Travel Nurse Pay in El Paso, Texas: 2026 Cost of Living & GSA Rates
Economic analysis: GSA housing caps, average rent, and profitability verdict for travel nurses in El Paso.
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: El Paso Travel Nursing
GSA Housing Cap (Weekly)
$791/wk
≈ $3,425/mo
Avg Rent (1BR)
$950/mo
Margin
$2,475/mo
Even the lowest GSA rate is 3.6x 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, and TX levies no wage income tax, so no state income tax return is due on these wages.
Overtime (Optional)
Blended Hourly Rate
$82.19
Based on 36 hours in TX.
Gross Weekly Pay
$2,959
Taxable Weekly Income
$1,692
Estimated Weekly Taxes
$332
True Net Weekly Pay
$2,627
Assignment Projections
13-Week Assignment
$34,153
Net Pay
26-Week Assignment
$68,305
Net Pay
Annual (52 weeks)
$136,611
Net Pay
Take Home vs Taxes
Take Home
$2,627
per week
Taxes
$332
per week
Total Gross: $2,959 per week
🏠 Housing Stipend Analysis
Your Weekly Housing Stipend
$791
≈ $3,425/month
Est. 1BR Rent in El Paso
$950
Monthly average
✅ Potential Tax-Free Pocket Money
+$2,475
Your stipend covers rent with $2,475 left over each month.
Find apartments under $950/month in El Paso:
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Cost of Living Analysis in El Paso
After rent, this is what you'll have left each month for other expenses
National average = 100. El Paso's cost of living is lower than the national average by 17.9 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 El Paso, Texas
An annual take-home comparison under stated assumptions. Change any input to match your own offers.
Staff Nurse
Weekly Gross
$1,224
Weekly Take-Home (before state income tax)
$1,025
Annual Take-Home (before state income tax) (52 weeks)
$53,321
Travel Nurse
Weekly Gross (incl. stipends)
$2,959
Weekly Take-Home (before state income tax) (while working)
$2,641
Annual Take-Home (before state income tax) (48 weeks)
$126,781
Under these assumptions, the travel contract nets $73,460 more per year
Travel is counted for 48 weeks and staff for 52, so the weekly gap while working is $1,616 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 El Paso
Average Hourly Rate
$47/hr
Average Weekly Pay
$1,880
GSA Lodging Rate
$113/night
GSA Meal Rate (M&IE)
$68/day
Cost of Living in El Paso
Cost of Living Index
82.1 (Below National Average)
Studio
$800/mo
1 Bedroom
$950/mo
2 Bedroom
$1300/mo
Does the Stipend Cover Rent in El Paso?
GSA's lodging ceiling for El Paso does not change by season: $113/night all year.
| Period | GSA lodging | Weekly ceiling | Monthly ceiling | vs $950 rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All year | $113/night | $791 | $3,425 | +$2,475/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 El Paso GSA rates page, or test an actual offer in the stipend calculator.
How El Paso Compares in Texas
- Estimated taxable pay: 12th highest of 16 tracked Texas cities ($47/hr, editorial estimate).
- GSA lodging ceiling (annual peak): tied for 11th highest of 16 ($113/night).
- One-bedroom rent: 6th lowest of 16 ($950/mo, editorial estimate).
Other Texas cities: Abilene, Amarillo, Arlington, Austin, Brownsville, Corpus Christi. State overview: Texas travel nurse pay.
Top Hospitals in El Paso
- 🏥 University Medical Center
- 🏥 Las Palmas Medical Center
- 🏥 Sierra Medical Center
Specialty Pay in El Paso
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 El Paso, Texas?
Travel nurses in El Paso typically earn between $42 and $57 per hour in taxable wages, with an average of $47/hr. When including tax-free stipends, the blended hourly rate ranges from $52-67 per hour.
What are the GSA rates for El Paso, Texas?
The GSA per diem rates for El Paso are: Lodging: $113/night, and Meals & Incidental Expenses (M&IE): $68/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 El Paso?
The cost of living index in El Paso is 82.1, which is below the national average. Average rent ranges from $800 for a studio to $1300 for a two-bedroom apartment.
Does the GSA housing stipend cover rent in El Paso?
GSA's lodging ceiling for El Paso is $113/night all year, about $3,425/month. Against our editorial one-bedroom estimate of $950/month, that is $2,475 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 El Paso?
Top hospitals in El Paso that frequently hire travel nurses include University Medical Center, Las Palmas Medical Center, Sierra Medical Center, and others. These facilities offer competitive pay rates and excellent working conditions for travel nurses.
What specialties are in demand in El Paso?
The most in-demand specialties for travel nurses in El Paso include ICU, ER, Med-Surg. These specialties typically offer higher pay rates and more contract opportunities.