Travel Nurse Pay in Chicago, Illinois: 2026 Cost of Living & GSA Rates
Economic analysis: GSA housing caps, average rent, and profitability verdict for travel nurses in Chicago.
Data reviewed July 3, 2026 · 50 states, 221 cities, FY2026 GSA rates
Pay and rent figures on this page are our own editorial estimates, reviewed July 31, 2026 — not survey or government wage data. How we produce these numbers.
Economics Verdict
Ceiling Covers Rent: Chicago Travel Nursing
GSA Housing Cap (Weekly)
$1,036–$1,666/wk
≈ $4,486–$7,214/mo, by season
Avg Rent (1BR)
$1,700/mo
Margin
$2,786 to $5,514/mo
Even the lowest GSA rate is 2.6x average 1BR rent
Judged on the lowest GSA rate of the year, not the peak. A ceiling is the most a tax-free housing stipend can be, not what an offer pays, and it is not extra pocket money: a stipend is meant to reimburse real lodging costs for a traveler with a valid tax home.
How the numbers here are checked
Tax figures are computed from published IRS and SSA sources and per diem from GSA, each carrying a citation and a retrieval date; our build fails if any loses one. Pay, rent and cost-of-living figures are our own editorial estimates. This page has not been reviewed by a licensed professional — see our methodology, and consult a CPA about your own situation.
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 — you file one resident return in your home state.
State income tax not included
We do not yet have a sourced bracket schedule for this state, so we are not estimating its income tax. A wrong state figure is worse than none. Federal and FICA figures above are complete and sourced; your true net pay will be lower than gross by more than the amounts shown, so the take-home figures on this page are labelled "before state tax" rather than presented as final net pay.
Overtime (Optional)
Blended Hourly Rate
$116.17
Based on 36 hours in IL.
Gross Weekly Pay
$4,182
Taxable Weekly Income
$1,872
Estimated Weekly Taxes
$385
Federal + FICA only; state income tax not included
Net Before State Tax
$3,797
After federal + FICA; your state tax will lower this
Assignment Projections
13-Week Assignment
$49,358
Net before state tax
26-Week Assignment
$98,716
Net before state tax
Annual (52 weeks)
$197,432
Net before state tax
Take Home vs Taxes
Before state tax
$3,797
per week
Federal + FICA
$385
per week
Total Gross: $4,182 per week
🏠 Housing Stipend Analysis
Your Weekly Housing Stipend
$1,666
≈ $7,214/month
Est. 1BR Rent in Chicago
$1,700
Monthly average
✅ Potential Tax-Free Pocket Money
+$5,514
Your stipend covers rent with $5,514 left over each month.
Find apartments under $1,700/month in Chicago:
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Staff vs. Travel Nurse in Chicago, Illinois
An annual take-home comparison under stated assumptions. Change any input to match your own offers.
Staff Nurse
Weekly Gross
$1,332
Weekly Take-Home (before state income tax)
$1,107
Annual Take-Home (before state income tax) (52 weeks)
$57,557
Travel Nurse
Weekly Gross (incl. stipends)
$4,182
Weekly Take-Home (before state income tax) (while working)
$3,811
Annual Take-Home (before state income tax) (48 weeks)
$182,924
Under these assumptions, the travel contract nets $125,366 more per year
Travel is counted for 48 weeks and staff for 52, so the weekly gap while working is $2,704 in travel's favor.
How this is calculated: single filer, 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and FICA (SSA). Only the taxable wage is taxed; stipends are treated as tax-free, which requires a valid tax home. State income tax is not included on either side because it depends on your tax home as well as the assignment state; the Pay Calculator handles that where we have a sourced schedule.
Assumptions: the travel taxable rate is our editorial estimate for this place, the stipend is the GSA lodging plus meals-and-incidentals ceiling (the most a stipend can be, so real offers are often lower), and the staff rate is an editorial estimate relative to the travel rate. All are editable under "Customize & Detail". Staff benefits (health insurance, retirement match, paid leave) and travel costs (a second household, licensing, gaps between contracts) are not valued.
Want a detailed breakdown customized for your situation?
