Medical-Surgical Travel Nurse Pay & Jobs
Med-Surg travel nurses provide care for patients with various medical and surgical conditions, the most common travel nursing specialty.
Data reviewed July 3, 2026 · 50 states, 221 cities, FY2026 GSA rates
Specialty pay figures on this page are our own editorial estimates, reviewed July 31, 2026 — not survey or government wage data. How we produce these numbers.
Calculate Your Medical-Surgical Travel Nurse Pay
Use our calculator to estimate your take-home pay as a Medical-Surgical travel nurse, including cost of living analysis.
Travel Nurse Pay Breakdown
Estimate your take-home pay, taxes, and blended rate in seconds.
Federal tax applies to wages after the $16,100 standard deduction; FICA applies to all wages. Tax-free stipends are excluded from both.
Same-state assignment, and TX levies no wage income tax, so no state income tax return is due on these wages.
Overtime (Optional)
Blended Hourly Rate
$58.89
Based on 36 hours in TX.
Gross Weekly Pay
$2,120
Taxable Weekly Income
$720
Estimated Weekly Taxes
$100
True Net Weekly Pay
$2,020
Assignment Projections
13-Week Assignment
$26,266
Net Pay
26-Week Assignment
$52,532
Net Pay
Annual (52 weeks)
$105,063
Net Pay
Take Home vs Taxes
Take Home
$2,020
per week
Taxes
$100
per week
Total Gross: $2,120 per week
🏠 Housing Stipend Analysis
Your Weekly Housing Stipend
$1,000
≈ $4,330/month
Est. 1BR Rent in Texas
$1,100
Monthly average
✅ Potential Tax-Free Pocket Money
+$3,230
Your stipend covers rent with $3,230 left over each month.
Find apartments under $1,100/month in Houston:
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Cost of Living Analysis in Texas
After rent, this is what you'll have left each month for other expenses
National average = 100. Texas's cost of living is lower than the national average by 7.3 points.
Rent figures are our own editorial estimates, not survey or listings data. Actual rent varies by neighborhood and housing type.
Resources for Your Assignment
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Average Hourly Rate
$48/hr
Average Weekly Pay
$1,920
Average Annual Pay
$99,840
Requirements for Medical-Surgical Travel Nurses
- BLS
- 1+ years Med-Surg experience
Note: Requirements may vary by facility and state. Always verify specific requirements with your travel nurse agency.
Top Cities for Medical-Surgical Travel Nurses
Anchorage, AK
Avg Pay: $58/hr
Rent: $1,500/mo
Auburn, AL
Avg Pay: $42/hr
Rent: $1,000/mo
Decatur, AL
Avg Pay: $42/hr
Rent: $1,000/mo
Dothan, AL
Avg Pay: $42/hr
Rent: $1,000/mo
Huntsville, AL
Avg Pay: $47/hr
Rent: $1,000/mo
Mobile, AL
Avg Pay: $46/hr
Rent: $900/mo
Tuscaloosa, AL
Avg Pay: $42/hr
Rent: $1,000/mo
Fort Smith, AR
Avg Pay: $40/hr
Rent: $1,000/mo
Hot Springs, AR
Avg Pay: $40/hr
Rent: $1,000/mo
Jonesboro, AR
Avg Pay: $40/hr
Rent: $1,000/mo
View all city pay guides to compare pay and cost of living.
Medical-Surgical Pay by State
Browse travel nurse pay, GSA stipend ceilings and tax detail for each state.
$42/hr
AK$55/hr
AZ$48/hr
AR$40/hr
CA$55/hr
CO$50/hr
CT$52/hr
DE$48/hr
FL$51/hr
GA$51/hr
HI$58/hr
ID$46/hr
IL$48/hr
IN$42/hr
IA$40/hr
KS$41/hr
KY$40/hr
LA$43/hr
ME$46/hr
MD$50/hr
MA$56/hr
MI$45/hr
MN$48/hr
MS$38/hr
MO$42/hr
MT$44/hr
NE$41/hr
NV$50/hr
NH$48/hr
NJ$52/hr
NM$46/hr
NY$58/hr
NC$44/hr
ND$42/hr
OH$52/hr
OK$40/hr
OR$54/hr
PA$48/hr
RI$50/hr
SC$42/hr
SD$40/hr
TN$41/hr
TX$46/hr
UT$45/hr
VT$48/hr
VA$47/hr
WA$56/hr
WV$38/hr
WI$44/hr
WY$44/hr
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Medical-Surgical travel nurses make?
Medical-Surgical travel nurses typically earn between $43 and $58 per hour in taxable wages, with an average of $48/hr. When including tax-free stipends, the blended hourly rate typically ranges from $87-98 per hour.
What are the requirements for Medical-Surgical travel nurses?
Requirements for Medical-Surgical travel nurses typically include: BLS, 1+ years Med-Surg experience. Requirements may vary by facility and state.
What is the demand for Medical-Surgical travel nurses?
The demand for Medical-Surgical travel nurses is very high. This specialty offers excellent job opportunities and competitive pay rates.
Which states pay the most for Medical-Surgical travel nurses?
California, New York, Massachusetts, Washington, and Oregon typically offer the highest pay rates for Medical-Surgical travel nurses. However, consider cost of living when evaluating total compensation. Use our [state comparison tool](/compare-states/) to compare pay across different states.