Travel Nurse Bill Rate Calculator
Reverse-engineer the facility bill rate from your pay package. Understand what the hospital is paying and how much margin your agency is taking.
Why this matters: Knowing the bill rate empowers you to negotiate better. If the agency margin seems high, you have leverage to ask for more.
Bill Rate Calculator
Reverse-engineer the facility bill rate from your pay package. Understand what the hospital is actually paying and what margin your agency is taking.
Your Pay Package
Estimated Bill Rate
Facility Hourly Bill Rate
$114.57/hr
What the hospital likely pays per hour
Weekly Bill Rate
$4,125
Contract Total
$53,621
Weekly Cost Breakdown
Agency Margin Analysis
Reasonable margin
Industry average: 15-20% margin
Negotiation Helper: What Bill Rate Do You Need?
Enter your target hourly pay to see what bill rate would be required.
Required Weekly Bill
$4,354
Required Hourly Bill Rate
$120.96/hr
💡 How to use this: If you know the facility's bill rate (ask your recruiter!), you can verify if you're getting a fair deal. A transparent agency should be willing to share the bill rate. If they won't, that's a red flag.
Understanding Bill Rates & Agency Margins
What Goes Into a Bill Rate?
When a hospital pays $100/hr to your agency, that money covers multiple costs:
Your Compensation
- Taxable hourly wages
- Housing stipend
- Meal & incidental stipend
- Travel reimbursement
Agency Costs
- Employer taxes (~11% of taxable)
- Health insurance premiums
- Workers comp insurance
- Liability coverage
- Recruiter salaries & overhead
- Agency profit margin
Industry-Standard Margins
12-15%
Highly Transparent
15-20%
Industry Average
20-25%+
Higher Than Typical
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a bill rate in travel nursing?
The bill rate is the hourly amount that hospitals and healthcare facilities pay to staffing agencies for travel nurses. This rate covers your wages, stipends, agency overhead, employer taxes, insurance, and agency profit margin. Understanding the bill rate helps you evaluate if you're getting fair compensation.
How do I find out my assignment's bill rate?
Ask your recruiter directly! Transparent agencies will share this information. If they won't disclose the bill rate, that's a red flag. You can also use this calculator to estimate the bill rate based on your pay package. Industry-standard agency margins are typically 15-20%.
What's a fair agency margin?
Most agencies operate with a 15-20% margin on the bill rate. Very transparent, nurse-friendly agencies might operate at 12-15%. If the estimated margin is above 25%, you may be able to negotiate better pay or find a more competitive agency.
Why do agencies take a cut?
Agencies provide valuable services: finding jobs, handling credentialing, providing health insurance, managing payroll, offering liability insurance, and providing 24/7 support. A reasonable margin (15-20%) is fair compensation for these services. The key is transparency about what that margin is.
Can I negotiate based on the bill rate?
Yes! If you know the facility's bill rate, you have leverage. You can ask for a higher hourly rate or better stipends. Phrase it as: 'I understand the bill rate is around $X. Based on industry-standard margins, I should be earning closer to $Y. Can we adjust my package?'
Compare Your Full Pay Package
Understanding bill rates is step one. Use our main calculator to see your true take-home pay including taxes, cost of living, and more.
Full Pay Calculator →