Travel Nurse Salary: How Much Do Travel Nurses Make in 2026?
A travel nurse in the United States earns an average of $2,200 to $3,200 per week ($105,600 to $153,600 over 48 working weeks) in 2026. Because travelers who maintain a qualifying IRS tax home receive 40% to 55% of their weekly package as tax-free GSA lodging and M&IE stipends, a $2,650/week ($127,200/year) travel contract leaves as much net take-home pay as a $152,000/year fully taxed staff RN salary.
2026 Travel Nurse Weekly Package & Tax-Free GSA Stipend Calculator
2026 Travel Nurse Weekly Pay & GSA Stipend Breakdown by Specialty
| Travel RN specialty (36 hrs/wk) | Weekly blended package | 48-Week annual gross | Equivalent staff RN salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Med-Surg / Telemetry Travel RN | $2,150 – $2,450 / wk | $103,200 – $117,600 | ≈ $124,000 – $140,000 |
| ICU / ER / Stepdown Travel RN (Typical) | $2,550 – $2,950 / wk | $122,400 – $141,600 | ≈ $148,000 – $170,000 |
| Labor & Delivery / NICU / OR Travel RN | $2,800 – $3,400 / wk | $134,400 – $163,200 | ≈ $162,000 – $196,000 |
| CVOR / Cath Lab / Crisis Response (48 hrs/wk) | $3,500 – $4,500 / wk | $168,000 – $216,000 | ≈ $202,000 – $260,000 |
IRS Publication 463 Tax-Home Rules for Tax-Free Travel Nurse Stipends
Under IRS Publication 463 and Revenue Ruling 93-86, your weekly GSA housing and meals stipends are 100% exempt from federal income tax, state income tax, and 7.65% FICA payroll tax only if you duplicate living expenses while working away from a permanent tax home, and you do not work in the same metropolitan area for more than 12 months out of a rolling 24-month period. Because only the taxable hourly base ($25–$38/hr) appears in Box 1 of your Form W-2, your effective tax rate across your entire weekly package typically drops to 8%–12% instead of 24%–30%.
Common questions
How much do travel nurses make a week in 2026?
Most 36-hour travel nurse contracts in 2026 pay between $2,200 and $3,200 per week, typically split between $1,000–$1,400 in taxable hourly wages and $1,200–$1,800 in tax-free GSA lodging and meal stipends.
Are travel nurse stipends taxed?
No, provided you maintain a valid IRS tax home (incurring duplicate housing expenses at both your permanent residence and your assignment location) and your assignment in one metro area does not exceed 12 months. If you do not have a tax home ('itinerant worker'), 100% of your stipend must be taxed as W-2 wages.
Why shouldn't a travel nurse accept an artificially low $15/hour taxable base rate?
The IRS requires travel healthcare agencies to pay a 'reasonable compensation' hourly base wage for RNs. Accepting an artificially low hourly wage (such as $15/hr) to inflate tax-free stipends is an IRS audit red flag known as wage recharacterization, and it also lowers your overtime rate and Social Security earnings record.
Sources
- U.S. General Services Administration (GSA.gov): Official FY2026 Lodging & M&IE Per Diem Rates
- IRS Publication 463: Travel, Gift, and Car Expenses (Tax Home & 1-Year Rule)
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General information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Check important numbers with the official source before acting on them.