What is the highest-paying travel-nurse city in FY2026?

By tax-free stipend ceiling, Park City, UT tops the FY2026 list at about $4,025 per week in peak season (GSA lodging $483 + M&IE $92, times 7 days). Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard follow. A higher ceiling means more of your pay can be tax-free — it does not guarantee higher take-home, because high-ceiling cities also tend to cost more to live in.

How is the weekly tax-free stipend ceiling calculated?

It is (the GSA daily lodging rate + the daily M&IE rate) times 7. We rank cities by the peak-season lodging rate; seasonal cities also show an off-season floor. The standard rate for areas without a specific GSA figure is $110 lodging + $68 M&IE, about $1,246/week. Figures are FY2026 estimates, not tax advice.

Does a higher per-diem city mean more take-home pay?

Not necessarily. The per-diem ceiling only caps how much of an agency's pay can be paid as a non-taxable stipend. Your actual pay depends on the agency's bill rate, your specialty, and local demand — and high-ceiling cities usually have high living costs. Use the ceiling to sanity-check an offer, not to choose a city by income alone.

Why do some cities pay more in winter and others in summer?

GSA sets seasonal lodging rates that track local demand. Ski towns like Park City, Aspen, and Vail peak in winter, while beach and island markets like Nantucket, Key West, and Gulf Shores peak in summer. Your stipend ceiling moves with the month you actually work — Nantucket swings about $2,072/week between its low and high season.

Where does this data come from?

Every figure is computed from the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) FY2026 per-diem master file, a public-domain U.S. Government work, effective 2025-10-01. You can download the full ranking as CSV or JSON from this page.

Travel Nurse Pay Index: the highest tax-free stipend cities (FY2026)

Name: Travel Nurse Pay Index — U.S. Cities Ranked by Tax-Free Stipend Ceiling (FY2026)
Creator: StipendHQ
Published: 2026-06-26
License: https://www.usa.gov/government-works

Every U.S. city with a special GSA per-diem rate, ranked by the weekly tax-free stipend ceiling — the most an agency can pay you in housing + meal stipends without it becoming taxable. Computed from the official FY2026 GSA per-diem file. Updated for FY2026.

Top city (peak season)

$4,025/wk

Park City, UT — about 3.2× the U.S. standard

Cities above $2,000/wk

71 of 296

clear $2,000/wk in peak season; median ceiling is $1,645/wk vs. the $1,246 standard

Biggest seasonal swing

$2,072/wk

Nantucket, 157 cities change rate by season

A travel-nurse pay package is a taxable hourly base plus tax-free stipends for housing and meals. Those stipends are only tax-free up to the GSA per-diem rate for your assignment city. This index ranks all 296 specially-listed GSA cities by that ceiling, expressed per week (daily lodging + M&IE, times 7). Areas without a special rate use the standard $1,246/week. Want a single city or a specific offer? Use the stipend calculator.

The 20 highest-ceiling cities

Bar length is the peak-season weekly ceiling. For seasonal cities, the solid part is the year-round floor and the lighter part is the peak-season premium.

year-round floor peak-season premium U.S. standard ($1,246/wk)

SafetyWing Nomad Insurance — Between contracts, or on an assignment without benefits? SafetyWing's flexible, month-to-month Nomad Insurance is built for people on the move. See SafetyWing

Partner link · disclosure

Full ranking — all 296 cities

Click a column to sort, or filter by city or state. Each city links to its full per-diem breakdown and seasonal table.