Travel Nurse Pay in Chicago
Average Hourly Rate
$52/hr
Average Weekly Pay
$2,080
GSA Lodging Rate
$238/night
GSA Meal Rate (M&IE)
$92/day
Cost of Living in Chicago
Cost of Living Index
106.9 (Above National Average)
Studio
$1400/mo
1 Bedroom
$1700/mo
2 Bedroom
$2300/mo
Does the Stipend Cover Rent in Chicago?
GSA sets Chicago's lodging ceiling by season. It is $238/night in Apr–Jun and $148/night in Dec–Mar, a $630 per week swing in the most a housing stipend can legally be.
| Period | GSA lodging | Weekly ceiling | Monthly ceiling | vs $1,700 rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr–Jun | $238/night | $1,666 | $7,214 | +$5,514/mo |
| Sep–Nov | $232/night | $1,624 | $7,032 | +$5,332/mo |
| Jul–Aug | $213/night | $1,491 | $6,456 | +$4,756/mo |
| Dec–Mar | $148/night | $1,036 | $4,486 | +$2,786/mo |
A contract that starts in Apr–Jun is covered by the higher ceiling; one that starts in Dec–Mar is capped at the lower one. The rate that applies is set by the month you work, so a contract that crosses a boundary can span both.
Source: GSA FY2027 per diem rates, converted at 4.33 weeks per month. Rent is our editorial one-bedroom estimate, not a listings survey. See the full month-by-month schedule on the Chicago GSA rates page, or test an actual offer in the stipend calculator.
How Chicago Compares in Illinois
- Estimated taxable pay: tied for 1st highest of 6 tracked Illinois cities ($52/hr, editorial estimate).
- GSA lodging ceiling (annual peak): tied for 1st highest of 6 ($238/night).
- One-bedroom rent: 6th lowest of 6 ($1,700/mo, editorial estimate).
Other Illinois cities: Bloomington, Champaign, Elgin, Normal, Rockford. State overview: Illinois travel nurse pay.
Top Hospitals in Chicago
- 🏥 Northwestern Memorial Hospital
- 🏥 Rush University Medical Center
- 🏥 University of Chicago Medical Center
Specialty Pay in Chicago
Estimated hourly rates for the specialties most in demand here. Click any specialty for certifications, demand and national pay detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do travel nurses make in Chicago, Illinois?
Travel nurses in Chicago typically earn between $47 and $62 per hour in taxable wages, with an average of $52/hr. When including tax-free stipends, the blended hourly rate ranges from $61-76 per hour.
What are the GSA rates for Chicago, Illinois?
The GSA per diem rates for Chicago are: Lodging: $238/night, and Meals & Incidental Expenses (M&IE): $92/day — GSA publishes M&IE as a single combined rate, not a separate incidentals figure. These rates determine the maximum tax-free stipend amounts travel nurses can receive. For official rates, visit [GSA.gov](https://www.gsa.gov/travel/plan-book/per-diem-rates).
What is the cost of living in Chicago?
The cost of living index in Chicago is 106.9, which is above the national average. Average rent ranges from $1400 for a studio to $2300 for a two-bedroom apartment.
Does the GSA housing stipend cover rent in Chicago?
It depends on the month. GSA's lodging ceiling for Chicago is $238/night ($7,214/month) in Apr–Jun and $148/night ($4,486/month) in Dec–Mar. Against our editorial one-bedroom estimate of $1,700/month, that is $5,514 in Apr–Jun and $2,786 in Dec–Mar. A ceiling is the most a stipend can be, not what an offer pays, so check the offer's actual stipend.
When should a travel nurse start a contract in Chicago for the highest stipend ceiling?
GSA's lodging rate for Chicago is highest in Apr–Jun ($238/night) and lowest in Dec–Mar ($148/night), a $630 per week difference in the legal tax-free housing ceiling. A higher ceiling only helps if the agency actually pays a larger stipend, so ask for the stipend by week.
What hospitals hire travel nurses in Chicago?
Top hospitals in Chicago that frequently hire travel nurses include Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Rush University Medical Center, University of Chicago Medical Center, and others. These facilities offer competitive pay rates and excellent working conditions for travel nurses.
What specialties are in demand in Chicago?
The most in-demand specialties for travel nurses in Chicago include ICU, ER, Med-Surg. These specialties typically offer higher pay rates and more contract opportunities.