Median weekly pay by state, August 2026
These are the large-volume states; each has roughly 900 or more priced contracts live, enough that the median means something. Smaller states can post eye-catching rates on a handful of crisis contracts, but a median built on thin volume is not a number you should plan around.
California leads the large states at $2,505 a week and also has the most priced contracts, so the high rate is structural, not scarcity. Texas runs about $300 a week under the national median yet has among the most contracts on the board, which makes it the volume play: easier to land something fast, at a lower headline rate. The spread between the two is roughly $8,255 over a standard 13-week contract; whether it survives taxes and housing costs is covered below.
Why the same job pays $635 more in California
Four forces drive the state-to-state spread.
One more practical filter: where you can actually start. With a compact license you can begin work in compact states without waiting on a new license. Check the compact license state list before you fall in love with a rate in a state that will take eight weeks to license you.
How to compare two contracts properly
Weekly gross is a headline, not an answer. Two contracts at the same gross can differ by hundreds of dollars a week in take-home once you account for the taxable-vs-stipend split, state income tax, and what housing actually costs at the destination.
First contract? Read the first travel contract guide before you sign anything; the pay package is only one of the things worth checking.
Where to browse the contracts behind these numbers
Every contract behind these medians is live on the travel board; filter by state and specialty, and the listed rate is right on the card. Listings update nightly, applying is free, and applications go directly to the employer or agency.
Deciding between destinations? The state guides go deeper on what it is actually like to work there: California, Texas and Florida. Wondering whether travel beats your staff job at all? Start with staff vs travel nursing, and check staff pay scales on the wages page.
Frequently asked
Which state pays travel nurses the most?
Among states with a large number of live contracts, California; a median of $2,505 per week across 2,653 priced contracts as of August 2026. Smaller states occasionally post higher individual rates on a few crisis contracts, but medians built on thin volume are not reliable for planning.
Are these numbers gross pay or take-home?
Gross weekly pay as listed on the contract, which typically bundles the taxable base rate with non-taxable housing and meal stipends. Take-home depends on how your package splits between the two and on the state's income tax. Use the travel pay calculator at /tools/travel-pay-calculator to compare offers on an after-tax basis.
Why is travel nurse pay in Texas so much lower?
The Texas median is $1,870 per week as of August 2026; about $300 under the national median, but Texas has among the most contracts on the board, so jobs are easier to land. Texas also has no state income tax, which narrows the take-home gap against high-tax states like California more than the gross numbers suggest.
How current are these numbers?
The medians in this guide were computed in August 2026. For the current picture on any given day, browse the live travel board; the rate on each card is the rate being offered now.
Do the weekly rates include housing stipends?
Usually, yes. The weekly figure on most travel contracts is the blended package: taxable hourly base plus housing and meal stipends. That is why comparing contracts on the headline number alone is risky; two identical weekly rates can have very different splits, and the split changes both your take-home and your tax exposure.