Travel Nurse Pay Transparency Report
Q1 2026 Edition
Published February 21, 2026 · Data from 50 states, 12 specialties, 221+ cities
Last Medically & Financially Reviewed:
Reviewed by Michael Torres, CPA, EA, Travel Nurse Tax Specialist
Executive Summary
The Q1 2026 travel nursing market has stabilized at a projected $14.3 billion in annual revenue, with a clear shift from crisis-pay hunting to long-term wealth management and tax efficiency. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) introduces overtime deductions that materially impact high-income travel nurses earning above $150,000 MAGI. This report provides transparent pay data to counter "bait-and-switch" postings on job boards.
$1,856
Avg Weekly Pay
$47/hr
Avg Hourly Rate
$1,223/wk
Avg Weekly Stipend
$112/night
Avg GSA Lodging
Top 10 Highest-Paying States
| Rank | State | Hourly | Weekly | State Tax | COL Index | GSA Lodging |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Hawaii | $58/hr | $2,320 | 11% | 193.3 | $180/night |
| #2 | New York | $58/hr | $2,320 | 10.9% | 139.1 | $150/night |
| #3 | Massachusetts | $56/hr | $2,240 | 5% | 146.5 | $150/night |
| #4 | Washington | $56/hr | $2,240 | None | 118.7 | $120/night |
| #5 | Alaska | $55/hr | $2,200 | None | 125.8 | $150/night |
| #6 | California | $55/hr | $2,200 | 13.3% | 151.7 | $150/night |
| #7 | Oregon | $54/hr | $2,160 | 9.9% | 130.8 | $120/night |
| #8 | Connecticut | $52/hr | $2,080 | 6.99% | 121 | $130/night |
| #9 | New Jersey | $52/hr | $2,080 | 10.75% | 120.4 | $130/night |
| #10 | Colorado | $50/hr | $2,000 | 4.4% | 105.1 | $120/night |
Top 10 Best-Value States
Ranked by value score (weekly pay adjusted for cost of living). High pay + low COL = better value.
New Mexico
$1,840/wk · COL: 88.4
2,081
Value Score
Ohio
$1,872/wk · COL: 90.7
2,064
Value Score
Georgia
$1,836/wk · COL: 89.5
2,051
Value Score
Illinois
$1,920/wk · COL: 94.3
2,036
Value Score
Michigan
$1,800/wk · COL: 89
2,022
Value Score
Texas
$1,840/wk · COL: 92.7 · No state tax
1,985
Value Score
Arizona
$1,920/wk · COL: 97.2
1,975
Value Score
Minnesota
$1,920/wk · COL: 97.2
1,975
Value Score
Nevada
$2,000/wk · COL: 101.6 · No state tax
1,969
Value Score
Idaho
$1,840/wk · COL: 94.2
1,953
Value Score
Pay by Specialty
Top 10 Highest-Paying Cities
San Francisco, CA
$2,560/wk
Hourly
$64/hr
1BR Rent
$3,200/mo
Stipend Margin
+$7,984/mo
New York, NY
$2,480/wk
Hourly
$62/hr
1BR Rent
$3,000/mo
Stipend Margin
+$7,245/mo
San Jose, CA
$2,400/wk
Hourly
$60/hr
1BR Rent
$2,600/mo
Stipend Margin
+$6,675/mo
Boston, MA
$2,400/wk
Hourly
$60/hr
1BR Rent
$2,400/mo
Stipend Margin
+$7,845/mo
Oakland, CA
$2,360/wk
Hourly
$59/hr
1BR Rent
$2,400/mo
Stipend Margin
+$6,875/mo
Washington, DC
$2,360/wk
Hourly
$59/hr
1BR Rent
$2,200/mo
Stipend Margin
+$8,045/mo
Anchorage, AK
$2,320/wk
Hourly
$58/hr
1BR Rent
$1,500/mo
Stipend Margin
+$5,289/mo
Anaheim, CA
$2,320/wk
Hourly
$58/hr
1BR Rent
$2,100/mo
Stipend Margin
+$7,175/mo
Santa Ana, CA
$2,320/wk
Hourly
$58/hr
1BR Rent
$2,000/mo
Stipend Margin
+$7,275/mo
Honolulu, HI
$2,320/wk
Hourly
$58/hr
1BR Rent
$2,100/mo
Stipend Margin
+$7,175/mo
OBBBA Impact on Travel Nurse Pay
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act introduced overtime income tax deductions in 2025, but with significant phase-outs for high-income earners. Here's how it affects travel nurses in Q1 2026:
Full Deduction
MAGI < $75K
Single filers get full OT deduction
Phase-Out Zone
$75K - $150K
Partial deduction, decreasing with income
No Deduction
MAGI > $150K
Completely phased out
Methodology & Data Sources
This report aggregates data from multiple public and proprietary sources to provide transparent pay benchmarks for the travel nursing industry. Our goal is to combat misleading job postings and give nurses the information they need to evaluate pay packages fairly.
- • Pay data: Aggregated from user submissions, agency partnerships, and public job postings across 50 states
- • GSA rates: Official 2026 per diem rates from GSA.gov
- • Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities, updated for 2026
- • Tax data: IRS 2026 federal tax brackets, state revenue department rates
- • OBBBA provisions: IRS guidance on overtime deduction under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
Data is refreshed quarterly. Individual results may vary based on specialty, experience, agency, and negotiation. This report is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or tax advice.
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