Travel Nurse Pay in Rochester, New York: 2026 Cost of Living & GSA Rates

Economic analysis: GSA housing caps, average rent, and profitability verdict for travel nurses in Rochester.

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

Profitable: Rochester Travel Nursing

GSA Housing Cap (Weekly)

$924/wk

≈ $4,000.92/mo

Avg Rent (1BR)

$1,000/mo

Margin

+$3,000.92/mo

Stipend covers rent

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.

⚠️ Alert: Your housing stipend of $1,000/week is 58% below the highest GSA lodging ceiling for New York ($2,394/week). You may be leaving $1,394/week on the table. Consider negotiating with your agency.
Tax on your wages
Federal income tax (2026 brackets)$44/wk
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)$55/wk
State income taxnot available

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 we are not displaying a net figure for this state.

Overtime (Optional)

Blended Hourly Rate

$58.89

Based on 36 hours in NY.

Gross Weekly Pay

$2,120

Taxable Weekly Income

$720

Estimated Weekly Taxes

True Net Weekly Pay

Assignment Projections

13-Week Assignment

Net Pay

26-Week Assignment

Net Pay

Annual (52 weeks)

Net Pay

Take Home vs Taxes

Loading chart...

Take Home

per week

Taxes

per week

Total Gross: $2,120 per week

🏠 Housing Stipend Analysis

Your Weekly Housing Stipend

$1,000

$4,330/month

Est. 1BR Rent in New York

$2,000

Monthly average

Potential Tax-Free Pocket Money

+$2,330

Your stipend covers rent with $2,330 left over each month.

Find apartments under $2,000/month in New York City:

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Resources for Your Assignment

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Is this pay package fair?

Based on $2,200/week in New York

Comparison Battle

Staff vs. Travel Nurse in Rochester, New York

Side-by-side budget comparison for 2026. Which employment mode wins?

Staff Nurse

Weekly Gross

$1,440

Weekly Take-Home

$1,037

Annual Net (52 weeks)

$53,914

Travel Nurse

WINNER

Weekly Gross (incl. stipends)

$3,464

Weekly Take-Home

$2,989

Annual Net (~48 weeks)

$143,462

Travel nursing wins by $89,549/year

That's $1,952/week difference in take-home pay

Want a detailed breakdown customized for your situation?

Travel Nurse Pay in Rochester

Average Hourly Rate

$55/hr

Average Weekly Pay

$2,200

GSA Lodging Rate

$132/night

GSA Meal Rate

$80/day

Cost of Living in Rochester

Cost of Living Index

89.5 (Below National Average)

Studio

$850/mo

1 Bedroom

$1000/mo

2 Bedroom

$1300/mo

Top Hospitals in Rochester

  • 🏥 UR Medicine Strong Memorial Hospital
  • 🏥 Rochester Regional Health
  • 🏥 Highland Hospital

Specialty Pay in Rochester

Estimated hourly rates for the specialties most in demand here. Click any specialty for certifications, demand and national pay detail.

See all specialties →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do travel nurses make in Rochester, New York?

Travel nurses in Rochester typically earn between $50 and $65 per hour in taxable wages, with an average of $55/hr. When including tax-free stipends, the blended hourly rate ranges from $61-76 per hour.

What are the GSA rates for Rochester, New York?

The GSA per diem rates for Rochester are: Lodging: $132/night, Meals: $80/day, and Incidentals: $0/day. 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 Rochester?

The cost of living index in Rochester is 89.5, which is below the national average. Average rent ranges from $850 for a studio to $1300 for a two-bedroom apartment.

What hospitals hire travel nurses in Rochester?

Top hospitals in Rochester that frequently hire travel nurses include UR Medicine Strong Memorial Hospital, Rochester Regional Health, Highland Hospital, and others. These facilities offer competitive pay rates and excellent working conditions for travel nurses.

What specialties are in demand in Rochester?

The most in-demand specialties for travel nurses in Rochester include ICU, ER, Cardiac. These specialties typically offer higher pay rates and more contract opportunities.

Resources for Rochester