Question 1

How much do travel nurses make per week?

Accepted Answer

Travel nurse weekly pay typically ranges from $1,800 to $3,500+, depending on specialty, location, and agency. The package includes a taxable hourly base wage plus tax-free stipends for housing and meals. Crisis contracts in understaffed markets can exceed $5,000/week.

Question 2

Are travel nurse housing and meal stipends tax-free?

Accepted Answer

Yes — housing and meal stipends are tax-free only if you maintain a legitimate tax home (a permanent residence you return to and pay duplicate living expenses on). If you abandon your tax home, all stipends become taxable income retroactively.

Question 3

How long is a typical travel nurse assignment?

Accepted Answer

The standard travel nurse contract is 13 weeks (approximately 3 months). Some assignments run 8 or 26 weeks. Crisis/rapid-response contracts can be as short as 4 weeks. Most nurses complete 2–4 assignments per year.

Question 4

Do travel nurses need a separate license for every state?

Accepted Answer

Only for non-compact states. The Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC) allows one multistate license to cover 40+ participating states. Non-compact states — including California, New York, Illinois, and Michigan — each require a separate endorsement, which can take 4–12 weeks.

Question 5

Should a travel nurse take agency-provided housing or the stipend?

Accepted Answer

Most experienced travel nurses take the stipend. You keep whatever you don't spend, you control your housing quality and location, and you can negotiate a higher base package. Agency housing makes sense for first-timers who aren't yet comfortable finding furnished apartments independently.

Question 6

What is a travel nurse tax home and why does it matter?

Accepted Answer

A tax home is your permanent place of business — typically the area where you live and pay ongoing housing costs when not on assignment. Maintaining a valid tax home is required to receive tax-free stipends legally. The IRS requires you to: (1) pay duplicate living expenses, (2) return home during time off, and (3) have not abandoned the area.

Question 7

What clinical gear should every travel nurse own?

Accepted Answer

Every travel nurse should own their own stethoscope (Littmann Classic III is the standard), compression socks, trauma shears, a penlight, a watch with a second hand, a retractable badge reel, and black pens. Facilities provide most other equipment, but your personal tools travel with you to every assignment.

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