How to Compare 3 Travel Nurse Contracts Side-by-Side Like a Pro

You have three travel nursing offers in your inbox. San Diego at $2,400 per week. Phoenix at $2,650. Orlando at $2,200 with a “generous housing stipend.” Which one is actually the best deal?

If you are trying to eyeball weekly gross pay and call it a day, you are probably leaving money on the table — or worse, walking into a contract that costs you more than you realize. The truth is, choosing travel contracts is not about picking the biggest number. It is about understanding what you actually take home after taxes, housing, and all the hidden line items agencies hope you will not notice.

Here is the framework we use to compare travel nursing offers side-by-side, normalize the math, and make a decision you will not regret three weeks into an assignment.

Step One: Break Down Every Offer into Taxable vs. Non-Taxable

The first mistake most travelers make is comparing total weekly pay without separating taxable base from non-taxable stipends. These are not the same, and the IRS cares about the difference even if you do not.

Grab a blank spreadsheet or a piece of paper. For each offer, write down:

• Taxable hourly rate (your base pay, subject to federal and state income tax, FICA, etc.)
• Weekly stipends (housing, meals and incidentals — these are non-taxable if you qualify with a tax home)
• Total weekly gross (base + stipends combined)

Now you can see what you are actually working with. A $2,650 offer might look amazing until you realize $1,800 of that is stipend and only $850 is taxable base. If you do not have a qualifying tax home, that stipend becomes taxable income — and suddenly your “high-paying” contract is a tax nightmare in April.

Step Two: Calculate True Take-Home After Taxes and Housing

This is where choosing travel contracts gets real. You need to know what hits your bank account, not what the recruiter promises on the phone.

For each offer, estimate your actual take-home:

• Run your taxable base through a paycheck calculator (Paycheckcity or ADP work). Don't forget state taxes if you are working in California, New York, or another high-tax state.
• If the agency provides housing, great — that stipend stays in your pocket (assuming you qualify). If you are finding your own place, subtract your real monthly rent divided by 4.3 weeks.
• Add back any non-taxable stipends you are actually keeping.

Suddenly that Orlando offer at $2,200 per week does not look so bad if the taxable base is higher and you are staying with family rent-free. The Phoenix gig might drop $400 per week once you factor in expensive short-term housing near the hospital.

This is the number that matters. Not the headline. Not the weekly gross. What you take home after Uncle Sam and your landlord take their cut.

Do Not Forget the Extras

Some contracts come with perks that add real value:

• License reimbursement (worth $200–$400 if you are picking up a new compact state)
• Completion bonuses (taxable, but still cash in your pocket)
• Travel reimbursement (mileage or flight costs covered)
• Health insurance stipends or low-cost plans

If one agency reimburses your California license and the other does not, that is a $150 swing. Add it to your spreadsheet.

Step Three: Normalize for Hours and Shift Differentials

Not all travel nursing offers are created equal when it comes to hours. A $2,400 per week contract based on 36 hours is very different from a $2,600 per week contract based on 48 hours with mandatory overtime.

Divide weekly gross by hours worked to get your effective hourly rate. Then ask:

• Are you guaranteed 36 hours, or is it “up to 40 depending on census”?
• Is overtime built into the offer, or are you expected to work it at a lower blended rate?
• Do night or weekend differentials stack on top, or are they already baked in?

A contract that pays $2,200 for a guaranteed 36-hour week might beat a $2,500 offer that requires 44 hours and frequent call shifts. Your time has value. Price it accordingly.

Step Four: Weigh Location Costs and Quality of Life

Money is not everything. A $400 per week pay difference does not mean much if one assignment is in your dream city and the other is in a town with nothing to do and sky-high grocery prices.

Run a quick cost-of-living comparison:

• What does gas cost? (Rural California vs. rural Texas is a $30/week difference.)
• Are you cooking at home or eating out because your furnished rental has no kitchen?
• Will you fly home between contracts, or drive? Build that into your mental math.
• Is this a place you actually want to spend 13 weeks, or will you be miserable by week three?

The best travel contract is not always the one with the biggest paycheck. Sometimes it is the one that lets you save money, explore a new city, and not dread your alarm clock every morning.

Step Five: Trust Your Gut (But Verify the Details)

Once you have done the math, you will usually have a clear winner. But before you sign, double-check the fine print:

• What is the cancellation policy? (Can the hospital cancel you with 24 hours notice, or do you have protection?)
• Are stipends paid weekly or monthly? (Cash flow matters when you are fronting rent.)
• Is overtime available if you want it, or forbidden?
• What is the unit culture like? (A toxic assignment is not worth an extra $200/week.)

Call your recruiter. Ask the uncomfortable questions. A good agency will give you straight answers. A shady one will dodge and deflect. That tells you everything you need to know.

When You Need a Second Opinion

Comparing travel nursing offers is part math, part intuition, and part experience. If you are staring at three contracts and still not sure which one makes sense, it is okay to ask for help.

The Intuites Recruiting Team works with travelers every day who are in your exact position. We will walk you through the numbers, explain what the stipend policies really mean, and help you spot red flags before you commit. No pressure, no sales pitch — just honest advice from people who understand how this industry works. Reach out anytime at contact@intuites.healthcare or visit intuites.healthcare. We are here to help you make the right call.

At the end of the day, the best travel contract is the one that pays you fairly, treats you well, and sets you up for the life you actually want. Do the math. Trust the process. And pick the offer that checks all three boxes. ✨

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