Filter by city or state

Showing 296 of 296 cities

#	City / area	State	Lodging / night	M&IE / day	Daily max	Weekly ceiling ▾
1	Park City seasonal	UT	$221–$483	$92	$575	$4,025
2	Nantucket seasonal	MA	$175–$471	$92	$563	$3,941
3	Martha's Vineyard seasonal	MA	$196–$462	$92	$554	$3,878
4	Key West seasonal	FL	$258–$436	$86	$522	$3,654
5	Jackson / Pinedale seasonal	WY	$212–$420	$92	$512	$3,584
6	Aspen seasonal	CO	$207–$407	$92	$499	$3,493
7	Vail seasonal	CO	$201–$397	$92	$489	$3,423
8	Telluride seasonal	CO	$184–$350	$92	$442	$3,094
9	Boston / Cambridge seasonal	MA	$209–$349	$92	$441	$3,087
10	New York City seasonal	NY	$179–$342	$92	$434	$3,038
11	Bar Harbor / Rockport seasonal	ME	$128–$304	$92	$396	$2,772
12	Naples seasonal	FL	$164–$314	$80	$394	$2,758
13	Big Sky / West Yellowstone/Gardiner seasonal	MT	$176–$310	$80	$390	$2,730
14	Charleston seasonal	SC	$218–$288	$92	$380	$2,660
15	Steamboat Springs seasonal	CO	$123–$288	$92	$380	$2,660
16	Sun Valley / Ketchum seasonal	ID	$181–$300	$80	$380	$2,660
17	Ocean City seasonal	MD	$115–$295	$80	$375	$2,625
18	Silverthorne / Breckenridge seasonal	CO	$162–$282	$92	$374	$2,618
19	Monterey seasonal	CA	$191–$279	$92	$371	$2,597
20	District of Columbia seasonal	DC	$183–$276	$92	$368	$2,576
21	Sedona seasonal	AZ	$164–$274	$92	$366	$2,562
22	Santa Monica	CA	$273	$92	$365	$2,555
23	San Francisco seasonal	CA	$259–$272	$92	$364	$2,548
24	Santa Barbara seasonal	CA	$205–$262	$92	$354	$2,478
25	Jamestown / Middletown / Newport seasonal	RI	$141–$268	$80	$348	$2,436
26	Fort Walton Beach / De Funiak Springs seasonal	FL	$110–$260	$86	$346	$2,422
27	Seattle seasonal	WA	$188–$248	$92	$340	$2,380
28	Falmouth seasonal	MA	$142–$253	$86	$339	$2,373
29	Napa seasonal	CA	$172–$246	$92	$338	$2,366
30	Nashville seasonal	TN	$217–$248	$86	$334	$2,338
31	South Lake Tahoe seasonal	CA	$141–$247	$86	$333	$2,331
32	Vero Beach seasonal	FL	$181–$259	$74	$333	$2,331
33	Boca Raton / Delray Beach / Jupiter seasonal	FL	$143–$244	$86	$330	$2,310
34	Kill Devil Hills seasonal	NC	$133–$254	$74	$328	$2,296
35	Port Angeles / Port Townsend seasonal	WA	$137–$235	$92	$327	$2,289
36	Chicago seasonal	IL	$142–$234	$92	$326	$2,282
37	Lake Placid seasonal	NY	$144–$238	$86	$324	$2,268
38	Miami seasonal	FL	$145–$232	$92	$324	$2,268
39	San Diego seasonal	CA	$199–$237	$86	$323	$2,261
40	Seaside seasonal	OR	$141–$236	$86	$322	$2,254
41	Wallops Island seasonal	VA	$131–$248	$68	$316	$2,212
42	Phoenix / Scottsdale seasonal	AZ	$113–$229	$86	$315	$2,205
43	Traverse City seasonal	MI	$134–$235	$80	$315	$2,205
44	Kalispell/Whitefish seasonal	MT	$124–$232	$80	$312	$2,184
45	Fort Lauderdale seasonal	FL	$143–$224	$86	$310	$2,170
46	Philadelphia seasonal	PA	$156–$218	$92	$310	$2,170
47	Jekyll Island / Brunswick seasonal	GA	$172–$223	$86	$309	$2,163
48	Denver / Aurora seasonal	CO	$165–$215	$92	$307	$2,149
49	Moab seasonal	UT	$110–$221	$86	$307	$2,149
50	Duluth seasonal	MN	$159–$220	$86	$306	$2,142
51	Manchester seasonal	VT	$168–$220	$86	$306	$2,142
