A travel nurse weekly package is a taxable hourly wage plus, where you qualify, non-taxable stipends for housing and meals. The headline number can hide a very different take-home, so here is how the pieces fit and what to ask before you accept an offer.
Your weekly gross is a taxable hourly wage times your guaranteed hours, plus non-taxable housing and meals and incidentals stipends if you qualify, plus any overtime, holiday or completion pay. Some packages also include a travel reimbursement and benefits. Two offers with the same headline number can have very different take-home pay depending on how much is taxable.
Taxable pay is your hourly wage, subject to federal, state and local income taxes like any W-2 job. Stipends are meant to cover housing and meals and incidentals while you are away from home on assignment. They are generally paid tax-free if you keep a qualifying tax home and the amounts stay within the federal per diem limits for the assignment location.
A tax home is your main place of work or, if you travel for work, the place where you maintain a regular home and ongoing costs. The IRS rules allow tax-free stipends only when you are working away from your tax home temporarily. If you do not qualify, stipends are generally treated as taxable wages. Talk to a tax professional about your own situation, because we cannot give tax advice.
Rates move with unit demand, start date, location, shift and the length of the contract. Short-notice starts, nights and hard-to-fill units pay more. A higher stipend with a lower hourly wage can look strong on paper but may reduce overtime pay and benefits that are based on the taxable rate, so compare the whole package.
Before you commit, also work through a specialty example such as travel ICU and our jobs overview.
Compare weekly gross, the taxable portion, guaranteed hours, overtime rate, benefits start date and total cost of housing in that market. If you are keeping your own home as a tax home, count those costs too. A slightly lower number with guaranteed hours and strong benefits often beats a bigger number with loose terms.
Yes. Your taxable wages are taxed like any W-2 income. Stipends are generally tax-free only if you qualify, so ask a tax professional about your situation.
Many contracts include them, but terms differ. Ask for the guarantee in writing, including what happens if the facility cancels shifts.
No. It follows the assignment location and the limits for that area, so it varies from city to city.
Often yes, within what the facility is paying. Experience, flexibility on start date and willingness to take nights all give you leverage.
No. Placement is free to you. The facility pays our fee.
Two minutes now saves a dozen irrelevant calls later. We only get in touch when something genuinely matches your specialty, your states and the schedule you actually want.
Tell us your specialty, the states you will work and the schedule you want. We will show you the full breakdown before you commit.