How to read a travel nurse pay package

The headline number

Most listings show a weekly gross, like this:

Two offers with the same weekly gross can leave you with very different take-home pay, depending on how much is taxable and how much is stipend. Every job on Nurse Travelers shows the breakdown when the agency lists it, plus an estimated take-home.

Questions to ask every recruiter

Pay

• What's the taxable hourly rate? What are the housing and meals (M&IE) stipends?
• What's the overtime rate, and is it based on the taxable rate or the full blended rate?
• Are there shift differentials, holiday pay, on-call or call-back rates?
• Is there a completion bonus? What exactly do you have to do to earn it?

Hours and cancellations

• How many hours a week are guaranteed?
• If the hospital cancels a shift for low census, do you lose pay? How many cancellations are allowed?
• What happens if the hospital ends the contract early?

Housing and travel

• Is housing a stipend or agency-provided? If provided, is it furnished, and how far from the hospital?
• Is there travel reimbursement, how much, and when is it paid?
• If the contract mentions a car, is a rental car included, or is it travel money?

The job itself

• What unit, shift and schedule (3x12, 4x10, rotating)?
• Will you float? To which units?
• What are typical ratios? How long is orientation?

Benefits and costs

• When does health insurance start, and what does it cost?
• Are license fees, certifications and compliance costs (physical, drug screen, vaccines) reimbursed?
• Is there a 401(k), and when can you join?

Comparing offers fairly

1. Line up the hours. A 48-hour contract pays more per week than a 36-hour one.
2. Compare take-home, not gross. The taxable versus stipend split changes what you keep.
3. Count the whole contract. $100 more a week is $1,300 over 13 weeks.
4. Weigh the guarantees. A slightly lower rate with guaranteed hours can beat a higher rate that can be canceled.

When the same job is posted by several agencies, Nurse Travelers puts their offers side by side on one page.

Red flags

• The recruiter won't give the breakdown in writing.
• The taxable rate is unusually low. See stipends and tax homes.
• The contract differs from what you were told on the phone.
• There's pressure to sign today.

Before you sign

Read the whole contract. Make sure the pay breakdown, guaranteed hours, cancellation terms, start date, shift and unit match what you agreed. Ask for anything verbal to be added in writing.

General information, not legal or tax advice. Always confirm the full package with your recruiter.