52	Petoskey seasonal	MI	$116–$220	$86	$306	$2,142
53	Bradenton seasonal	FL	$145–$225	$80	$305	$2,135
54	Hyannis seasonal	MA	$131–$209	$92	$301	$2,107
55	Montpelier seasonal	VT	$167–$227	$74	$301	$2,107
56	Fort Myers seasonal	FL	$139–$216	$80	$296	$2,072
57	Hilton Head seasonal	SC	$118–$215	$80	$295	$2,065
58	Lewes seasonal	DE	$124–$221	$74	$295	$2,065
59	Saratoga Springs / Schenectady seasonal	NY	$126–$214	$80	$294	$2,058
60	Stuart seasonal	FL	$129–$214	$80	$294	$2,058
61	Sebring seasonal	FL	$126–$219	$74	$293	$2,051
62	Coeur d'Alene seasonal	ID	$142–$217	$74	$291	$2,037
63	Portland seasonal	ME	$114–$211	$80	$291	$2,037
64	Sarasota seasonal	FL	$131–$205	$86	$291	$2,037
65	Gulf Shores seasonal	AL	$134–$216	$74	$290	$2,030
66	San Luis Obispo seasonal	CA	$163–$203	$86	$289	$2,023
67	Yosemite National Park seasonal	CA	$181–$203	$86	$289	$2,023
68	Burlington seasonal	VT	$128–$202	$86	$288	$2,016
69	Gulf Breeze seasonal	FL	$124–$214	$74	$288	$2,016
70	Kennebunk / Kittery / Sanford seasonal	ME	$119–$201	$86	$287	$2,009
71	Toms River seasonal	NJ	$166–$213	$74	$287	$2,009
72	Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose	CA	$192	$92	$284	$1,988
73	Virginia Beach seasonal	VA	$124–$210	$74	$284	$1,988
74	Atlanta seasonal	GA	$182–$197	$86	$283	$1,981
75	Cocoa Beach seasonal	FL	$166–$208	$74	$282	$1,974
76	Mackinac Island seasonal	MI	$120–$195	$86	$281	$1,967
77	Mammoth Lakes seasonal	CA	$139–$195	$86	$281	$1,967
78	Tampa / St. Petersburg seasonal	FL	$148–$200	$80	$280	$1,960
79	Bend seasonal	OR	$125–$192	$86	$278	$1,946
80	Boise seasonal	ID	$167–$191	$86	$277	$1,939
81	Los Angeles	CA	$191	$86	$277	$1,939
82	Hershey seasonal	PA	$145–$196	$80	$276	$1,932
83	Panama City seasonal	FL	$110–$194	$80	$274	$1,918
84	Eugene / Florence seasonal	OR	$132–$192	$80	$272	$1,904
85	Glens Falls seasonal	NY	$117–$186	$86	$272	$1,904
86	Palm Springs seasonal	CA	$141–$186	$86	$272	$1,904
87	Dallas seasonal	TX	$170–$191	$80	$271	$1,897
88	Stowe seasonal	VT	$148–$185	$86	$271	$1,897
89	Missoula seasonal	MT	$130–$195	$74	$269	$1,883
90	San Mateo / Foster City / Belmont	CA	$183	$86	$269	$1,883
91	Austin seasonal	TX	$173–$187	$80	$267	$1,869
92	Mill Valley / San Rafael / Novato seasonal	CA	$153–$175	$92	$267	$1,869
93	Cambridge / St. Michaels seasonal	MD	$145–$186	$80	$266	$1,862
94	Portsmouth seasonal	NH	$129–$192	$74	$266	$1,862
95	Punta Gorda seasonal	FL	$124–$192	$74	$266	$1,862
96	Burlington / Woburn seasonal	MA	$144–$178	$86	$264	$1,848
97	Cody seasonal	WY	$127–$190	$74	$264	$1,848
98	Durango seasonal	CO	$121–$184	$80	$264	$1,848
99	Incline Village / Reno / Sparks seasonal	NV	$138–$184	$80	$264	$1,848
100	Pensacola seasonal	FL	$120–$190	$74	$264	$1,848
101	Pittsfield seasonal	MA	$136–$178	$86	$264	$1,848
102	Santa Cruz seasonal	CA	$139–$176	$86	$262	$1,834
103	Arlington / Fort Worth / Grapevine	TX	$181	$80	$261	$1,827
104	Grand Lake seasonal	CO	$122–$173	$86	$259	$1,813
