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Browse thousands of travel nurse positions and compare pay packages from top staffing agencies.
Understanding Your Pay Package
Travel nurse compensation splits into two buckets: taxable wages and tax-free stipends. Agencies legally pay a lower taxable hourly rate supplemented by tax-free stipends — which is why two offers with the same headline rate can have very different take-home pay.
Tax-Free Stipend Eligibility
The IRS allows tax-free housing and meal stipends when you're working away from your tax home. To qualify you generally must maintain a permanent residence you return to, work far enough from home to require an overnight stay, and not work in your tax home state more than ~50% of the time.
⚠️ If you don't maintain a qualifying tax home, all stipends become taxable. Work with a travel nurse-savvy CPA.
Typical Stipend Ranges (2025–2026)
| Stipend | Typical Range | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | $1,000 – $2,000 | Weekly |
| Meals & Incidentals | $150 – $500 | Weekly |
| Travel Reimbursement | $300 – $750 | Per contract |
Why Effective Hourly Rate Matters
A $28/hr contract with $1,750/week in stipends can easily out-earn a $38/hr contract with minimal stipends — especially in a no-income-tax state. Always compare total take-home ÷ hours worked, not just the headline rate.
Top Staffing Agencies
For the same facility, rates can vary $5–$15/hour between agencies. Always get offers from 2–3 agencies before signing. Major agencies include Vivian Health (marketplace), AMN Healthcare, Travel Nurse Across America (TNAA), and Aya Healthcare.
What Is Travel Nurse Pay?
Travel nurse pay is a compensation package — not just an hourly rate. It combines a taxable hourly or weekly wage with non-taxable housing and meal stipends, travel reimbursement, and sometimes a completion bonus. The blended package is designed to compensate nurses for working away from home on temporary assignments, typically 8–26 weeks at a healthcare facility experiencing a staffing shortage.
Total travel nurse compensation ranges from $1,800–$4,500+ per week depending on specialty, assignment state, experience, and agency. High-demand specialties like ICU, ER, OR, and Labor & Delivery in high-cost states (California, New York, Massachusetts) consistently command the highest packages.
How Tax-Free Stipends Are Calculated
Tax-free stipends are based on IRS per-diem rates for the assignment location. The GSA (General Services Administration) publishes standard per-diem rates for lodging and meals for every county in the US. Travel nursing agencies use these rates — or rates up to the GSA maximum — to set housing and meal stipends.
To qualify as tax-free, two IRS requirements must be met: (1) you must maintain a legitimate tax home — a primary residence where you pay ongoing expenses like rent or mortgage, and (2) your assignment must be temporary, generally defined as less than 12 months at one facility. If either condition fails, all stipends become taxable income retroactively.
Travel Nurse Pay by Specialty (2025–2026 Estimates)
| Specialty | Typical Weekly Package | Taxable Rate Range |
|---|---|---|
| ICU / Critical Care (CVICU, MICU, SICU) | $2,800–$4,500 | $22–$40/hr |
| Emergency Department (ER/ED) | $2,600–$4,200 | $22–$38/hr |
| Operating Room (OR/Scrub) | $2,800–$4,500 | $24–$42/hr |
| Labor & Delivery (L&D) | $2,600–$4,000 | $22–$36/hr |
| Medical-Surgical (Med-Surg) | $1,800–$2,800 | $18–$28/hr |
| Telemetry / Step-Down | $2,000–$3,200 | $20–$32/hr |
| NICU / PICU (Peds) | $2,400–$3,800 | $22–$36/hr |
Tax Home Requirements for Travel Nurses
Maintaining a valid tax home is the single most important compliance step for travel nurses. Without it, all stipends become taxable — eliminating the financial advantage of travel nursing entirely.
- Pay real expenses at your tax home: Rent, mortgage, utilities, or other ongoing housing costs must be documented. A family member's address where you store belongings is not sufficient.
- Return regularly between assignments: Traveling home between contracts (or during gaps) strengthens your tax home claim.
- Maintain your tax home state: Keep your driver's license, voter registration, and bank accounts in your tax home state.
- Don't extend past 12 months at one facility: IRS temporary assignment status expires. If you extend beyond 12 months, that location may become your new tax home.
- Work with a travel-nurse-specific CPA: Tax home rules are nuanced. An audit can result in years of back taxes on stipends if your documentation is weak.
