Illinois Travel Nurse Stipend Calculator
Illinois's average GSA rates allow up to $840/week in tax-free housing plus $448/week for meals — a combined ceiling around $1,288/week. Verify any IL stipend quote below.
Data reviewed July 3, 2026 · 50 states, 221 cities, FY2026 GSA rates
$120/night
Avg GSA Lodging
$64/day
M&IE Rate
~$1,288/wk
Combined Weekly Ceiling
$3,648/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 4.95% state tax plus 24% federal tax.
Overtime (Optional)
Blended Hourly Rate
$83.78
Based on 36 hours in IL.
Gross Weekly Pay
$3,016
Taxable Weekly Income
$1,728
Estimated Weekly Taxes
$500
True Net Weekly Pay
$2,516
Looking for a contract? Get matched with top-paying recruiters.
Assignment Projections
13-Week Assignment
$32,705
Net Pay
26-Week Assignment
$65,409
Net Pay
Annual (52 weeks)
$130,819
Net Pay
Take Home vs Taxes
Take Home
$2,516
per week
Taxes
$500
per week
Total Gross: $3,016 per week
🏠 Housing Stipend Analysis
Your Weekly Housing Stipend
$840
≈ $3,637/month
Est. 1BR Rent in Illinois
$1,200
Monthly average
✅ Potential Tax-Free Pocket Money
+$2,437
Your stipend covers rent with $2,437 left over each month.
Find apartments under $1,200/month in Chicago:
Affiliate link
We may earn a commission if you book through our link.
Cost of Living Analysis in Illinois
After rent, this is what you'll have left each month for other expenses
National average = 100. Illinois's cost of living is lower than the national average by 5.7 points.
Housing Cost: Moderate
Utilities: Moderate
Rent data based on 2025 market averages. Actual rent may vary by neighborhood and housing type.
Resources for Your Assignment
These are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Stipend vs Rent by Illinois City
Monthly GSA housing allowance against average one-bedroom rent — positive margin means the max stipend more than covers housing.
Illinois Stipend Questions
What is the maximum housing stipend in Illinois?
Stipend ceilings follow GSA per diem rates, set per city. Illinois's average GSA lodging rate is $120/night — about $840/week or $3,648/month in tax-free housing allowance. Add the $64/day M&IE rate and the combined weekly ceiling is roughly $1,288. Individual cities run higher or lower.
Is my Illinois 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 Illinois city we track.
Are travel nurse stipends taxable in Illinois?
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 Illinois cities have the best stipend margin?
Chicago currently has the best margin we track in Illinois — the monthly GSA lodging allowance runs $3,863 above average one-bedroom rent. See the full city table above and the GSA Rate Explorer for all 221 cities nationally.