105	Lincoln City seasonal	OR	$120–$167	$92	$259	$1,813
106	Montrose seasonal	CO	$136–$185	$74	$259	$1,813
107	New Orleans seasonal	LA	$133–$179	$80	$259	$1,813
108	Truckee seasonal	CA	$142–$173	$86	$259	$1,813
109	Eureka / Arcata / McKinleyville seasonal	CA	$125–$172	$86	$258	$1,806
110	Laconia seasonal	NH	$140–$182	$74	$256	$1,792
111	Myrtle Beach seasonal	SC	$110–$182	$74	$256	$1,792
112	Savannah seasonal	GA	$147–$176	$80	$256	$1,792
113	Olympia / Tumwater seasonal	WA	$128–$175	$80	$255	$1,785
114	Quincy seasonal	MA	$139–$175	$80	$255	$1,785
115	Colorado Springs seasonal	CO	$123–$168	$86	$254	$1,778
116	Boulder / Broomfield seasonal	CO	$125–$173	$80	$253	$1,771
117	Tarrytown / White Plains / New Rochelle	NY	$161	$92	$253	$1,771
118	Atlantic Beach / Morehead City seasonal	NC	$123–$178	$74	$252	$1,764
119	Lebanon / Lincoln / West Lebanon seasonal	NH	$142–$177	$74	$251	$1,757
120	Tucson seasonal	AZ	$123–$171	$80	$251	$1,757
121	Floral Park / Garden City / Great Neck	NY	$164	$86	$250	$1,750
122	St. Augustine seasonal	FL	$151–$170	$80	$250	$1,750
123	Cincinnati	OH	$163	$86	$249	$1,743
124	Kenton	KY	$163	$86	$249	$1,743
125	Orlando seasonal	FL	$140–$169	$80	$249	$1,743
126	Santa Fe seasonal	NM	$122–$167	$80	$247	$1,729
127	Las Vegas seasonal	NV	$126–$159	$86	$245	$1,715
128	Louisville seasonal	KY	$120–$164	$80	$244	$1,708
129	Santa Rosa	CA	$157	$86	$243	$1,701
130	Newark	NJ	$156	$86	$242	$1,694
131	Annapolis seasonal	MD	$125–$161	$80	$241	$1,687
132	Conway seasonal	NH	$118–$161	$80	$241	$1,687
133	Portland	OR	$155	$86	$241	$1,687
134	Riverhead / Ronkonkoma / Melville	NY	$155	$86	$241	$1,687
135	Vancouver	WA	$155	$86	$241	$1,687
136	Crested Butte / Gunnison	CO	$154	$86	$240	$1,680
137	Minneapolis / St. Paul	MN	$148	$92	$240	$1,680
138	Cleveland	OH	$159	$80	$239	$1,673
139	Daytona Beach seasonal	FL	$116–$157	$80	$237	$1,659
140	Northampton	MA	$157	$80	$237	$1,659
141	Oakland	CA	$145	$92	$237	$1,659
142	Richmond	VA	$157	$80	$237	$1,659
143	Baltimore City	MD	$150	$86	$236	$1,652
144	East St. Louis / O'Fallon / Fairview Heights	IL	$150	$86	$236	$1,652
145	Sacramento	CA	$150	$86	$236	$1,652
146	St. Louis	MO	$150	$86	$236	$1,652
147	Hot Springs seasonal	SD	$110–$161	$74	$235	$1,645
148	San Antonio seasonal	TX	$137–$161	$74	$235	$1,645
149	Providence / Bristol	RI	$154	$80	$234	$1,638
150	Antioch / Brentwood / Concord	CA	$147	$86	$233	$1,631
151	Bridgeport / Danbury	CT	$146	$86	$232	$1,624
152	Eatontown / Freehold	NJ	$146	$86	$232	$1,624
153	Rapid City seasonal	SD	$110–$158	$74	$232	$1,624
154	Holland seasonal	MI	$116–$157	$74	$231	$1,617
155	White River Junction	VT	$144	$86	$230	$1,610
156	Carlsbad	NM	$155	$74	$229	$1,603
157	Centreville seasonal	MD	$121–$154	$74	$228	$1,596
158	Ann Arbor seasonal	MI	$125–$146	$80	$226	$1,582
159	Detroit	MI	$152	$74	$226	$1,582
160	Durham seasonal	NH	$125–$152	$74	$226	$1,582
161	Everett / Lynnwood seasonal	WA	$113–$140	$86	$226	$1,582
162	Kingston	NY	$139	$86	$225	$1,575
