Travel Healthcare Pay Calculator

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Travel Healthcare Pay Calculator

Compare travel nurse and allied health pay offers side by side

Whether you're a travel nurse — RN, LPN, or CNA — or an allied health professional such as a physical therapist, respiratory therapist, sonographer, surgical tech, or radiology tech, travel pay works the same way: a taxable hourly wage plus non-taxable stipends for housing and meals. This free calculator lets you compare two offers side by side and see which one actually puts more money in your pocket.

✓ Compare offers instantly · No registration · No personal information

Standard travel nursing = 36 hrs
● Offer A
Taxable pay
$/hr
Non-taxable stipends
$/wk
$/wk
$/wk
○ Offer B
Taxable pay
$/hr
Non-taxable stipends
$/wk
$/wk
$/wk
Offer A
$0
total weekly gross
Taxable pay$0
Non-taxed stipends$0
Est. federal + FICA-$0
Est. state tax-$0
Est. take-home$0
Blended rate$0/hr
Offer B
$0
total weekly gross
Taxable pay$0
Non-taxed stipends$0
Est. federal + FICA-$0
Est. state tax-$0
Est. take-home$0
Blended rate$0/hr
▲
Enter both offers above to see which one pays more.
Stipend tax advantage — what non-taxed pay saves you
$0
Offer A — est. tax saved per week from stipends
$0
Offer B — est. tax saved per week from stipends
$0
Offer A — est. annual tax savings (52 weeks)
$0
Offer B — est. annual tax savings (52 weeks)
About these estimates: Federal tax uses an approximate combined rate (FICA plus estimated federal income tax). State tax uses an approximate effective rate for typical travel-healthcare income in each offer's work state and is applied to taxable wages only. Travel healthcare is generally taxed in the state where they work. Actual taxes depend on filing status, deductions, local taxes, and other income. Non-taxable stipends require a qualifying tax home. This calculator is for comparison purposes only — not tax or legal advice. Always consult a travel nurse-specialized CPA.

Ready to compare real offers in your specialty? Cynet Health provides fully itemized pay breakdowns — no blended rates, no surprises.

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How to compare travel healthcare pay packages

The biggest mistake travel healthcare make when comparing offers is looking at the hourly rate first. Travel nursing pay is split into a taxable hourly wage and non-taxable stipends for housing and meals — and the mix between those two matters far more than the headline number. This calculator lets you enter two offers side by side and compare what actually lands in your bank account each week.

Why a lower hourly rate can pay more

Taxes only apply to your taxable hourly wage. Your housing and meal stipends are paid in full, untaxed, as long as you maintain a qualifying tax home. That means an offer with a lower base rate but higher stipends can deliver more take-home pay than one with a high taxable rate and small stipends. The calculator shows this difference clearly — both per week and projected over a full year.

What goes into each offer

  • Base hourly rate: Your taxable wage. Taxes are withheld from this portion.
  • Housing stipend: A weekly non-taxable allowance for lodging, generally tied to GSA per-diem rates for the assignment location.
  • Meals & incidentals: A separate non-taxable stipend for food and daily expenses.
  • Travel reimbursement: Any additional weekly allowance for travel to and from the assignment.

The truth about the "blended rate".
Agencies often advertise a single blended rate that combines your taxable wage and stipends into one impressive hourly number. It is useful for a quick glance, but it hides how much of your pay is taxable versus non-taxable — and it assumes you qualify for tax-free stipends. Always compare offers by estimated take-home pay, which is exactly what this calculator shows. Frequently asked questions

How do I compare two travel healthcare offers?

Compare by total estimated take-home pay, not hourly rate alone. Enter both packages into the calculator above to see the real weekly and annual difference. A lower hourly rate with higher stipends often wins.

Are travel healthcare stipends taxed?

Housing and meal stipends are generally non-taxable as long as you maintain a permanent tax home and work away from it temporarily. Without a qualifying tax home, stipends may become taxable.

Why does a lower hourly rate sometimes pay more?

Because more of the pay comes through non-taxable stipends. Taxes apply only to the taxable wage, so a package with a lower base rate but higher stipends can deliver more money in your pocket.

Is this calculator free?

Completely free, no registration, and no personal information collected. Your numbers stay in your browser and are never sent anywhere.

