Travel Nurse Pay by State (2026)
Every US state, one page each: official BLS registered-nurse wages, state income tax, Nurse Licensure Compact status, high-demand metros and how stipends change the take-home math.
By the NursePayLab editorial team · Updated $1
Key numbers at a glance
| Benchmark | Value (BLS OEWS, May 2025) |
|---|---|
| National RN median | $97,550/year ($46.90/hr) |
| National RN mean | $101,420/year |
| Highest-paying states | CA, HI, MA, OR, WA |
| No-income-tax states | TX, FL, WA, TN, NV, NH (no wage tax), SD, WY, AK |
How to read these pages
Each state page stands on three pillars. Official wages: the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics figures for registered nurses in that state — the same series hospitals and agencies quote from. Tax reality: whether the state taxes your wages (and how hard), which moves take-home more than most rate differences. Structure: what a typical travel package looks like locally — taxable base, stipend levels against GSA tables, and which metros in the state book the most contracts.
One warning before the numbers: gross comparisons mislead in this profession. A $2,600/week package in a zero-tax state with cheap housing routinely beats $2,900 in a high-tax coastal metro. Run every real offer through the take-home calculator before you sign, and keep your tax home valid wherever you go.
All 50 states
| State | Compact (NLC) | State income tax | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Yes | Yes | BLS wages, metros, packages |
| Alaska | No | None | License by endorsement |
| Arizona | Yes | Yes (flat) | Phoenix/Tucson demand |
| Arkansas | Yes | Yes | NLC member |
| California | No | Yes (high) | Highest BLS wages in the US |
| Colorado | Yes | Yes | Denver market |
| Connecticut | Yes (Oct 2025) | Yes | Endorsement needed |
| Delaware | Yes | Yes | NLC member |
| Florida | Yes | None | No-tax + compact combo |
| Georgia | Yes | Yes | Atlanta demand |
| Hawaii | No | Yes (high) | Island premiums, housing reality |
| Idaho | Yes | Yes | NLC member |
| Illinois | Yes | Yes (flat) | Chicago market |
| Indiana | Yes | Yes (flat) | NLC member |
| Iowa | Yes | Yes | NLC member |
| Kansas | Yes | Yes | NLC member |
| Kentucky | Yes | Yes (flat) | NLC member |
| Louisiana | Yes | Yes | NLC member |
| Maine | Yes | Yes | NLC member |
| Maryland | Yes | Yes | Baltimore/DC corridor |
| Massachusetts | Enacted, pending | Yes (high) | Boston rates |
| Michigan | No | Yes (flat) | Detroit/Grand Rapids |
| Minnesota | No | Yes | Endorsement needed |
| Mississippi | Yes | Yes | NLC member |
| Missouri | Yes | Yes | St. Louis/KC |
| Montana | Yes | Yes | Lowest RN density |
| Nebraska | Yes | Yes | NLC member |
| Nevada | No | None | No-tax + compact |
| New Hampshire | Yes | None on wages | No-tax + compact |
| New Jersey | Yes | Yes | NYC-adjacent rates |
| New Mexico | Yes | Yes | NLC member |
| New York | No | Yes (high) | Endorsement + NYC market |
| North Carolina | Yes | Yes (flat) | Research Triangle |
| North Dakota | Yes | Yes | Oil-country premiums |
| Ohio | Yes | Yes | Columbus/Cleveland |
| Oklahoma | Yes | Yes | NLC member |
| Oregon | No | Yes (high) | Portland rates |
| Pennsylvania | Yes | Yes (flat) | Philly/Pittsburgh |
| Rhode Island | Yes | Yes | NLC member |
| South Carolina | Yes | Yes (flat) | Charleston/Columbia |
| South Dakota | Yes | None | No-tax + compact |
| Tennessee | Yes | None | No-tax + compact combo |
| Texas | Yes | None | The classic no-tax market |
| Utah | Yes | Yes (flat) | SLC market |
| Vermont | Yes | Yes | NLC member |
| Virginia | Yes | Yes | NOVA/ Richmond |
| Washington | No | None | No income tax, high wages |
| West Virginia | Yes | Yes | NLC member |
| Wisconsin | Yes | Yes | Madison/Milwaukee |
| Wyoming | Yes | None | No-tax + compact |
Compact and tax columns are quick navigation aids — each state page verifies current details and cites BLS figures. Tax rules and NLC membership change; confirm before you sign.
Three questions that decide your best state
What survives taxes? The zero-income-tax states — Florida, Texas, Washington, Tennessee, Nevada, New Hampshire (wages), South Dakota, Wyoming, Alaska — keep more of every taxable dollar, which compounds across a 13-week contract. Will your license work? Compact members let you start fast; the holdouts (California, New York, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon, Connecticut, Alaska, Ohio... — verify on each page) mean endorsement paperwork weeks before day one. What does housing cost there? Stipends cap at GSA tables, so high-rent metros quietly claw back the premium. The state pages above exist to answer all three with numbers — then finish the job in the contract comparison calculator.
FAQ
Which states pay travel nurses the most?
California consistently leads BLS RN wage statistics, followed by Hawaii, Massachusetts, Oregon and Washington. But take-home depends on state income tax — a no-tax state often nets more than a higher-gross one.
How much of travel nurse pay is taxable?
Only the taxable hourly base — typically $18–25/hour. Stipends are tax-free with a valid tax home, which is why identical-gross contracts can differ by hundreds per week.
Does my license work in other states?
If your primary state of residency is a Nurse Licensure Compact member, your multistate license works in all NLC states. Non-compact states require endorsement — plan 2–8 weeks.
Is pay higher where cost of living is higher?
Generally yes on paper, but GSA-capped stipends and high rents eat the difference. Mid-size metros in no-tax states often net best.
Where does the BLS wage data come from?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey — the official US government wage series for registered nurses, updated annually.