163	Albuquerque	NM	$144	$80	$224	$1,568
164	Grand Canyon / Flagstaff seasonal	AZ	$110–$144	$80	$224	$1,568
165	Ithaca	NY	$144	$80	$224	$1,568
166	Princeton / Trenton	NJ	$138	$86	$224	$1,568
167	Parsippany	NJ	$143	$80	$223	$1,561
168	Death Valley	CA	$142	$80	$222	$1,554
169	Douglas seasonal	CO	$111–$142	$80	$222	$1,554
170	Niagara Falls seasonal	NY	$110–$142	$80	$222	$1,554
171	Salt Lake City	UT	$142	$80	$222	$1,554
172	Tacoma	WA	$136	$86	$222	$1,554
173	West Sacramento / Davis	CA	$142	$80	$222	$1,554
174	Asheville seasonal	NC	$120–$141	$80	$221	$1,547
175	Wilmington seasonal	NC	$110–$147	$74	$221	$1,547
176	Chapel Hill	NC	$140	$80	$220	$1,540
177	Deadwood / Spearfish seasonal	SD	$110–$140	$80	$220	$1,540
178	Fort Collins / Loveland seasonal	CO	$110–$140	$80	$220	$1,540
179	Galveston seasonal	TX	$111–$146	$74	$220	$1,540
180	Milwaukee	WI	$140	$80	$220	$1,540
181	Buffalo seasonal	NY	$126–$139	$80	$219	$1,533
182	Kayenta	AZ	$145	$74	$219	$1,533
183	Springfield / Cranford / New Providence	NJ	$139	$80	$219	$1,533
184	Hartford	CT	$138	$80	$218	$1,526
185	Madison seasonal	WI	$110–$138	$80	$218	$1,526
186	Ocean Shores seasonal	WA	$110–$132	$86	$218	$1,526
187	Pittsburgh	PA	$138	$80	$218	$1,526
188	Somerset	NJ	$138	$80	$218	$1,526
189	Tallahassee seasonal	FL	$113–$138	$80	$218	$1,526
190	Andover	MA	$137	$80	$217	$1,519
191	Lafayette / West Lafayette seasonal	IN	$123–$143	$74	$217	$1,519
192	Muskegon seasonal	MI	$110–$149	$68	$217	$1,519
193	Tahoe City	CA	$131	$86	$217	$1,519
194	Brentwood / Franklin	TN	$130	$86	$216	$1,512
195	Charlottesville	VA	$136	$80	$216	$1,512
196	Clackamas	OR	$136	$80	$216	$1,512
197	Richland / Pasco	WA	$130	$86	$216	$1,512
198	Fresno	CA	$129	$86	$215	$1,505
199	Huntsville seasonal	AL	$134–$141	$74	$215	$1,505
200	Kansas City	MO	$135	$80	$215	$1,505
201	Kansas City / Overland Park	KS	$135	$80	$215	$1,505
202	Oakhurst	CA	$135	$80	$215	$1,505
203	Point Arena / Gualala	CA	$129	$86	$215	$1,505
204	Worcester	MA	$135	$80	$215	$1,505
205	South Padre Island seasonal	TX	$118–$140	$74	$214	$1,498
206	Williamsburg / York seasonal	VA	$110–$134	$80	$214	$1,498
207	Bloomington seasonal	IN	$110–$139	$74	$213	$1,491
208	Indianapolis / Carmel	IN	$133	$80	$213	$1,491
209	Sturgeon Bay seasonal	WI	$110–$133	$80	$213	$1,491
210	Beaverton	OR	$132	$80	$212	$1,484
211	Rochester	NY	$132	$80	$212	$1,484
212	Sandusky seasonal	OH	$116–$144	$68	$212	$1,484
213	Spokane	WA	$126	$86	$212	$1,484
214	Charlotte	NC	$131	$80	$211	$1,477
215	Columbus	OH	$131	$80	$211	$1,477
216	Visalia	CA	$131	$80	$211	$1,477
217	Athens	GA	$136	$74	$210	$1,470
218	Barstow / Ontario / Victorville	CA	$124	$86	$210	$1,470
219	New Haven	CT	$130	$80	$210	$1,470
220	New London / Groton	CT	$124	$86	$210	$1,470
221	South Haven seasonal	MI	$110–$142	$68	$210	$1,470
222	Nyack / Palisades	NY	$129	$80	$209	$1,463
223	Houston	TX	$128	$80	$208	$1,456
224	Chester / Radnor / Essington	PA	$127	$80	$207	$1,449
225	Cortez seasonal	CO	$110–$133	$74	$207	$1,449
