Travel Nurse Pay in Knoxville, Tennessee: 2026 Cost of Living & GSA Rates
Economic analysis: GSA housing caps, average rent, and profitability verdict for travel nurses in Knoxville.
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: Knoxville Travel Nursing
GSA Housing Cap (Weekly)
$903/wk
≈ $3,910/mo
Avg Rent (1BR)
$1,000/mo
Margin
$2,910/mo
Even the lowest GSA rate is 3.9x 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, and TN levies no wage income tax, so no state income tax return is due on these wages.
Overtime (Optional)
Blended Hourly Rate
$89.47
Based on 36 hours in TN.
Gross Weekly Pay
$3,221
Taxable Weekly Income
$1,800
Estimated Weekly Taxes
$364
True Net Weekly Pay
$2,857
Assignment Projections
13-Week Assignment
$37,142
Net Pay
26-Week Assignment
$74,285
Net Pay
Annual (52 weeks)
$148,570
Net Pay
Take Home vs Taxes
Take Home
$2,857
per week
Taxes
$364
per week
Total Gross: $3,221 per week
🏠 Housing Stipend Analysis
Your Weekly Housing Stipend
$903
≈ $3,910/month
Est. 1BR Rent in Knoxville
$1,000
Monthly average
✅ Potential Tax-Free Pocket Money
+$2,910
Your stipend covers rent with $2,910 left over each month.
Find apartments under $1,000/month in Knoxville:
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Cost of Living Analysis in Knoxville
After rent, this is what you'll have left each month for other expenses
National average = 100. Knoxville's cost of living is lower than the national average by 11.5 points.
💡 Lower cost of living area. Your pay may go further here than in expensive cities.
Rent figures are our own editorial estimates, not survey or listings data. Actual rent varies by neighborhood and housing type.
Resources for Your Assignment
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Staff vs. Travel Nurse in Knoxville, Tennessee
An annual take-home comparison under stated assumptions. Change any input to match your own offers.
Staff Nurse
Weekly Gross
$1,296
Weekly Take-Home (before state income tax)
$1,082
Annual Take-Home (before state income tax) (52 weeks)
$56,240
Travel Nurse
Weekly Gross (incl. stipends)
$3,221
Weekly Take-Home (before state income tax) (while working)
$2,871
Annual Take-Home (before state income tax) (48 weeks)
$137,820
Under these assumptions, the travel contract nets $81,580 more per year
Travel is counted for 48 weeks and staff for 52, so the weekly gap while working is $1,790 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 Knoxville
Average Hourly Rate
$50/hr
Average Weekly Pay
$2,000
GSA Lodging Rate
$129/night
GSA Meal Rate (M&IE)
$74/day
Cost of Living in Knoxville
Cost of Living Index
88.5 (Below National Average)
Studio
$850/mo
1 Bedroom
$1000/mo
2 Bedroom
$1300/mo
Does the Stipend Cover Rent in Knoxville?
GSA's lodging ceiling for Knoxville does not change by season: $129/night all year.
| Period | GSA lodging | Weekly ceiling | Monthly ceiling | vs $1,000 rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All year | $129/night | $903 | $3,910 | +$2,910/mo |
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 Knoxville GSA rates page, or test an actual offer in the stipend calculator.
How Knoxville Compares in Tennessee
- Estimated taxable pay: tied for 1st highest of 5 tracked Tennessee cities ($50/hr, editorial estimate).
- GSA lodging ceiling (annual peak): 3rd highest of 5 ($129/night).
- One-bedroom rent: tied for 2nd lowest of 5 ($1,000/mo, editorial estimate).
Other Tennessee cities: Chattanooga, Memphis, Murfreesboro, Nashville. State overview: Tennessee travel nurse pay.
Top Hospitals in Knoxville
- 🏥 University of Tennessee Medical Center
- 🏥 Covenant Health
- 🏥 Fort Sanders Regional
Specialty Pay in Knoxville
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 Knoxville, Tennessee?
Travel nurses in Knoxville typically earn between $45 and $60 per hour in taxable wages, with an average of $50/hr. When including tax-free stipends, the blended hourly rate ranges from $56-71 per hour.
What are the GSA rates for Knoxville, Tennessee?
The GSA per diem rates for Knoxville are: Lodging: $129/night, and Meals & Incidental Expenses (M&IE): $74/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 Knoxville?
The cost of living index in Knoxville is 88.5, which is below the national average. Average rent ranges from $850 for a studio to $1300 for a two-bedroom apartment.
Does the GSA housing stipend cover rent in Knoxville?
GSA's lodging ceiling for Knoxville is $129/night all year, about $3,910/month. Against our editorial one-bedroom estimate of $1,000/month, that is $2,910 a month. A ceiling is the most a stipend can be, not what an offer pays, so check the offer's actual stipend.
What hospitals hire travel nurses in Knoxville?
Top hospitals in Knoxville that frequently hire travel nurses include University of Tennessee Medical Center, Covenant Health, Fort Sanders Regional, and others. These facilities offer competitive pay rates and excellent working conditions for travel nurses.
What specialties are in demand in Knoxville?
The most in-demand specialties for travel nurses in Knoxville include Med-Surg, ER, ICU. These specialties typically offer higher pay rates and more contract opportunities.