Travel nurse pay in 2026 is nothing like the COVID-era spikes, but the spread between states is still huge — a travel RN in California can earn nearly double what the same nurse earns in Alabama for the same 13-week contract. This guide breaks down average weekly pay in all 50 states, how the taxable-vs-stipend split changes your take-home, and where experienced travel RNs are signing right now.
Last updated: April 2026. Data aggregated from Vivian Health, Aya Healthcare, NurseFly, and recent contract reports submitted by verified travel nurses.
Average Travel Nurse Weekly Pay by State (2026)
These are blended averages across specialties (ICU, Med-Surg, L&D, ER) for 36-hour weekly contracts. Your actual offer will swing based on specialty, shift, and how urgent the facility's need is.
| State | Avg Weekly Pay | Taxable / Stipend Split |
|---|---|---|
| California | $2,950 | $1,000 / $1,950 |
| Alaska | $2,850 | $950 / $1,900 |
| Hawaii | $2,700 | $900 / $1,800 |
| Massachusetts | $2,600 | $1,050 / $1,550 |
| New York | $2,550 | $1,000 / $1,550 |
| Washington | $2,500 | $1,000 / $1,500 |
| Oregon | $2,450 | $950 / $1,500 |
| Nevada | $2,400 | $950 / $1,450 |
| New Jersey | $2,400 | $1,000 / $1,400 |
| Minnesota | $2,350 | $1,000 / $1,350 |
| Colorado | $2,300 | $950 / $1,350 |
| Connecticut | $2,300 | $1,000 / $1,300 |
| Illinois | $2,250 | $950 / $1,300 |
| Maryland | $2,200 | $950 / $1,250 |
| Michigan | $2,150 | $900 / $1,250 |
| Pennsylvania | $2,150 | $950 / $1,200 |
| Virginia | $2,100 | $900 / $1,200 |
| Arizona | $2,100 | $900 / $1,200 |
| Wisconsin | $2,050 | $900 / $1,150 |
| Texas | $2,050 | $900 / $1,150 |
| Ohio | $2,000 | $900 / $1,100 |
| Georgia | $2,000 | $900 / $1,100 |
| North Carolina | $1,975 | $875 / $1,100 |
| Florida | $1,950 | $850 / $1,100 |
| Indiana | $1,950 | $900 / $1,050 |
| Missouri | $1,925 | $875 / $1,050 |
| Tennessee | $1,900 | $875 / $1,025 |
| South Carolina | $1,875 | $850 / $1,025 |
| Kentucky | $1,850 | $850 / $1,000 |
| Oklahoma | $1,850 | $850 / $1,000 |
| Kansas | $1,825 | $850 / $975 |
| Iowa | $1,825 | $850 / $975 |
| Louisiana | $1,800 | $850 / $950 |
| Nebraska | $1,800 | $850 / $950 |
| New Mexico | $1,800 | $850 / $950 |
| Utah | $1,775 | $825 / $950 |
| Maine | $1,775 | $850 / $925 |
| Idaho | $1,750 | $825 / $925 |
| New Hampshire | $1,750 | $850 / $900 |
| Vermont | $1,725 | $825 / $900 |
| Montana | $1,700 | $825 / $875 |
| Rhode Island | $1,700 | $825 / $875 |
| Arkansas | $1,700 | $825 / $875 |
| Wyoming | $1,675 | $800 / $875 |
| North Dakota | $1,675 | $800 / $875 |
| South Dakota | $1,650 | $800 / $850 |
| Delaware | $1,650 | $800 / $850 |
| West Virginia | $1,625 | $800 / $825 |
| Mississippi | $1,600 | $775 / $825 |
| Alabama | $1,600 | $775 / $825 |
| D.C. | $2,500 | $1,050 / $1,450 |
Top 10 Highest-Paying States for Travel Nurses in 2026
- California — $2,950/wk avg. AB 394 staffing ratios keep demand constant; Bay Area and LA crisis rates hit $3,500+.
- Alaska — $2,850/wk. Remote hospital premiums and limited local workforce; Anchorage and Fairbanks are the main markets.
- Hawaii — $2,700/wk. Cost of living eats into the pay, but stipends are high and scenery is unbeatable.
- Massachusetts — $2,600/wk. Boston academic medical centers pay top taxable rates.
- New York — $2,550/wk. NYC and Long Island drive the average; upstate is closer to $2,100.
- Washington — $2,500/wk. Seattle and Tacoma lead; no state income tax is a meaningful bonus.
- Oregon — $2,450/wk. Portland and Eugene Level I trauma centers stay short-staffed.
- Nevada — $2,400/wk. Las Vegas demand is steady; no state income tax.