226	Rochester	MN	$127	$80	$207	$1,449
227	Bakersfield / Ridgecrest	CA	$132	$74	$206	$1,442
228	Birmingham	AL	$126	$80	$206	$1,442
229	Helena	MT	$132	$74	$206	$1,442
230	Midland / Odessa seasonal	TX	$118–$132	$74	$206	$1,442
231	Montgomery	PA	$126	$80	$206	$1,442
232	Plymouth / Taunton / New Bedford	MA	$126	$80	$206	$1,442
233	Stockton	CA	$132	$74	$206	$1,442
234	Raleigh	NC	$131	$74	$205	$1,435
235	Flemington	NJ	$124	$80	$204	$1,428
236	Manchester	NH	$130	$74	$204	$1,428
237	Albany	NY	$117	$86	$203	$1,421
238	Memphis	TN	$129	$74	$203	$1,421
239	Plano	TX	$123	$80	$203	$1,421
240	West Point	NY	$123	$80	$203	$1,421
241	Edison / Piscataway	NJ	$122	$80	$202	$1,414
242	Omaha	NE	$122	$80	$202	$1,414
243	Springfield	MA	$128	$74	$202	$1,414
244	Syracuse / Oswego	NY	$122	$80	$202	$1,414
245	Taos	NM	$128	$74	$202	$1,414
246	Des Moines	IA	$121	$80	$201	$1,407
247	Troy	NY	$121	$80	$201	$1,407
248	Wilmington	DE	$127	$74	$201	$1,407
249	Marietta	GA	$126	$74	$200	$1,400
250	Augusta seasonal	GA	$110–$125	$74	$199	$1,393
251	Bucks	PA	$119	$80	$199	$1,393
252	Columbia	MD	$113	$86	$199	$1,393
253	Grand Rapids	MI	$119	$80	$199	$1,393
254	Concord	NH	$124	$74	$198	$1,386
255	Hamilton	OH	$124	$74	$198	$1,386
256	Harrisburg	PA	$124	$74	$198	$1,386
257	Lexington	KY	$118	$80	$198	$1,386
258	Malvern / Frazer / Berwyn	PA	$118	$80	$198	$1,386
259	State College	PA	$124	$74	$198	$1,386
260	Greensboro seasonal	NC	$112–$123	$74	$197	$1,379
261	Lancaster	PA	$123	$74	$197	$1,379
262	Oklahoma City	OK	$116	$80	$196	$1,372
263	Pontiac / Auburn Hills	MI	$116	$80	$196	$1,372
264	Dallas	IA	$115	$80	$195	$1,365
265	Durham	NC	$121	$74	$195	$1,365
266	Loudoun	VA	$115	$80	$195	$1,365
267	Oak Brook Terrace	IL	$115	$80	$195	$1,365
268	Oxford	MS	$127	$68	$195	$1,365
269	Pecos	TX	$121	$74	$195	$1,365
270	Poughkeepsie	NY	$115	$80	$195	$1,365
271	Midland	MI	$120	$74	$194	$1,358
272	Southaven	MS	$126	$68	$194	$1,358
273	Knoxville	TN	$119	$74	$193	$1,351
274	Roanoke	VA	$119	$74	$193	$1,351
275	Starkville	MS	$125	$68	$193	$1,351
276	Cherry Hill / Moorestown	NJ	$112	$80	$192	$1,344
277	Fayetteville	NC	$124	$68	$192	$1,344
278	Binghamton	NY	$117	$74	$191	$1,337
279	Chattanooga	TN	$117	$74	$191	$1,337
280	Provo	UT	$117	$74	$191	$1,337
281	Reading	PA	$117	$74	$191	$1,337
282	Blacksburg	VA	$122	$68	$190	$1,330
283	Charles Town	WV	$122	$68	$190	$1,330
284	Gettysburg seasonal	PA	$110–$122	$68	$190	$1,330
285	Allentown / Easton / Bethlehem	PA	$115	$74	$189	$1,323
286	Columbia	SC	$115	$74	$189	$1,323
287	Dayton / Fairborn	OH	$115	$74	$189	$1,323
288	Bolingbrook / Romeoville / Lemont	IL	$114	$74	$188	$1,316
289	Mobile	AL	$114	$74	$188	$1,316
290	Aberdeen / Bel Air / Belcamp	MD	$113	$74	$187	$1,309
291	Boone	KY	$116	$68	$184	$1,288
292	Charleston	WV	$115	$68	$183	$1,281
293	Lynchburg seasonal	VA	$110–$115	$68	$183	$1,281
294	Big Spring	TX	$114	$68	$182	$1,274
295	Hot Springs	AR	$114	$68	$182	$1,274
296	Alexandria / Leesville / Natchitoches	LA	$112	$68	$180	$1,260

