The Short Answer
Comprehensive financial analysis of whether travel nursing is worth it in 2026. Compare real salary data, hidden costs, and lifestyle trade-offs to decide if travel nursing makes financial sense for you.
Read the full breakdown below for detailed analysis, examples, and actionable steps.
“Is travel nursing worth it?”
I get asked this question constantly. And I always give the same answer: “It depends on your numbers.”
That’s not a cop-out—it’s the truth. Travel nursing can be incredibly lucrative, or it can be a financial wash (or even a loss) depending on your situation. The difference lies in the details most people don’t think about until they’re already committed.
After completing 15 travel assignments and helping hundreds of nurses evaluate the decision, I’ve developed a framework for determining if travel nursing makes financial sense. Let me share it with you.
The Short Answer
Travel nursing is financially worth it for most nurses who:
- Have a true tax home (or are willing to give up the stipend portion)
- Can find affordable housing
- Don’t have major location-specific obligations
- Are willing to adapt to new environments
Travel nursing is NOT financially worth it if:
- You’d need to maintain expensive housing at home AND pay assignment housing
- You have children in school or other location-dependent commitments
- You’re in a low-demand specialty with few travel openings
- The stress and uncertainty would impact your mental health
Now let me show you the actual numbers.
Real Financial Comparison: Travel Nurse vs. Staff Nurse
Let’s do an honest comparison using realistic 2026 numbers.
Staff Nurse: Dallas, TX
| Component | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| Base salary | $75,000 |
| Sign-on bonus (amortized) | $2,000 |
| Shift differentials | $4,000 |
| Overtime (occasional) | $3,000 |
| Gross Income | $84,000 |
| Federal tax (22%) | -$12,760 |
| State tax | $0 (Texas) |
| FICA (7.65%) | -$6,426 |
| Health insurance | -$3,600 |
| Retirement (6%) | -$5,040 |
| Net Take-Home | $56,174 |
Travel Nurse: Various Assignments
| Component | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| Taxable wages ($35/hr × 36hr × 48 wks) | $60,480 |
| Housing stipend ($1,400/wk × 48 wks) | $67,200 |
| M&IE stipend ($450/wk × 48 wks) | $21,600 |
| Travel reimbursement | $3,000 |
| Gross Income | $152,280 |
| Federal tax on taxable portion | -$8,250 |
| FICA (7.65% on taxable) | -$4,627 |
| Health insurance (agency) | -$4,800 |
| Net Take-Home (before expenses) | $134,603 |
Difference: $78,429 more as a travel nurse
But wait—those numbers are misleading. We need to factor in the real costs.
The Hidden Costs Nobody Talks About
1. Duplicate Housing Expenses
To receive tax-free stipends, you need to maintain a tax home. That means paying for housing in two places.
| Expense | Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| Tax home rent/mortgage | $12,000-18,000 |
| Tax home utilities | $1,200-2,400 |
| Tax home maintenance | $500-1,000 |
| Total Tax Home Cost | $13,700-21,400 |
If you’re paying $1,200/month for a tax home apartment while on assignments, that’s $14,400/year you wouldn’t pay as a staff nurse.
2. Assignment Housing Costs
Even with a housing stipend, you’re spending money on housing:
| Expense | Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| Assignment housing (avg $1,200/mo × 11 mo) | $13,200 |
| Move-in costs (deposits, fees) | $1,500 |
| Furnishings/supplies | $800 |
| Total Assignment Housing | $15,500 |
But you receive $67,200 in housing stipend, so: Net housing profit: $51,700
3. Travel and Relocation Costs
Every 13 weeks, you’re moving to a new city:
| Expense | Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| Gas/mileage (4 moves × 800 miles avg) | $2,150 |
| Hotels during moves | $600 |
| Rental car (when needed) | $800 |
| Shipping/storage | $500 |
| Total Travel Costs | $4,050 |
You receive about $3,000 in travel reimbursement, so: Net travel cost: $1,050
4. Licensing and Certifications
Travel nurses face additional credentialing costs:
| Expense | Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| Additional state licenses | $300-1,500 |
| Compact license renewal | $150 |
| Certifications (ACLS, PALS, etc.) | $200-400 |
| Background checks/drug screens | $100-200 |
| Total Licensing Costs | $750-2,250 |
5. Benefits Gap
Staff nurses often have better benefits:
| Benefit | Staff Value | Travel Value | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 401(k) match | $3,000-5,000 | $0-1,500 | -$2,500 |
| PTO (unused) | $2,000-4,000 | $0 | -$3,000 |
| Tuition reimbursement | $0-5,000 | $0 | -$2,500 |
| Life insurance | $200 | $0 | -$200 |
| Total Benefits Gap | -$8,200 |
6. The Tax Home Requirement Cost
If you don’t maintain a tax home, your stipends become taxable:
| Scenario | Tax Impact |
|---|---|
| With tax home | Stipends tax-free |
| Without tax home | +$88,800 taxable income |
| Additional taxes owed | ~$22,000-26,000 |
This is why maintaining a tax home is critical—losing $14,000/year on rent is better than losing $24,000 in taxes.
