Travel Nurse Pay Transparency Report
Q2 2026 Mid-Year Edition
Published July 3, 2026 · Data from 50 states, 14 specialties, 221 cities
Last Medically & Financially Reviewed:
Reviewed by Michael Torres, CPA, EA, Travel Nurse Tax Specialist
Executive Summary
At the mid-point of 2026, travel nurse pay has held steady while housing costs continued to drift upward — which makes stipend margin, not headline weekly pay, the number that separates profitable contracts from break-even ones. Of the 221 cities we track, 221 still offer a housing stipend surplus (GSA lodging allowance exceeds local one-bedroom rent) while 0 run a deficit. This edition ranks both extremes, revisits the no-income-tax state strategy for peak summer season, and previews the GSA FY2027 rate reset landing October 1.
$1,856
Avg Weekly Pay
$47/hr
Avg Hourly Rate
$1,223/wk
Avg Weekly Stipend
221/221
Cities w/ Stipend Surplus
Top 10 Stipend-Surplus Cities
Where the GSA lodging allowance most exceeds actual one-bedroom rent — the pocketable gap that turns a mid-rate contract into a high-earning one.
| Rank | City | GSA Lodging/mo | 1BR Rent | Monthly Surplus | Avg Weekly Pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Washington, DC | $7,874 | $2,200 | +$5,674 | $2,360 |
| #2 | San Francisco, CA | $8,816 | $3,200 | +$5,616 | $2,560 |
| #3 | Boston, MA | $7,874 | $2,400 | +$5,474 | $2,400 |
| #4 | Hialeah, FL | $7,053 | $1,800 | +$5,253 | $2,080 |
| #5 | Long Beach, CA | $7,053 | $1,900 | +$5,153 | $2,280 |
| #6 | Yonkers, NY | $7,053 | $1,900 | +$5,153 | $2,280 |
| #7 | Santa Ana, CA | $7,053 | $2,000 | +$5,053 | $2,320 |
| #8 | Anaheim, CA | $7,053 | $2,100 | +$4,953 | $2,320 |
| #9 | Honolulu, HI | $7,053 | $2,100 | +$4,953 | $2,320 |
| #10 | Seattle, WA | $7,053 | $2,100 | +$4,953 | $2,320 |
10 Worst Stipend-Deficit Cities
Where one-bedroom rent outruns the GSA lodging allowance. A high weekly rate can still make these worth it — but only if you price the housing gap into your negotiation.
| Rank | City | GSA Lodging/mo | 1BR Rent | Monthly Deficit | Avg Weekly Pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Bozeman, MT | $2,979 | $1,300 | −$1,679 | $2,040 |
| #2 | Asheville, NC | $2,979 | $1,300 | −$1,679 | $2,000 |
| #3 | Chapel Hill, NC | $2,979 | $1,300 | −$1,679 | $2,040 |
| #4 | Missoula, MT | $2,979 | $1,200 | −$1,779 | $2,040 |
| #5 | Wilmington, NC | $2,979 | $1,200 | −$1,779 | $1,960 |
| #6 | Auburn, AL | $2,979 | $1,000 | −$1,979 | $1,680 |
| #7 | Decatur, AL | $2,979 | $1,000 | −$1,979 | $1,680 |
| #8 | Dothan, AL | $2,979 | $1,000 | −$1,979 | $1,680 |
| #9 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $2,979 | $1,000 | −$1,979 | $1,680 |
| #10 | Fort Smith, AR | $2,979 | $1,000 | −$1,979 | $1,600 |
See every state's housing margin in the Stipends by State matrix.
The No-Income-Tax State Play, Ranked
Summer is peak contract season. All 8 states with no state income tax, ranked by average weekly travel nurse pay — where keeping more of the taxable rate compounds fastest.
Washington
COL: 118.7 · GSA lodging $120/night
$2,240/wk
0% state tax
Alaska
COL: 125.8 · GSA lodging $150/night
$2,200/wk
0% state tax
Nevada
COL: 101.6 · GSA lodging $120/night
$2,000/wk
0% state tax
Texas
COL: 92.7 · GSA lodging $98/night
$1,840/wk
0% state tax
Florida
COL: 100.7 · GSA lodging $120/night
$1,836/wk
0% state tax
Wyoming
COL: 92.3 · GSA lodging $98/night
$1,760/wk
0% state tax
Tennessee
COL: 89 · GSA lodging $98/night
$1,640/wk
0% state tax
South Dakota
COL: 99 · GSA lodging $98/night
$1,600/wk
0% state tax
Pay by Specialty, Mid-2026
Negotiating a contract this quarter? Our Negotiation ROI Calculator shows what an extra $2–5/hr is worth over a year of contracts.
Looking Ahead: GSA FY2027 Rates Land October 1
GSA typically publishes fiscal-year per diem rates in August, effective October 1. Because tax-free stipend ceilings key off these rates, the FY2027 reset directly moves the maximum housing stipend agencies can offer in every market. What to do now:
Contracts crossing Oct 1
Ask which rate applies
Some agencies re-paper stipends at the new fiscal-year rate mid-contract; most lock at signing.
Rising-rate markets
Consider shorter contracts
A 13-week contract ending in October lets you renegotiate on FY2027 numbers.
Audit your current offer
Check the GSA ceiling
If your stipend is far below the local GSA max, that's negotiating headroom today.
Methodology & Data Sources
This report aggregates data from multiple public and proprietary sources to provide transparent pay benchmarks for the travel nursing industry. Stipend margin compares the monthly GSA lodging allowance (nightly rate × 30.4) against average local one-bedroom rent.
- • Pay data: Aggregated from user submissions, agency partnerships, and public job postings across 50 states
- • GSA rates: Official FY2026 per diem rates from GSA.gov
- • Rent data: Average one-bedroom rents per city, refreshed Q2 2026
- • Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities, updated for 2026
- • Tax data: IRS 2026 federal tax brackets, state revenue department rates
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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