incentives for travel nurses, designed to cover the expenses of living away from home.

In May 2024, Levu signed a six-month contract with Pelican Bay, which raised his regular hourly rate to $42. Additionally, he receives a weekly tax-free reimbursement of $1,080. The sum of his hourly pay and the reimbursement more than doubled his 2023 income of $56,600.

Levu says that he has never made over six figures in any of his previous jobs, and the experience is different. He feels a sense of "relief" with the increased income, as it provides him with more "breathing space" in his monthly budget.

Working at Pelican Bay prison: It can feel 'a little unreal'

At Pelican Bay, Levu, a clinic nurse, starts his day by passing through security checkpoints and collecting prison keys and a stab-resistant vest before heading to the armory.

When violence occurs, Levu must be prepared, even though most of his work is low-key.

If a call comes through the radio or there's a cell block alarm, "everybody has to respond," Levu says. With gloves and a fanny pack full of medical equipment, Levu will grab a gurney if he's in the clinic and run along with correctional officers to assist any injured inmates.

Significant influence is exerted by gangs within the prison, as most violent incidents are gang-related and they enforce their own rules and codes of conduct.

Prisons are a "pre-established culture," according to Levu. Unlike hospitals, where patients come to you, it's like going to people's homes.

The transition from the confines of prison to the freedom of the outside world can be disorienting.

""I'm like, 'Dude, this feels a little unreal,' as people greet me at the grocery store and I have blood on my hands," Levu says."

While living in a prison, Levu gains a new appreciation for his own freedom, as the beach, which is just three minutes away from his house, may seem as distant as 1,000 miles for some inmates who are unlikely to ever leave.

How he spends his money

Here's how Levu spent his money in June 2024.

• A Roth IRA and a health savings account are part of the $9,063 set aside for savings.
• Housing and utilities: $1,450 for a one-bedroom rental
• Food: $836 for groceries and the occasional takeout order
• Discretionary: $534 for household goods and clothes
• The cost of health, dental, concealed weapon, auto, and life insurance is $379.
• Gas: $174
• Phone: $162
• His gym, Netflix, Spotify, and Patreon subscriptions cost $79 per month.

Levu, a self-described "frugal person," resides in a pre-furnished one-bedroom home in Brookings, Oregon, for $1,450 per month, which includes utilities. In his free time, he enjoys staying at home, playing video games, or hanging out on the beach. His goal is to keep costs low.

By residing with his parents until summer 2023, he was able to settle his 2018 Toyota Tacoma and a $6,000 KLX 230 motorcycle, leaving him with only gas as his transportation expense.

One relatively large expense is food: "I'll indulge in something like ribeye steaks. It's like my small reward."

As a travel nurse since 2023, Levu has been saving money into investment and savings accounts, although he doesn't have any specific financial goals in mind.

"The more money he saves, the better his investments will be." Although he typically makes small contributions every few weeks, he was able to save over $9,000 in June.

He has a combination of cash savings and investments, including a brokerage account and certificate of deposit. In total, he has approximately $16,000 in savings and $35,000 in investments as of June.

Looking ahead

Levu intends to return to school and become a registered nurse, possibly starting in 2025. His parents have been supportive of his decision to go back to school.

He states that he does not plan on making corrections on a long-term basis. Instead, he has long-term aspirations to improve his level of care and knowledge so that he can treat patients in the I.C.U., E.R., and anywhere in the world.

He is likely to renew his contract at Pelican Bay until the end of the year as he views travel nursing as a means to accumulate capital, gain work experience, and explore something out of the ordinary.

Levu believes that his military experience has taught him valuable skills that make him uniquely suited to be a travel nurse. He says, "It's definitely taught me a lot of perseverance. It taught me how to be flexible, I can up and go and be ready for any moment."

He may consider rejoining the army as a commissioned nurse, which would entail a higher rank and new responsibilities, such as managing medical staff.

"I really enjoy assisting soldiers," says Levu, "As a refugee family from Vietnam, it adds another layer of significance. It's like repaying what the country has given us." To alleviate financial stress, enroll in CNBC's online course, "Achieve Financial Wellness: Be Happier, Wealthier & More Financially Secure." We'll teach you the psychology of money, stress management techniques, and practical ways to increase savings, pay off debt, and plan for the future. Use code EARLYBIRD for a 30% discount through September 2, 2024.

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