The Real Comparison: Adjusted Numbers
Let’s recalculate with all costs included:
Staff Nurse (True Net)
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Net take-home | $56,174 |
| Housing cost | -$14,400 |
| Disposable income | $41,774 |
Travel Nurse (True Net)
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Net take-home | $134,603 |
| Tax home housing | -$14,400 |
| Assignment housing | -$13,200 |
| Net travel costs | -$1,050 |
| Licensing costs | -$1,200 |
| Benefits gap | -$8,200 |
| Disposable income | $96,553 |
True difference: $54,779 more as a travel nurse
That’s still a massive difference—over $54,000 more per year. But it’s not the $78,000 we started with.
When Travel Nursing Doesn’t Make Financial Sense
Scenario 1: No Tax Home (Itinerant Worker)
If you can’t maintain a tax home, your stipends become fully taxable:
| Travel Nurse (No Tax Home) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total compensation | $152,280 |
| Federal tax (all taxable) | -$28,500 |
| FICA | -$11,649 |
| Health insurance | -$4,800 |
| Assignment housing | -$13,200 |
| Travel costs | -$1,050 |
| Licensing | -$1,200 |
| Disposable income | $91,881 |
Still more than staff nursing ($41,774), but the gap shrinks significantly. And if you were a higher-earning staff nurse or lived in a low cost-of-living area, the gap shrinks further.
Scenario 2: Expensive Tax Home + Expensive Assignment
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tax home in San Francisco | -$30,000/year |
| Assignment housing in NYC | -$24,000/year |
| Travel costs (cross-country) | -$6,000/year |
| Net stipend income | +$88,800 |
| Housing position | +$28,800 |
If your tax home is expensive AND your assignments are in expensive areas, the math gets much worse.
Scenario 3: Low-Demand Specialty
If you’re in a specialty with limited travel demand, you might:
- Accept lower pay packages
- Have longer gaps between assignments
- Need to take undesirable locations
A nurse who only works 40 weeks/year instead of 48 loses 17% of their income.
The Break-Even Analysis
At what point does travel nursing become worth it?
Travel nursing is clearly worth it if:
- Your total compensation is 50%+ higher than your staff salary
- You can find assignment housing under 70% of your stipend
- You can maintain a tax home for under $1,500/month
- You’re working at least 46 weeks/year
Travel nursing breaks even (financially) if:
- Compensation is only 20-30% higher
- Housing costs consume 90%+ of stipend
- You have significant gaps between assignments
The Non-Financial Factors
Money isn’t everything. Consider these quality-of-life factors:
Advantages of Travel Nursing
- Flexibility: Take time off between assignments
- Exploration: Live in new cities, experience new cultures
- Career growth: Learn new hospital systems and techniques
- Escape burnout: Leave toxic environments after 13 weeks
- Control: Choose your schedule and locations
Disadvantages of Travel Nursing
- Instability: Never knowing where you’ll be in 3 months
- Relationship strain: Difficult for families, partnerships
- No community: Always the “new person” on the unit
- Limited benefits: 401(k), PTO, insurance gaps
- Stress: New EMRs, policies, personalities every quarter
- Career limitations: Harder to advance in leadership roles
Real Talk: Who Should Travel Nurse?
