The Short Answer
Compare travel nurse salaries across all 50 states. See hourly rates, weekly pay, stipends, and take-home pay. Find the highest-paying states for travel nursing in 2026.
Read the full breakdown below for detailed analysis, examples, and actionable steps.
Where you work as a travel nurse dramatically affects your take-home pay. A California assignment might gross $4,500/week while the same specialty in Mississippi pays $2,400/week. But gross pay doesn’t tell the full story — taxes, housing costs, and cost of living determine what you actually keep.
Top 10 Highest-Paying States for Travel Nurses (2026)
Pay ranges below are TravelNurseCalc editorial estimates, not measured wage data — see our methodology. State income tax is shown only as “None” or “Yes,” because a specific per-state rate can’t be stated without a sourced bracket schedule. The tax calculator computes real federal and FICA tax for every state; it can only add a computed state figure for the nine “None” states below; the rest it flags as not yet sourced rather than estimating.
| Rank | State | Avg Blended Rate | Weekly Gross | State Income Tax | Net Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $78-$95 | $3,400-$4,100 | Yes | Highest gross |
| 2 | Oregon | $72-$88 | $3,100-$3,700 | Yes | Strong pay |
| 3 | Washington | $70-$86 | $3,000-$3,600 | None | No state tax |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $68-$84 | $2,900-$3,500 | Yes | Steady demand |
| 5 | New York | $65-$82 | $2,800-$3,500 | Yes | High stipends |
| 6 | Nevada | $65-$78 | $2,800-$3,300 | None | No state tax |
| 7 | Alaska | $65-$78 | $2,800-$3,300 | None | No state tax |
| 8 | Connecticut | $64-$76 | $2,700-$3,200 | Yes | Compact state |
| 9 | New Jersey | $62-$75 | $2,700-$3,200 | Yes | NYC metro access |
| 10 | Texas | $60-$75 | $2,600-$3,200 | None | Best net income |
Travel Nurse Pay by Region
West Coast
“Income Tax” below is sourced only as None/Yes — see the note above for why we don’t publish a specific per-state rate here.
| State | Avg Blended Rate | Weekly Stipend | Income Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $78-$95/hr | $2,600-$3,800 | Yes |
| Oregon | $72-$88/hr | $2,200-$2,800 | Yes |
| Washington | $70-$86/hr | $2,200-$2,800 | None |
| Hawaii | $64-$76/hr | $2,400-$3,000 | Yes |
Northeast
| State | Avg Blended Rate | Weekly Stipend | Income Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $68-$84/hr | $2,400-$3,000 | Yes |
| New York | $65-$82/hr | $2,200-$3,200 | Yes |
| Connecticut | $64-$76/hr | $2,200-$2,800 | Yes |
| New Jersey | $62-$75/hr | $2,000-$2,600 | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | $56-$68/hr | $1,800-$2,400 | Yes |
| Maine | $55-$66/hr | $1,700-$2,200 | Yes |
| Vermont | $54-$65/hr | $1,700-$2,200 | Yes |
| New Hampshire | $56-$68/hr | $1,800-$2,400 | None |
| Rhode Island | $58-$70/hr | $1,900-$2,500 | Yes |
Southeast
| State | Avg Blended Rate | Weekly Stipend | Income Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | $58-$72/hr | $1,700-$2,400 | None |
| Georgia | $54-$66/hr | $1,600-$2,100 | Yes |
| Virginia | $56-$68/hr | $1,700-$2,200 | Yes |
| North Carolina | $52-$64/hr | $1,500-$2,000 | Yes |
| South Carolina | $50-$62/hr | $1,400-$1,900 | Yes |
| Tennessee | $52-$64/hr | $1,500-$2,000 | None |
| Alabama | $48-$60/hr | $1,300-$1,800 | Yes |
| Mississippi | $46-$58/hr | $1,200-$1,700 | Yes |
| Louisiana | $50-$62/hr | $1,400-$1,900 | Yes |
| Kentucky | $50-$62/hr | $1,400-$1,900 | Yes |
Southwest & Mountain
| State | Avg Blended Rate | Weekly Stipend | Income Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | $65-$78/hr | $2,000-$2,600 | None |
| Arizona | $60-$74/hr | $1,900-$2,500 | Yes |
| Colorado | $60-$74/hr | $1,900-$2,500 | Yes |
| Utah | $56-$68/hr | $1,700-$2,200 | Yes |
| New Mexico | $55-$66/hr | $1,700-$2,200 | Yes |
