Staff vs Travel Nurse Pay Calculator
Enter your current staff position and a travel contract to see the exact take-home difference — and find your break-even taxable hourly rate.
Last Financially Reviewed:
Reviewed by Michael Torres, CPA, EA, Travel Nurse Tax Specialist
Travel nursing advantage
$49,826/yr
Travel nursing pays $49,826 more per year after taxes
Break-even taxable rate
$0/hr
The minimum taxable hourly you need on a travel contract to match your staff take-home pay.
SStaff Nurse
TTravel Nurse
Estimates use 22% federal marginal rate. Actual taxes depend on your full tax situation. Consult a CPA for personalized advice.
Why Travel Nurses Usually Earn More
The key is tax-free stipends. Travel nurses receive a portion of their pay package as housing and meal reimbursements — not wages — as long as they maintain a qualifying tax home. These stipends are not subject to federal income tax or FICA, which means a $22/hr taxable travel contract can outperform a $40/hr staff position.
| Component | Staff ($38/hr) | Travel ($22 + $1,350 stipend) |
|---|---|---|
| Annual taxable wages | $71,136 | $41,184 |
| Tax-free stipends | $0 | $70,200 |
| Total gross package | $71,136 | $111,384 |
| Est. taxes + FICA | -$21,700 | -$12,550 |
| Net take-home | ~$49,400 | ~$95,700 |
Assumes 36 hrs/wk, 52 weeks staff, 48 weeks travel (4 gaps), 5% state tax, $300/mo health insurance each.
What the Break-Even Rate Tells You
The break-even taxable hourly is the minimum taxable rate you need on a travel contract to match your current staff take-home pay. Any taxable rate above that number means you earn more as a traveler — even before stipends.
For most nurses earning $35–45/hr as staff, the break-even taxable rate falls between $16–24/hr. Since most travel contracts offer $20–28/hr taxable in non-crisis markets, switching is almost always profitable once stipend income is counted.
Hidden Costs to Factor In
- →Gaps between assignments: Most travelers have 2–6 unpaid gap weeks per year. Model these using the "assignments per year" setting above.
- →Licensing fees: Non-compact states charge $150–400 per license. If you work in multiple states, these add up.
- →Housing overhead: You may maintain two residences (tax home + assignment housing). If your stipend doesn't fully cover assignment rent, budget the shortfall.
- →No PTO or sick pay: Worth $2,000–5,000/yr as a staff nurse. Most travelers bank this by saving from higher pay.
- →Multi-state tax filing: Working in multiple states means filing multiple state returns ($150–300/state with a travel nurse CPA).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is travel nursing worth it financially compared to staff nursing?
For most nurses, travel nursing pays 20–50% more after taxes than equivalent staff positions, primarily due to tax-free stipends. A staff nurse earning $38/hr take-home may see $62,000/yr net, while a travel nurse on a $22 taxable rate + $1,350/wk in stipends can clear $85,000+/yr working the same hours. The break-even taxable rate is typically $18–25/hr depending on your state and contract structure.
What taxable hourly rate do I need to match my staff salary?
Use the break-even calculator above. As a rule of thumb: divide your staff net annual by your annual work hours (hours/wk × weeks/yr), then add back approximately 30% for taxes and subtract your expected weekly stipend value. Most nurses need $18–26/hr taxable to match a $35–42/hr staff position when factoring in GSA stipends.
What benefits do I lose by switching to travel nursing?
The main benefits typically lost when switching to travel nursing include: employer 401k match (often 3–6% of salary), paid time off / sick leave (worth $2,000–5,000/yr), employer-paid health insurance (often $200–400/mo savings), tuition reimbursement, and employment stability. Many travel nurses offset these by saving more from higher pay, negotiating agency health insurance, and opening a solo 401k or SEP-IRA.
Do travel nurses pay more taxes than staff nurses?
Travel nurses pay the same rates on their taxable wages but receive a portion of their pay as tax-free stipends (housing + meals), which is the core financial advantage. However, tax-free stipends require maintaining a qualifying tax home. Working in high-tax states as a traveler can also complicate multi-state filing. Consult a travel nurse CPA to optimize your situation.
How many weeks per year do most travel nurses actually work?
Most full-time travel nurses complete 3–4 assignments per year (13 weeks each), working 39–52 weeks. Gaps between assignments are common — typically 1–4 weeks — and should be factored into annual income estimates. The calculator above lets you set your assignments per year and weeks per assignment to model realistic scenarios.