The Short Answer
Complete travel nurse pay breakdown explaining hourly wages, stipends, bonuses, and tax implications. Learn how to read pay packages and calculate your true take-home pay.
Read the full breakdown below for detailed analysis, examples, and actionable steps.
When I got my first travel nurse pay package, I stared at it for twenty minutes trying to figure out what all the numbers meant. Hourly rate, housing stipend, M&IE, travel reimbursement—it looked like a foreign language.
If you’ve felt the same confusion, you’re not alone. Travel nurse pay is structured completely differently from staff nurse pay, and understanding each component is crucial for comparing contracts and maximizing your income.
Let me break down exactly what goes into a travel nurse pay package in 2026.
What Makes Up a Travel Nurse Pay Package?
Your total compensation isn’t just an hourly rate. It’s a combination of taxable wages and tax-free reimbursements. Here’s what you’ll typically see:
| Component | Taxable? | Typical Range | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly wage | Yes | $25-50/hour | Base compensation for hours worked |
| Housing stipend | No* | $1,500-3,500/month | Reimburse duplicate housing costs |
| Meals & Incidentals (M&IE) | No* | $350-500/week | Cover food and daily expenses |
| Travel reimbursement | No* | $500-1,500/assignment | Pay for travel to/from assignment |
| Sign-on bonus | Yes | $1,000-5,000 | Incentive to accept contract |
| Completion bonus | Yes | $500-2,000 | Reward for finishing assignment |
| Overtime | Yes | 1.5x hourly rate | Extra hours beyond 40/week |
*Only tax-free if you maintain a qualifying tax home
The Hourly Wage: Your Taxable Base
Your hourly wage is the foundation of your pay package. This is the only part that shows up on your W-2 and gets taxed like regular income.
What’s a Good Hourly Rate?
For 2026, here’s what I typically see:
- Med-Surg: $28-38/hour
- Telemetry: $30-42/hour
- ICU/CCU: $35-50/hour
- ER: $35-48/hour
- OR: $38-52/hour
- L&D: $35-48/hour
Important: If an agency offers you an unusually low hourly rate (under $20/hour) with very high stipends, that’s a red flag. The IRS may consider this tax evasion, and you could face audits. Your hourly rate should be reasonable for your specialty and experience.
Why Your Hourly Rate Matters Beyond Taxes
Your taxable hourly rate affects more than just your W-2:
- Overtime pay is calculated from your hourly rate (1.5x for OT)
- Unemployment benefits are based on taxable wages
- Workers’ compensation if you’re injured
- Social Security contributions for retirement
A low hourly rate means lower protections and benefits.
Housing Stipend: Your Biggest Tax-Free Benefit
The housing stipend is usually the largest tax-free portion of your pay. It’s meant to reimburse you for maintaining housing in two places—your tax home and your assignment location.
How Housing Stipends Work
Agencies base stipends on GSA (General Services Administration) rates for your assignment area. These are the same rates the federal government uses for employee travel.
Example GSA Housing Rates (2026):
| Location | Daily Lodging Rate | Monthly Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $237 | $7,110 |
| New York City | $282 | $8,460 |
| Denver, CO | $171 | $5,130 |
| Austin, TX | $161 | $4,830 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $142 | $4,260 |
Most agencies don’t pay the full GSA rate—they typically offer 60-80% of the maximum.
Maximizing Your Housing Stipend
The key to keeping more of your stipend is finding affordable housing. If your stipend is $2,000/week but your rent is only $1,200/month, you pocket the difference tax-free.
Popular housing options:
- Furnished Finder - $800-1,500/month
- Extended Stay hotels - $1,200-2,000/month
- Airbnb (monthly rates) - $1,500-2,500/month
- Travel nurse Facebook groups - varies widely
Use our Stipend Calculator to see how much you could save.
Meals & Incidentals (M&IE): Daily Living Expenses
The M&IE stipend covers food and daily expenses while you’re away from your tax home. This is also based on GSA rates.
2026 M&IE Rates by Tier
| Tier | Daily Rate | Weekly | Cities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | $59 | $413 | Standard locations |
| Tier 2 | $64 | $448 | Mid-cost areas |
| Tier 3 | $69 | $483 | Higher cost areas |
| Tier 4 | $74 | $518 | High cost areas |
| Tier 5 | $79 | $553 | Major metros (NYC, SF, etc.) |
Most travel nurses receive $350-500/week in M&IE, which works out to $50-70/day.
Travel Reimbursement: Getting to Your Assignment
Travel reimbursement covers your costs to get to and from your assignment. This can be structured as:
- Mileage rate: $0.67/mile (2026 IRS rate)
- Lump sum: $500-1,500 per assignment
- Actual costs: Receipts for gas, flights, etc.
Pro tip: If you drive, the mileage reimbursement often exceeds actual gas costs, especially for fuel-efficient vehicles. A 500-mile trip at $0.67/mile = $335 tax-free.
Bonuses: Extra Incentives
Sign-On Bonuses
Agencies offer sign-on bonuses to attract nurses, especially for hard-to-fill positions or less desirable locations.