How to Compare Travel Nurse Contracts
Never compare contracts on headline hourly rate alone — the full package determines your actual take-home. The right comparison metric is effective hourly rate: total take-home pay ÷ hours worked. This normalizes packages with different taxable/stipend splits, assignment lengths, and state tax rates.
| What to Compare | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Total weekly package (taxable + stipends) | The gross starting point |
| Taxable base rate | Must be above "reasonable compensation" (IRS threshold ~$20+/hr) |
| Housing stipend vs agency-provided housing | Agency housing often worth less than the stipend equivalent |
| Assignment state income tax rate | CA (13.3%) vs TX (0%) can swing take-home by $300+/week |
| Completion bonus | Add to total and divide by contract hours for true rate |
| Health insurance cost | First-day vs waiting period; premium differences are real costs |
How the Calculator Works
Enter your hourly or weekly taxable rate, contract length, and stipend amounts from your offer letter. Select your assignment state for a state income tax estimate and your federal bracket. The calculator outputs total contract value, estimated take-home pay, and effective hourly rate — with tax-free stipends excluded from the taxable income calculation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do travel nurses make per year?
Travel nurses typically earn $80,000–$150,000 per year depending on specialty, location, and agency. High-demand specialties like ICU, ER, and OR in high-cost states like California can push total compensation to $180,000 or more annually when tax-free stipends are factored into the calculation.
What are tax-free stipends for travel nurses?
Tax-free stipends are housing and meal allowances that are not subject to federal or state income tax, provided you maintain a legitimate tax home and meet IRS requirements for temporary work assignments. They are not wages and don't affect your Social Security or Medicare contributions — which is why they're a major component of travel nurse compensation packages.
Do travel nurses pay taxes on stipends?
No — stipends are tax-free as long as you maintain a legitimate tax home (a primary residence you return to between assignments) and your assignment is temporary, typically under 12 months at one facility. If the IRS determines you don't have a qualifying tax home, all stipends become fully taxable income retroactively.
What is a tax home for travel nurses?
Your tax home is your primary place of business or residence — usually where you live and work when not on assignment. To qualify for tax-free stipends, you must maintain real, duplicate living expenses at your tax home (rent, mortgage, utilities) and not accept permanent employment at your assignment location. Most tax professionals recommend documenting these expenses carefully.
How do I compare travel nurse contracts effectively?
Convert all pay components into a single effective hourly rate: (weekly taxable pay + weekly stipends) × contract weeks ÷ total hours worked. Always compare this number — not just the headline hourly rate. A $28/hr contract with $2,000/week in stipends often out-earns a $40/hr contract with minimal stipends, especially in a no-income-tax state.
Which states pay travel nurses the most?
California consistently offers the highest travel nurse pay due to mandatory nurse-to-patient ratio laws creating persistent demand. Other high-paying states include New York, Massachusetts, Washington, and Alaska. Keep in mind that California's 9.3%–13.3% state income tax can offset some of the higher pay — use this calculator to compare true take-home across states.
What is the 50-mile rule for travel nurses?
The 50-mile rule is an informal agency guideline stating that your assignment should be at least 50 miles from your tax home to qualify as temporary work. This is not an IRS rule — the IRS focuses on whether you duplicate living expenses, not distance. However, most agencies use 50 miles as a minimum threshold to reduce compliance risk for both the nurse and agency.
Can travel nurses negotiate their pay packages?
Yes. Travel nurse pay is negotiable — especially the taxable base rate, shift differentials, and completion bonuses. Stipend amounts are capped by IRS per-diem rates and are less flexible. Getting competing offers from 2–3 agencies before accepting gives you leverage. Even a $2/hour difference in taxable rate adds up to $1,400+ over a 13-week contract.
What benefits do travel nurses typically receive?
Most travel nurse packages include health, dental, and vision insurance, housing stipend or agency-provided housing, travel reimbursement, and sometimes a completion bonus. Benefits quality varies significantly between agencies — some offer first-day coverage while others require a waiting period. Always evaluate the full package, not just the pay rates.
How long is a typical travel nurse contract?
The standard travel nurse contract is 13 weeks, though contracts range from 8 to 26 weeks. Shorter contracts often pay a higher weekly rate but leave more gaps. Many nurses extend successful contracts — but extending beyond 12 months at the same facility risks jeopardizing tax-free stipend eligibility, so plan your extension strategy with a tax professional.