Travel nursing is a great fit if you’re:
- Single or have a partner who can travel/work remotely
- In a high-demand specialty (ICU, ER, OR, L&D)
- Adaptable and comfortable with change
- Financially disciplined (will save the extra income)
- Wanting to explore different parts of the country
- Escaping a bad work environment
- Paying off debt aggressively
- Building savings for a major goal (house, retirement)
Travel nursing is NOT a great fit if you’re:
- A new nurse (need 1-2 years experience first)
- Raising children in school
- Building a career path in leadership
- Someone who needs routine and stability
- In a relationship where one partner can’t relocate
- Struggling with anxiety or depression
- In a low-demand specialty
How to Maximize Travel Nursing Income
If you decide to travel, here’s how to maximize the financial benefit:
1. Choose High-Paying Specialties
| Specialty | Avg Weekly Package |
|---|---|
| OR | $3,200-4,500 |
| CVOR | $3,400-4,800 |
| ICU | $2,800-4,200 |
| ER | $2,800-4,000 |
| L&D | $2,900-4,200 |
| Cath Lab | $3,100-4,500 |
| Med-Surg | $2,200-3,200 |
2. Work with Multiple Agencies
Don’t be loyal to one agency. Work with 3-5 to:
- Compare pay packages for the same job
- Have more options when searching
- Leverage competition for better offers
Use our Agency Comparison Tool to evaluate agencies.
3. Minimize Housing Costs
The biggest variable in your net income is housing:
| Housing Choice | Monthly Cost | Stipend Profit |
|---|---|---|
| Furnished Finder | $1,000-1,400 | $4,600-5,000 |
| Extended Stay hotel | $1,400-1,800 | $4,200-4,600 |
| Airbnb (monthly) | $1,600-2,200 | $3,800-4,400 |
| Agency housing | $0 (forfeit stipend) | $0 |
Use our Stipend Calculator to see your potential savings.
4. Negotiate Every Contract
Agencies have flexibility. Ask about:
- Higher hourly rates
- Sign-on bonuses
- Travel reimbursement
- Completion bonuses
- Higher stipends
Even $50/week more = $650/contract = $2,600/year extra.
5. Maintain Your Tax Home
The tax home requirement saves you $20,000+/year in taxes. It’s worth:
- Paying rent on a small apartment
- Living with family (pay fair market rent)
- Keeping a room in a shared house
Use our Tax Home Assessment to check your eligibility.
Calculate Your Personal Numbers
The only way to truly know if travel nursing is worth it FOR YOU is to run your specific numbers.
Use our calculators:
- Pay Calculator — See your take-home pay with any package
- Blended Rate Calculator — Compare contracts
- Stipend Calculator — Calculate housing savings
- Assignment Cost Calculator — Factor all expenses
Frequently Asked Questions
Is travel nursing worth it for new nurses?
Most facilities require 1-2 years of experience. Even if you qualify, new nurses may struggle with the rapid onboarding and limited orientation of travel assignments. Get solid experience first, then travel.
Is travel nursing worth it with a family?
It’s challenging but possible. Some nurses travel while their partner stays home with kids. Others bring their family for assignments (harder with school-age children). The financial benefit needs to be significant to justify the disruption.
How much should I save before starting travel nursing?
Have 3 months of expenses saved ($8,000-15,000 minimum). You’ll need funds for deposits, first month’s rent, and a buffer until your first paycheck arrives.
Will travel nursing hurt my resume?
Not typically. Travel nursing demonstrates adaptability, clinical competence, and initiative. However, if you want to move into leadership, consistent tenure at one facility may be valued.
Is travel nursing worth it in 2026 specifically?
Pay rates have normalized from the COVID highs but remain strong, especially in shortage areas. The market is competitive but stable. It’s neither the “gold rush” of 2021 nor a bad time to travel.
The Bottom Line
Is travel nursing worth it financially? For most nurses, yes—significantly.
The typical travel nurse earns $40,000-60,000 more annually than their staff counterparts, even after accounting for:
- Duplicate housing expenses
- Travel costs
- Licensing fees
- Benefits gaps
But the decision isn’t purely financial. Consider:
- Your personal circumstances
- Your specialty’s demand
- Your tolerance for change
- Your long-term career goals
Run your numbers using our Pay Calculator. Compare specific scenarios. Make an informed decision based on YOUR situation—not general advice from strangers on the internet.
The nurses who do best financially are those who:
- Choose high-paying specialties
- Minimize housing costs
- Maintain proper tax homes
- Work consistently (46+ weeks/year)
- Save a significant portion of the premium
If that sounds like you, travel nursing can accelerate your financial goals by 5-10 years. That’s life-changing money.
Related Resources
- Travel Nurse Pay Breakdown
- Staff vs. Travel Nurse Salary Comparison
- What Is a Tax Home?
- First-Time Travel Nurse Checklist
- Best Travel Nurse Agencies 2026
- Travel Nurse Tax Guide 2026
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