How much does a travel nurse make in 2026?

The pay structure: taxable wage + non-taxable stipend

Every contract splits pay in two. The taxable hourly wage is what the IRS sees as income; federal, state and FICA all apply. The non-taxable stipend covers housing, meals and incidentals while you are away from a tax home, and is untaxed only if you maintain a permanent residence elsewhere and duplicate expenses on contract.

Taxable wage

$18-$35/hr

The hourly rate on the pay stub. Federal, state and FICA apply to this part only.

Stipend, untaxed

$1,000-$2,500/wk

Housing, meals and incidentals. Untaxed only with a tax home you keep paying for.

Gross weekly

$1,850-$2,560

Wage plus stipend; the middle half of priced contracts on the board.

Audit risk. No tax home, no tax-free stipend. The IRS can reclassify the whole stipend as income; “permanent travelers” without a home base for 12+ months are the usual target.

2026 gross weekly bands by specialty

The middle half of weekly pay on active contracts, by specialty. Crisis and rapid-response contracts run 1.5 to 2x these and are rare in 2026.

SpecialtyMiddle half, gross /wkRates sampled

Med-Surg / Tele$2,000 to $2,5001,000

Step-down / PCU$2,020 to $2,3801,000

ICU / Critical Care$2,200 to $2,6701,000

ED / ER$2,090 to $2,5501,000

L&D / Mother-Baby$2,380 to $3,1401,000

OR / Surgical$2,280 to $2,7301,000

NICU / PICU$2,190 to $2,650809

Cath Lab / EP$2,390 to $3,000733

Geography matters more than people think

Pay is set by local supply and demand. The same ICU contract pays very differently in San Francisco, Bismarck and Tampa.

Highest-paying

Where the same contract pays most

California · Massachusetts · Washington · Oregon · Alaska · Hawaii. California’s ratio law creates chronic demand that keeps rates high.

Lowest-paying

Where it pays least

North Carolina · Tennessee · Texas, non-metro · Florida. No-ratio states with big graduating classes pay less for the same skill.

Travel nurse pay by state, the real numbers has the medians.

How to compare two contracts honestly

Agencies present offers in inconsistent formats. Normalize on five numbers; two “$2,800/week” contracts can differ by $500/week in take-home once you do.

1
Gross weekly pay
Taxable + stipend, before deductions.
2
Hours guaranteed
36, 40 or 48? Some "guarantee" 36 but only pay OT past 40 with hospital sign-off.
3
Shift length and rotation
Three 12s, four 10s, mixed? Is night differential included?
4
Length and extension terms
Most are 13 weeks; some 8 or 26.
5
Cancellation policy
If the hospital cancels you mid-contract, what is paid? Look for a cancel-week cap.

What reduces your take-home

What it isTypical hit

Tax on the wage portionFederal, state, FICA on the taxable part only.22 to 28%

Housing above the stipendSF, NYC, Boston rents rarely fit; shared or extended-stay closes the gap.Varies

Licensure per stateSometimes reimbursed by the agency.$150 to $500

Gap weeksNo pay, no benefits. Four weeks off between two 13-week contracts is 13/17 of gross.1 to 4 wks/yr

Insurance during gapsACA marketplace, individual.$400 to $900/mo

Net of all thisWhat a $2,500/wk gross contract sustains in take-home across a full year.$1,700 to $2,000/wk

When travel actually beats staff

A staff RN at the same hospital earns $1,500 to $2,200/week gross with full benefits. Travel wins only if all four hold.

Travel wins when

+1+ year of acute-care experience in your specialty

+A real tax home, so the stipend stays untaxed

+Mobile enough to absorb 1 to 4 gap weeks a year

+No need for employer insurance, 401(k) match or pension

Stay staff when

−Under a year of acute-care experience in your specialty

−No tax home: the stipend is taxed as income

−A gap week you cannot absorb, with no pay and no benefits

−You rely on the employer insurance, 401(k) match or pension

Staff vs travel nursing is the full head-to-head.

Frequently asked

What is the highest weekly pay for a travel nurse in 2026?

Cath Lab, EP and NICU/PICU in California, Massachusetts or Alaska regularly hit $3,000 to $3,500/week on standard 13-week contracts. Crisis rates can pass $4,000. The $7,000/week contracts of 2021 no longer exist.

Is the stipend really tax-free?

Yes, if you maintain a tax home with ongoing rent or ownership costs, return to it between contracts, and each assignment is under 12 months. Permanent travelers can have the stipend reclassified as income.

Do travel nurses get health insurance?

Most agencies cover active contracts only, usually a high-deductible plan. Between contracts: nothing. Experienced travelers buy ACA coverage for gaps or overlap contract dates.

How much do travel nurses pay in taxes?

On $2,500/week with a 60/40 split, about $1,000 is taxable; 22 to 28% of that is roughly $230 to $280/week. The $1,500 stipend is untaxed if the tax-home rule is met.

How do I become a travel nurse?

Active RN license (compact is a big advantage), 1 to 2 years acute-care experience, BLS plus specialty certs, clean references. Apply to 2 or 3 agencies at once to compare.

How often are travel contracts on Waypoint updated?

Every weekday night, 8 to 11 PM Central.