Download CSV Download JSON Free to reuse — GSA data is public domain. A link back to StipendHQ is appreciated.

How to cite or link to this dataset

Free to reuse: the underlying GSA per-diem figures are a U.S. Government work in the public domain, and StipendHQ's derived ranking is free to use with attribution. A link back is appreciated.

Cite as: StipendHQ, “Travel Nurse Pay Index (FY2026),” https://stipendhq.com/travel-nurse-pay-index/

Source: derived from the GSA FY2026 per-diem rates (public domain). Download: CSV · JSON.

Copy-paste link:

<a href="https://stipendhq.com/travel-nurse-pay-index/">Travel Nurse Pay Index (FY2026) — StipendHQ</a>

Seasonal cities: timing can swing your stipend by thousands

157 of these cities have lodging rates that change by season, so the month you start an assignment moves your tax-free ceiling. Ski and mountain resorts (Park City, Aspen, Vail, Jackson Hole) peak in winter; beach and island markets (Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, Key West, Gulf Shores) peak in summer. Nantucket, MA has the widest gap — roughly $1,869/week off-season versus $3,941/week at peak. If your start date is flexible, it can be worth checking how a city's rate shifts across your contract.

A higher ceiling isn't the same as higher pay

It's worth being clear about what this ranks: the per-diem ceiling is a tax limit, not a pay rate. It caps how much of your package can be paid as a non-taxable stipend. The actual money an agency offers comes from its bill rate, your specialty, and how badly a unit needs staff — and the cities with the highest ceilings (resort towns, major metros) usually have the highest rents too. Pay above the ceiling isn't illegal; the excess is simply taxable. And to take stipends tax-free at all, you must maintain a legitimate tax home and duplicate living expenses. If an offer's stipends sit far above a city's ceiling here, that's a prompt to ask your recruiter how the package is structured.

Keeper — Pick up 1099 or side income alongside your assignments? Keeper automatically finds tax write-offs (licensing, CEUs, scrubs, travel) and can file for you. Try Keeper

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Methodology & sources

Each city's weekly ceiling is (daily lodging + daily M&IE) × 7, using the FY2026 GSA per-diem master file (effective 2025-10-01). Rankings use each city's peak-season lodging rate; the table and downloads also include the off-season floor for seasonal cities. The standard CONUS rate ($110 lodging + $68 M&IE) applies to any location without a specific GSA rate. GSA data is a U.S. Government work in the public domain; these are planning estimates, not tax advice.

Frequently asked questions

What is the highest-paying travel-nurse city in FY2026?: By tax-free stipend ceiling, Park City, UT tops the FY2026 list at about $4,025 per week in peak season (GSA lodging $483 + M&IE $92, times 7 days). Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard follow. A higher ceiling means more of your pay can be tax-free — it does not guarantee higher take-home, because high-ceiling cities also tend to cost more to live in.
How is the weekly tax-free stipend ceiling calculated?: It is (the GSA daily lodging rate + the daily M&IE rate) times 7. We rank cities by the peak-season lodging rate; seasonal cities also show an off-season floor. The standard rate for areas without a specific GSA figure is $110 lodging + $68 M&IE, about $1,246/week. Figures are FY2026 estimates, not tax advice.
Does a higher per-diem city mean more take-home pay?: Not necessarily. The per-diem ceiling only caps how much of an agency's pay can be paid as a non-taxable stipend. Your actual pay depends on the agency's bill rate, your specialty, and local demand — and high-ceiling cities usually have high living costs. Use the ceiling to sanity-check an offer, not to choose a city by income alone.
Why do some cities pay more in winter and others in summer?: GSA sets seasonal lodging rates that track local demand. Ski towns like Park City, Aspen, and Vail peak in winter, while beach and island markets like Nantucket, Key West, and Gulf Shores peak in summer. Your stipend ceiling moves with the month you actually work — Nantucket swings about $2,072/week between its low and high season.
Where does this data come from?: Every figure is computed from the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) FY2026 per-diem master file, a public-domain U.S. Government work, effective 2025-10-01. You can download the full ranking as CSV or JSON from this page.

This page is general educational information, not tax, legal, or financial advice. Per-diem rates can change and may have seasonal variations; always confirm with the official GSA rates and a qualified travel-nurse tax professional before relying on them.

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