Travel Nurse Pay Breakdown

Travel nurse pay varies by location, specialty, and experience. On average, travel nurses earn $40-60 per hour in taxable wages, plus tax-free stipends for housing ($800-1,500/week) and meals ($300-500/week). The blended hourly rate (including stipends) typically ranges from $50-80 per hour.

Yes, travel nurse stipends for housing, meals, and incidentals are typically tax-free if you maintain a tax home and meet IRS requirements for temporary work assignments. The stipends must be reasonable and not exceed the GSA per diem rates for your assignment location.

A blended rate is your total weekly compensation (taxable wages + tax-free stipends) divided by your weekly hours. For example, if you earn $1,800/week taxable ($50/hr × 36 hrs) plus $1,400/week in stipends, your blended rate is $88.89/hr ($3,200 ÷ 36 hours).

To calculate take-home pay: (1) Multiply hourly rate by weekly hours for taxable income, (2) Add tax-free stipends for gross weekly pay, (3) Calculate taxes on taxable portion only, (4) Subtract taxes from gross pay. Use our calculator above for an instant calculation.

GSA (General Services Administration) rates are the maximum tax-free per diem amounts the IRS allows for travel nurse stipends. These rates vary by location and are updated annually. Our calculator uses current GSA rates to help you estimate your tax-free stipend amounts.

California, New York, Massachusetts, Washington, and Oregon typically offer the highest travel nurse pay rates. However, consider cost of living and state taxes when evaluating total compensation. Use our state-specific calculators to compare pay across different locations.