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Refer a Locum Program

Know someone looking for a locum assignment? Explore our Refer a friend program.

$2000 BONUS
If you know another talented physician or advanced practice professional who might be interested in the flexibility and rewards a locums career can provide, refer them to our company and let us reward you with $2000 for each referral.
To qualify for the bonus:
  • Refer a physician or advanced practice professional who Cynet Health has not presented to a facility or reached out to in the last 12 months.
  • Be sure to use the online referral form yourself before the candidate has been presented by Cynet Health to a healthcare facility.
  • Once the medical professional has worked the minimum qualifying hours within 12 months from the date you’ve referred them (250 hours for a physician or 500 hours for an advanced practice professional), you will be eligible to earn $2000.*
  • After 30 days of completion of the qualifying hours, your referral reward of $2000 will be processed.

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Tips for First Time Travelers

Ask yourself why you want to travel

Why do you want to travel? Is it money, the experience, or perhaps both? Can I afford to travel? How does this affect my personal life?

Know before you go

Confirm if weekends, evenings or on-call are expected. Get clarification on accommodations and other necessities.

Arrive a few days early before your report date

Be familiar with the area you will be living, as well as the lay of the facility where you will be working, and importantly, the parking if applicable. It is ideal to live withing a reasonable proximity to your new work place.

Educate yourself

There are many social media groups, travel nursing sites and experienced travelers to get insight. Join relevant support groups. It can also be a great way to make new friend.

Be flexible

Working in the medical field is no doubt demanding. Long hours and night shifts are often the norm. It is more likely that more opportunity will be available for those that can be flexible.

What to bring

As a traveler, “less is more”. The beauty of minimalism is that it allows flexibility for future opportunities. Always remember the necessities; your certifications/credentials, and government id’s. A passport and comfy shoes are recommended, too? You are a traveler, after all!

Ready To Start?

Refer a Friend Program

Know someone looking for a job in healthcare?
Explore our Refer a friend program.

$1500 BONUS
RNs – UP TO $1500 ($500 for each 13 week assignment)
LVNs/LPNs – UP TO $1000 ($333 for each 13 week assignment)
CNAs – UP TO $300 ($100 for each 13 week assignment)
$1000 BONUS

ALLIED HEALTH 1 – UP TO $1000

($333 for each 13 week assignment)
Audiologist, Cardiovascular Rad Tech, Certified Respiratory Therapist, CT Technologist, Cath Lab Technologist, CVOR Tech, Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant, Cytotechnologist, Registered Dental Hygienist, Echo Technologist, Histotechnologist, Interventional Rad Tech, Mammographer, MRI Technologist, Medical technologist, Nuclear Medicine Technologist, Occupational Therapist, registered dietician, Pharmacist, Polysomnographer, Physical Therapist, Physical Therapy Assistant, Radiology Technician, Radiation Therapist, Registered Respiratory Therapist, Social Worker, Speech Therapist, Ultrasound Technician, Vascular Technologist

$600 BONUS

ALLIED HEALTH 2 – UP TO $600

($200 for each 13 week assignment) Certified Surgical Technician, Sterile Processing Technician

ALLIED HEALTH 3 AND NON CLINICAL – UP TO $300

($100 for each 13 week assignment)
Anesthesia Technician, Dental Assistant, Dialysis Technician,
EEG Technician, Emergency Medical Technician, Medical Lab Technician, Pharmacy technician, Project Coordinator, Sleep Lab Technician, Xray Technician, Admin Asst/Secretary, Cook, Customer Service Representative, Dietary Aide, EKG Technician, Environmental Services, Medical Coder, Medical Collector, Medical Receptionist,
Any Other Position.

*Assignments have to be back to back without any gaps & referral amount is paid after completion of each assignment.

Direct Hire

$2000 BONUS
C-Level & Executives
$1000 BONUS
RNs/APPs
$500 BONUS
Allied Health
$250 BONUS
Non-Clinical

*Payable upon successful completion of the first assignment.
*For assignments less than 13 weeks, the referral bonus will be prorated.
*Referrals are valid if the candidate is not in our database or if they have had no activity for the last 12 months
*Assignments must be at least 13 weeks long to qualify for the referral bonus, and they must start within 30 days of the previous assignment (including extensions)
*The referral amount is paid after the completion of each assignment

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