Travel Nurse Pay in Louisiana (2026)
Louisiana dropped its income tax to a flat 2.75% for 2026 — the lowest in this series — and its travel market has storm-season spikes built in. Here are the verified BLS numbers and what contracts typically pay.
By the NursePayLab editorial team · Updated $1
Key numbers at a glance
| Measure | Figure | What it means for travelers |
|---|---|---|
| RN employment (Louisiana) | 48,970 | Size of the staff market behind you (per BLS OEWS, May 2025) |
| Median RN wage | $80,230/yr ($38.57/hr) | Staff baseline that anchors hospital bill rates |
| Mean RN wage | $84,190/yr ($40.48/hr) | Includes the experienced-nurse band travelers replace |
| Entry RN (10th pct) | $63,800/yr | Floor of the market |
Travel nurse pay in Louisiana: the numbers
Louisiana employed 48,970 registered nurses as of May 2025, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. The median RN wage was $80,230 ($38.57/hr) per year with a mean of $84,190 ($40.48/hr), a 10th percentile of $63,800 and a 90th percentile of $104,740.
The 75th percentile at $93,600 reflects the New Orleans and Baton Rouge metros, where the state's largest systems concentrate. Louisiana's travel market has a distinctive rhythm: steady baseline demand in the cities plus episodic hurricane-season surges that can push quotes up sharply for ICU, med-surg and ER nurses on short notice. Those surge lines pay well precisely when they are hardest to take.
Quotes swing with the season and with each storm's path, so the range below is deliberately hedged. Verify live offers — especially post-event surge contracts — with your recruiter before committing.
| Measure | Figure | What it means for travelers |
|---|---|---|
| RN employment (Louisiana) | 48,970 | Size of the staff market behind you (per BLS OEWS, May 2025) |
| Median RN wage | $80,230/yr ($38.57/hr) | Staff baseline that anchors hospital bill rates |
| Mean RN wage | $84,190/yr ($40.48/hr) | Includes the experienced-nurse band travelers replace |
| Entry RN (10th pct) | $63,800/yr | Floor of the market |
| Experienced RN (75th–90th pct) | $93,600–$104,740/yr | Where bill rates cluster |
| Typical travel package (hedged) | roughly $2,100–$2,800/week gross | Taxable wage + stipends; varies by specialty and season — verify with recruiters |
| State income tax (2026) | Flat 2.75% (effective Jan 1, 2026; was 3.0%) | Applies to taxable wages only, not stipends |
| Nurse Licensure Compact | Yes — member since July 1, 2019 | Determines how fast you can start |
All BLS figures on this page: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 release (bls.gov/oes). Wage figures are for staff registered nurses (SOC 29-1141), all industries — travel packages are quoted separately and are inherently variable. See the full list on our travel nurse pay by state hub.
How stipends change the math in Louisiana
Stipend caps follow the federal GSA tables for the assignment parish and city; New Orleans carries the highest caps in Louisiana and they move with event seasons (current tables at gsa.gov/perdiem). A standard housing stipend usually covers housing comfortably in Baton Rouge, Lafayette or Shreveport, and gets tight in New Orleans during festival season.
Illustrative math with the new rate: $25/hr × 36 guaranteed hours = $900/week taxable. Subtract roughly $103 federal, $69 FICA and $25 Louisiana tax at 2.75%, leaving about $703. Add $1,500 housing plus $400 M&IE — $1,900 tax-free — for a take-home near $2,603/week, about $72/hour blended, roughly $33,800 over 13 weeks. Louisiana's low flat rate means more of every taxable dollar survives than in almost any other state — model your exact offer in the take-home calculator and rank contracts by blended rate.
The stipends stay tax-free only with a valid tax home and real duplicated expenses. Storm-season assignments with agency-provided housing change the split — compare them on take-home, not on the sticker number.
Louisiana income tax: flat 2.75% in 2026
Louisiana converted to a flat individual income tax of 3.0% for 2025, and a statutory revenue trigger cut the rate to 2.75% effective January 1, 2026 (per the Louisiana Department of Revenue and the Tax Foundation's 2026 rate tables). For travelers the math is now the simplest in this series: 2.75% of taxable wages. Nonresidents file a Louisiana return on Louisiana-sourced wages. Louisiana has no reciprocity agreements to speak of, so out-of-state residents generally pay Louisiana on Louisiana earnings and claim a credit at home — confirm the specifics with a CPA.
Tax figures here are 2026 planning rates from official state sources and the Tax Foundation's 2026 tables — confirm your own filing position with the relevant state revenue department or a CPA; this page is not tax advice.
Licensure in Louisiana: compact member
Louisiana is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, implemented July 1, 2019 (per NCSBN). A multistate license from your compact home state covers Louisiana assignments with no separate application — a real advantage when storm-response recruiters need someone in days, not weeks. Keep your multistate privileges verified on the NCSBN site, and remember the license is only valid while you genuinely reside in your compact home state. Compact status per the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (ncsbn.org).
Where the demand is in Louisiana
New Orleans anchors the market — Ochsner Medical Center, University Medical Center New Orleans and the Touro/Tulane-affiliated campuses post the deepest specialty demand in the state. Baton Rouge follows with Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, then Lafayette (Ochsner Lafayette General) and Shreveport (Ochsner LSU Health). GSA lodging caps vary meaningfully between New Orleans and the smaller metros, and New Orleans rents can absorb a full housing stipend in the busier seasons.
Stipend ceilings everywhere follow the federal per-diem tables for your assignment location — gsa.gov/perdiem.
FAQ
How much do travel nurses make in Louisiana?
Per BLS OEWS (May 2025), the median staff RN in Louisiana earns $80,230/year. Travel packages typically quote $2,100–$2,800/week gross; hurricane-season surge lines can run higher. Verify offers with recruiters.
Is Louisiana a Nurse Licensure Compact state?
Yes — implemented July 1, 2019. A multistate compact license covers Louisiana assignments.
What is Louisiana's income tax rate in 2026?
A flat 2.75%, down from 3.0% in 2025, per the Louisiana Department of Revenue — one of the lowest income tax rates of any state.
Are stipends taxed in Louisiana?
No — with a valid tax home, housing and M&IE stipends are tax-free; the 2.75% applies only to your taxable wages.
Do Louisiana storm-season contracts pay more?
They can: surge demand after hurricanes pushes quotes up for ICU, ER and med-surg nurses. The trade-offs are unstable schedules and rushed starts — weigh the premium against the disruption.
What is a good blended rate in Louisiana?
An illustrative $2,603/week take-home over 36 hours is about $72/hour blended. With the 2.75% flat tax and modest rents outside New Orleans, Louisiana converts gross to net efficiently.