What to know:
- Typically $1,000-5,000
- Usually paid on first or second paycheck
- Fully taxable (expect 30-40% withheld)
- May need to be repaid if you leave early
Completion Bonuses
Completion bonuses reward you for finishing your contract. They’re becoming more common as cancellation rates rise.
What to know:
- Typically $500-2,000
- Paid after final shift
- Fully taxable
- Not owed if you’re cancelled by facility
Referral Bonuses
Many agencies pay $500-2,000 for referring other nurses who complete assignments.
Real Pay Package Example
Let’s break down an actual ICU travel nurse pay package:
13-Week ICU Assignment in Phoenix, AZ
| Component | Weekly | 13-Week Total | Taxable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly wage (36 hrs x $38) | $1,368 | $17,784 | Yes |
| Housing stipend | $1,200 | $15,600 | No |
| M&IE stipend | $420 | $5,460 | No |
| Travel reimbursement | $115* | $1,500 | No |
| Total gross | $3,103 | $40,344 | — |
*Travel reimbursement shown as weekly average
Tax Calculation
- Taxable income: $17,784
- Federal tax (22% bracket): ~$3,912
- State tax (AZ 2.59%): ~$460
- FICA (7.65%): ~$1,360
- Total taxes: ~$5,732
Take-Home Calculation
- Total gross: $40,344
- Minus taxes: $5,732
- Net take-home: $34,612 for 13 weeks
- That’s $2,662/week in your pocket
Compare this to a staff nurse making $38/hour for 36 hours/week:
- Weekly gross: $1,368
- After 25% effective tax rate: ~$1,026/week
- 13-week total: $13,338
The travel nurse makes $21,274 more in 13 weeks—primarily due to tax-free stipends.
How to Compare Pay Packages
When comparing contracts, don’t just look at the total weekly pay. Calculate:
1. Blended Rate
Your blended rate combines all compensation into a single hourly figure.
Formula: (Total weekly pay) ÷ (Expected hours) = Blended rate
Using our example: $3,103 ÷ 36 = $86.19/hour blended rate
Use our Blended Rate Calculator for quick comparisons.
2. True Take-Home Pay
Factor in your actual housing costs:
- Weekly pay: $3,103
- Actual rent: $300/week ($1,200/month)
- Net after housing: $2,803/week
3. Total Contract Value
Multiply weekly net by contract length, then add bonuses:
- 13 weeks x $2,803: $36,439
- Plus completion bonus: $1,000
- Minus bonus taxes (~30%): $700 net
- Total contract value: $37,139
Red Flags in Pay Packages
Watch out for these warning signs:
Very Low Hourly Rate + Very High Stipends
If an agency offers $18/hour with $2,500/week in stipends, that’s a red flag. The IRS could view this as disguised wages, and you’d owe back taxes on all those “stipends.”
Rule of thumb: Your hourly rate should be at least $25/hour for most specialties.
Stipends Higher Than GSA Rates
If your total stipends exceed GSA maximums for your area, you may have trouble justifying them in an audit. Check GSA rates for your assignment location.
Vague Pay Breakdowns
Legitimate agencies provide detailed breakdowns. If they just give you a “total package” number without specifics, ask for an itemized breakdown.
”Blended Rate Only” Quotes
Some agencies quote a blended rate without showing the breakdown. Always ask for the full pay package details:
- Hourly wage
- Housing stipend
- M&IE stipend
- Travel reimbursement
- Any bonuses
Frequently Asked Questions
How is travel nurse pay calculated?
Travel nurse pay combines a taxable hourly wage with tax-free stipends for housing, meals, and travel. The total depends on specialty, location, facility demand, and your negotiation skills. Use our Pay Calculator to estimate your take-home.
What is a good weekly pay for travel nurses in 2026?
Most travel nurses earn $2,500-4,000/week total package in 2026, with high-demand specialties and locations reaching $4,500+. After taxes and housing costs, expect $2,000-3,000/week take-home.
Why is travel nurse pay higher than staff nurse pay?
Travel nurses fill urgent staffing gaps and bring flexibility. The higher pay compensates for the uncertainty, licensing costs, lack of benefits (sometimes), and maintaining a tax home while working away.
Do travel nurses pay taxes on stipends?
If you maintain a qualifying tax home, stipends are tax-free. Without a tax home, all compensation becomes taxable, which significantly reduces your take-home pay.
Can I negotiate travel nurse pay?
Yes! Agencies have some flexibility, especially for hard-to-fill positions. You can often negotiate higher hourly rates, sign-on bonuses, or better housing stipends. See our negotiation guide.
Calculate Your Pay Package
Ready to see what you’d actually take home? Use these tools:
- Travel Nurse Pay Calculator - Full pay breakdown with taxes
- Blended Rate Calculator - Compare contracts quickly
- Stipend Calculator - Maximize housing savings
- Overtime Calculator - Calculate OT earnings
Related Resources
- Travel Nurse Tax Guide 2026
- Understanding Tax-Free Stipends
- What Is a Tax Home?
- GSA Per Diem Rates 2026
- How to Negotiate Your Contract
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