California Travel Nurse Stipend Calculator
California's average GSA rates allow up to $1,050/week in tax-free housing plus $518/week for meals — a combined ceiling around $1,568/week. Verify any CA stipend quote below.
Data reviewed July 3, 2026 · 50 states, 221 cities, FY2026 GSA rates
$150/night
Avg GSA Lodging
$74/day
M&IE Rate
~$1,568/wk
Combined Weekly Ceiling
$4,560/mo
Monthly Housing Allowance
Travel Nurse Pay Breakdown
Estimate your take-home pay, taxes, and blended rate in seconds.
Same state assignment. You'll pay 13.3% state tax plus 24% federal tax.
Overtime (Optional)
Blended Hourly Rate
$98.56
Based on 36 hours in CA.
Gross Weekly Pay
$3,548
Taxable Weekly Income
$1,980
Estimated Weekly Taxes
$739
True Net Weekly Pay
$2,809
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Assignment Projections
13-Week Assignment
$36,523
Net Pay
26-Week Assignment
$73,046
Net Pay
Annual (52 weeks)
$146,092
Net Pay
Take Home vs Taxes
Take Home
$2,809
per week
Taxes
$739
per week
Total Gross: $3,548 per week
🏠 Housing Stipend Analysis
Your Weekly Housing Stipend
$1,050
≈ $4,547/month
Est. 1BR Rent in California
$2,300
Monthly average
✅ Potential Tax-Free Pocket Money
+$2,247
Your stipend covers rent with $2,247 left over each month.
Find apartments under $2,300/month in San Francisco:
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Cost of Living Analysis in California
After rent, this is what you'll have left each month for other expenses
National average = 100. California's cost of living is higher than the national average by 51.7 points.
💡 High cost of living area. Ensure your pay compensates for the increased expenses.
Housing Cost: Very High
Utilities: High
Rent data based on 2025 market averages. Actual rent may vary by neighborhood and housing type.
Resources for Your Assignment
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Stipend vs Rent by California City
Monthly GSA housing allowance against average one-bedroom rent — positive margin means the max stipend more than covers housing.
| City | GSA Lodging/mo | 1BR Rent | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $8,816 | $3,200 | +$5,616/mo |
| Long Beach | $7,053 | $1,900 | +$5,153/mo |
| Santa Ana | $7,053 | $2,000 | +$5,053/mo |
| Anaheim | $7,053 | $2,100 | +$4,953/mo |
| San Diego | $7,053 | $2,200 | +$4,853/mo |
| Oakland | $7,053 | $2,400 | +$4,653/mo |
| Los Angeles | $7,053 | $2,450 | +$4,603/mo |
| San Jose | $7,053 | $2,600 | +$4,453/mo |
| Fresno | $5,563 | $1,300 | +$4,263/mo |
| Sacramento | $5,563 | $1,500 | +$4,063/mo |
California Stipend Questions
What is the maximum housing stipend in California?
Stipend ceilings follow GSA per diem rates, set per city. California's average GSA lodging rate is $150/night — about $1,050/week or $4,560/month in tax-free housing allowance. Add the $74/day M&IE rate and the combined weekly ceiling is roughly $1,568. Individual cities run higher or lower.
Is my California stipend offer good?
Compare it to two numbers: the GSA ceiling for the assignment city (offers at the ceiling are maxed; offers well below have negotiating headroom) and the local one-bedroom rent (a stipend above rent is tax-free profit). The table on this page shows both for every California city we track.
Are travel nurse stipends taxable in California?
Stipends are federal-tax-free (and state-tax-free) when you maintain a qualifying tax home and work far enough away to need overnight lodging — the state doesn't change the IRS rules. Amounts above the GSA ceiling for your assignment ZIP are generally treated as taxable wages.
Which California cities have the best stipend margin?
San Francisco currently has the best margin we track in California — the monthly GSA lodging allowance runs $5,616 above average one-bedroom rent. See the full city table above and the GSA Rate Explorer for all 221 cities nationally.