Travel Nurse Pay in Massachusetts (2026)
Massachusetts posts some of the highest RN wages in the country, anchored by Boston's academic medical centers. Here are the verified BLS numbers, hedged package ranges, the licensure catch most travelers miss, and the tax math.
By the NursePayLab editorial team · Updated $1
Key numbers at a glance
| Measure | Figure | What it means for travelers |
|---|---|---|
| RN employment (Massachusetts) | 88,200 | Size of the staff market behind you (per BLS OEWS, May 2025) |
| Median RN wage | $104,550/yr ($50.27/hr) | Staff baseline that anchors hospital bill rates |
| Mean RN wage | $117,960/yr ($56.71/hr) | Skewed high by Boston academic pay — the band travelers replace |
| Entry RN (10th pct) | $80,310/yr | Floor of the market |
Travel nurse pay in Massachusetts: the numbers
Massachusetts employed 88,200 registered nurses as of May 2025, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey — about 24.2 RN jobs per 1,000 in the state, well above the national share. The median RN wage was $104,550/year ($50.27/hr) and the mean was $117,960 ($56.71/hr), with a 10th percentile of $80,310 and a 90th percentile of $174,510.
That mean-above-median gap — more than $13,000 — is the signature of a top-heavy market: Boston's teaching hospitals bid up experienced specialty nurses while entry pay sits far lower. The 75th percentile alone is $136,110, and the 90th at $174,510 is among the highest in the nation (per BLS, May 2025). Travel bill rates in this market are anchored to that experienced band, which is why Massachusetts consistently quotes near the top of national package surveys — and why the caveat below about licensure matters so much.
The hedged range below reflects Boston versus the rest of the state. Verify live offers with your recruiter, and remember western Massachusetts and Cape Cod are separate, cheaper markets.
| Measure | Figure | What it means for travelers |
|---|---|---|
| RN employment (Massachusetts) | 88,200 | Size of the staff market behind you (per BLS OEWS, May 2025) |
| Median RN wage | $104,550/yr ($50.27/hr) | Staff baseline that anchors hospital bill rates |
| Mean RN wage | $117,960/yr ($56.71/hr) | Skewed high by Boston academic pay — the band travelers replace |
| Entry RN (10th pct) | $80,310/yr | Floor of the market |
| Experienced RN (75th–90th pct) | $136,110–$174,510/yr | Where bill rates cluster |
| Typical travel package (hedged) | roughly $2,600–$3,400/week gross | Taxable wage + stipends; varies by specialty and season — verify with recruiters |
| State income tax (2026) | 5.00% flat | Applies to taxable wages only, not stipends |
| Nurse Licensure Compact | Not yet — enacted, awaiting implementation (no date set) | License by endorsement needed today |
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 Massachusetts
Stipend caps follow the federal GSA per-diem tables, and Boston's lodging caps are among the highest of any U.S. city — which is the good news. The bad news is that Boston rents behave the same way, so the gap between the housing stipend and a Beacon Hill-adjacent lease is where take-home quietly erodes. Outside Boston — Worcester, Springfield, the Cape off-season — caps and rents both drop together. Check your assignment city's current tables at gsa.gov/perdiem before you model anything.
Illustrative math, Boston-anchored: $25/hr × 36 guaranteed hours = $900/week taxable. Subtract roughly $103 federal and $69 FICA, then about $45 for Massachusetts' 5% flat tax, leaving about $683. Add $1,600 housing plus $400 M&IE — $2,000 tax-free — for a take-home near $2,680/week, about $74–75/hour blended, roughly $34,800 over 13 weeks. That is the same take-home a much larger gross would need in a high-tax state, which is exactly why you should run every offer through the take-home calculator and score counters by blended rate.
And the standing rule: stipends are tax-free only with a valid tax home and duplicated living expenses. Read the tax home guide before your first Massachusetts contract — the size of Boston packages raises the dollar stakes of getting it wrong.
Massachusetts income tax: flat 5% — and no New Hampshire escape
Massachusetts taxes income at a flat 5.00% (a 4% surtax applies only above $1 million, which no bedside RN will see). Nonresidents pay Massachusetts tax on wages earned in the state, and Massachusetts has no reciprocity agreement with New Hampshire — so a traveler who lives in southern New Hampshire and takes a Boston contract owes Massachusetts nonresident tax on the taxable portion, full stop. Stipends are unaffected: they are governed by the federal accountable-plan rules, not state withholding. Verify your filing position with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue and a CPA who handles multistate healthcare workers.
Tax figures here are 2026 planning rates from official state sources — confirm your own filing position with the relevant state revenue department or a CPA; this page is not tax advice.
Licensure in Massachusetts: compact enacted, not yet live
Here is the catch that surprises experienced travelers: Massachusetts is not yet a compact state you can practice in. The state has enacted Nurse Licensure Compact legislation, but per the NCSBN map it sits in the awaiting-implementation category with no set date — a multistate license from your compact home state does not cover Massachusetts assignments. Until implementation, you need a Massachusetts RN license by endorsement through the state Board of Registration in Nursing, so build several weeks of lead time into any Boston start date. Verify current status on the NCSBN site (nursecompact.com) before you commit. Note the contrast just over the border: New Hampshire has been a full compact state since January 2018.
Where the demand is in Massachusetts
Boston is the anchor: the Mass General Brigham system, Beth Israel Lahey Health and Tufts Medicine generate the deepest specialty traveler demand in New England — ICUs, cath lab, OR and labor and delivery above all. Worcester's UMass Memorial and Springfield's Baystate Health run strong Level I trauma and neonatal lines with lower housing costs than Boston. The Cape and islands turn seasonal in summer, and western Massachusetts community hospitals post steadier, lower-rate lines. One local nuance worth knowing: Massachusetts law has restricted mandatory nurse overtime since 2012, which shapes how hospitals use travelers to cover gaps rather than forcing staff overtime.
Stipend ceilings everywhere follow the federal per-diem tables for your assignment location — gsa.gov/perdiem.
FAQ
How much do travel nurses make in Massachusetts?
Per BLS OEWS (May 2025), the median staff RN in Massachusetts earns $104,550/year and the mean is $117,960 — among the highest in the country. Travel packages typically quote $2,600–$3,400/week gross, with Boston academic medical centers at the top — verify live offers with recruiters.
Is Massachusetts a Nurse Licensure Compact state?
Not yet. Massachusetts has enacted compact legislation but implementation has no set date, per the NCSBN map — so out-of-state travelers still need a Massachusetts RN license by endorsement.
What is Massachusetts' income tax for travelers?
A flat 5.00% on taxable wages (a 4% surtax applies only above $1 million of income). Nonresidents pay Massachusetts tax on wages earned there, and there is no reciprocity agreement with neighboring New Hampshire.
Are stipends taxed in Massachusetts?
No — stipends are tax-free federally and in Massachusetts when you maintain a valid tax home and duplicated living expenses. The 5% state tax applies only to your taxable hourly wages.
Why are Massachusetts RN wages so high?
The Boston market is dense with academic medical centers that compete for experienced staff. Per BLS OEWS (May 2025), the 90th-percentile RN wage is $174,510 — the experienced band travel bill rates are anchored to.
What is a good blended rate in Massachusetts?
An illustrative $2,680/week take-home over 36 hours is about $74–75/hour blended. Boston stipend caps are generous but so are rents — compare offers after tax, never on gross.