| Idaho | $52-$64/hr | $1,500-$2,000 | Yes |
| Montana | $52-$64/hr | $1,500-$2,000 | Yes |
| Wyoming | $52-$64/hr | $1,500-$2,000 | None |
Midwest
| State | Avg Blended Rate | Weekly Stipend | Income Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $58-$72/hr | $1,800-$2,400 | Yes |
| Michigan | $56-$68/hr | $1,700-$2,200 | Yes |
| Minnesota | $56-$68/hr | $1,700-$2,200 | Yes |
| Ohio | $54-$66/hr | $1,600-$2,100 | Yes |
| Wisconsin | $52-$64/hr | $1,500-$2,000 | Yes |
| Indiana | $50-$62/hr | $1,400-$1,900 | Yes |
| Missouri | $50-$62/hr | $1,400-$1,900 | Yes |
| Iowa | $50-$62/hr | $1,400-$1,900 | Yes |
| Kansas | $50-$62/hr | $1,400-$1,900 | Yes |
| Nebraska | $50-$62/hr | $1,400-$1,900 | Yes |
| South Dakota | $48-$60/hr | $1,300-$1,800 | None |
| North Dakota | $50-$62/hr | $1,400-$1,900 | Yes |
Texas & Gulf Coast
| State | Avg Blended Rate | Weekly Stipend | Income Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | $60-$75/hr | $1,800-$2,400 | None |
| Oklahoma | $50-$62/hr | $1,400-$1,900 | Yes |
| Arkansas | $48-$60/hr | $1,300-$1,800 | Yes |
Tax-Free States: Best for Net Income
No state income tax means more take-home pay. These are the only 9 states we can say that about with certainty — GSA and SSA publish no per-state income tax rate, so we don’t estimate one for anywhere else on this page:
| State | Avg Blended Rate | Best Market |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $70-$86/hr | Seattle |
| Texas | $60-$75/hr | Houston, Dallas |
| Nevada | $65-$78/hr | Las Vegas |
| Florida | $58-$72/hr | Tampa, Miami |
| Tennessee | $52-$64/hr | Nashville |
| Alaska | $65-$78/hr | Anchorage |
| Wyoming | $52-$64/hr | Limited options |
| South Dakota | $48-$60/hr | Sioux Falls |
| New Hampshire | $56-$68/hr | Southern NH |
How much that’s actually worth to you depends on your home state’s real bracket and your own income — there’s no single “savings” number that applies to everyone. Use our tax calculator to see your own computed federal, FICA and (where sourced) state tax side by side.
Highest Net Take-Home: The Real Rankings
When you factor in taxes AND cost of living, the rankings shift:
| Rank | State | Why It Wins |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | No tax + low housing = highest net |
| 2 | Washington | No tax + high gross pay |
| 3 | Nevada | No tax + moderate housing |
| 4 | Florida | No tax + year-round assignments |
| 5 | California | Highest gross overcomes taxes |
Salary by Specialty
Your specialty significantly affects pay. Here are the highest-paying specialties nationally:
| Specialty | National Avg Blended | Highest-Paying State |
|---|---|---|
| OR/Surgical | $70-$95/hr | California |
| ICU/Critical Care | $68-$92/hr | California |
| CVOR | $68-$90/hr | California |
| ER/Emergency | $65-$88/hr | California |
| L&D | $64-$86/hr | California |
| Cath Lab | $64-$82/hr | Washington |
| NICU | $62-$80/hr | California |
| Telemetry | $55-$72/hr | Oregon |
| Med-Surg | $52-$68/hr | California |
| PCU/Stepdown | $56-$74/hr | Washington |
See detailed specialty breakdowns:
How to Calculate Your True Take-Home Pay
Comparing raw salary numbers is misleading. Use these tools for accurate comparisons:
- Pay Calculator — Full contract comparison with taxes, stipends, and cost of living
- Tax Calculator — See state-by-state tax impact
- Blended Rate Calculator — Convert any package to hourly
- Stipend Calculator — Compare your stipend to GSA rates
Data reviewed February 2026. Pay ranges are TravelNurseCalc editorial estimates — not measured, surveyed, or aggregated from agency contract data — see our methodology for how we build them. Individual offers vary by experience, certifications, and facility.
Ready to calculate your exact take-home pay? Use our Travel Nurse Pay Calculator.
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