- New Jersey — $2,400/wk. High weekly pay but cost of living matches; commuter-market stipends.
- Minnesota — $2,350/wk. Twin Cities health systems have been aggressive with premium rates.
Why the Taxable / Stipend Split Matters More Than the Headline Number
Two contracts can show "$2,200/week" on the headline and pay you very different amounts after taxes. The taxable wage is what shows up on your W-2 and gets taxed at your marginal rate. The stipend (housing + meals/incidentals) is tax-free if you qualify as working away from your tax home.
A contract with a $1,200 taxable / $1,000 stipend split will put more into your pocket than $1,600 taxable / $600 stipend on the same $2,200 headline — assuming you actually meet IRS duplicate-expense rules.
This matters so much that we wrote a full breakdown on how travel nurse housing stipends actually work and what IRS rules you need to follow to keep them tax-free.
States with No State Income Tax (Quiet Pay Boost)
Nine states don't charge state income tax — that can add 4–10% to your effective take-home versus a same-priced contract in a high-tax state:
- Alaska
- Florida
- Nevada
- New Hampshire (tax-free on wages; interest/dividends only)
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Washington
- Wyoming
For a Florida or Texas contract paying $2,000/week, that's roughly $4,000–$8,000 more per 13-week assignment versus a same-priced contract in California or New York after state tax.
What Actually Drives Travel Nurse Pay in 2026
- Specialty. ICU, OR, L&D, and Cath Lab routinely clear $200–$400 more per week than Med-Surg in the same market. See our ICU travel nurse salary breakdown for specialty premiums.
- Shift. Nights typically add $2–$4/hr to the taxable rate; weekends add another $1–$2/hr at most facilities.
- Contract length. 8-week contracts pay more weekly than 13-week contracts at the same facility — agencies price urgency.
- Agency overhead. Some agencies keep 25% of the bill rate; others take 15%. Ask your recruiter for the bill rate and do the math yourself.
- Cancellation risk. Higher paying contracts often come with weaker cancellation protections. More on that in our contract red flags checklist.
Is a $2,500/Week Contract Still Worth It?
Depends on what it leaves you with. A $2,500 contract in San Francisco with a $3,800/month hotel burn leaves you with less than a $1,900 contract in a Texas city where your stipend actually covers housing. Run the math on total assignment net, not weekly gross. The free Contract Red Flag Audit includes a pay-package worksheet that does this for you.
How to Find the Highest Paying Travel Nurse Jobs
- Check 2–3 agencies simultaneously (Aya, AMN, Cross Country, Vivian). Same facility, different bill rates.
- Ask for the bill rate — not just your weekly take-home. It tells you how much room there is to negotiate.
- Target high-acuity specialties in high-demand states. California ICU clears $3,000/week far more than California Med-Surg.
- Time assignments to crisis rates — winter surge (Jan-Mar) and summer vacation coverage (Jun-Aug) reliably have premium rates.
- Don't sign the first offer. The second offer on the same contract is almost always 5–10% higher.
Frequently Asked Questions
What state pays travel nurses the most in 2026?
California, at a $2,950/week blended average, with Bay Area ICU crisis contracts hitting $3,500+. Alaska and Hawaii are close behind and often preferred by nurses who don't want California's cost of living.
Do travel nurses make more than staff nurses?
In most states, yes — typically 30–60% more on a weekly basis when you factor the tax-free stipend. But travel nurses pay their own health insurance, get no PTO, and carry more risk. See our travel vs staff salary breakdown for the full comparison.
How much is a travel nurse paid per week?
The national 2026 average sits around $2,100/week blended. Crisis specialties (ICU, ER) in high-cost states can clear $3,000; low-demand Med-Surg in Southern states runs closer to $1,600.
Why is travel nurse pay lower than during COVID?
COVID bill rates were driven by emergency demand and state funding. Since 2023, hospital systems have rebuilt internal travel pools (at lower rates) and federal crisis funding dried up. Pay has stabilized at roughly 2019 levels adjusted for inflation.
Do I pay taxes on my travel nurse stipend?
Not if you qualify — you must maintain a legitimate tax home, work away from it, and duplicate expenses. If the IRS decides you don't qualify, the entire stipend becomes taxable retroactively. Our housing stipend tax guide covers the exact rules.
Before You Sign
A high-pay state means nothing if the contract has hidden cancellation clauses or missing overtime guarantees. Run your offer through the free Contract Red Flag Audit before you sign — it takes 3 minutes and flags the 10 most common issues that cost nurses money. For the full set of negotiation scripts and counter-offer language, the Free Contract Audit Kit is reusable on every future contract.