Do travel nurses use GSA per diem rates?

Many agencies benchmark tax-free stipends against federal GSA per diem limits for the assignment city. GSA lodging and meals and incidental expense rates are a common reference, though your contract and tax situation control what you actually receive.

Are travel nurse stipends tax-free?

Housing and meal stipends may be tax-free when you have a tax home, the assignment is temporary, and amounts do not exceed federal per diem limits. Amounts above GSA caps are often taxable. Consult your agency and a tax professional.

Travel nurse & allied health per diem

RNs, therapists, and other travelers on 13-week assignments: GSA lodging and M&IE at your hospital city—compare weekly housing and meal stipends to federal caps separately. See our nurse guides for stipend and tax-home basics.

Nurse guides — stipends vs GSA caps and tax-home basics.

Travel nurse & allied healthGSA benchmark

Estimate GSA lodging and M&IE for your assignment city—useful when comparing agency housing and meal stipends to federal per-diem caps. Tax-free treatment depends on your tax home, assignment length, and substantiation; verify with your agency and tax preparer. Nurse guides

Assignment ZIP (hospital area)

StateGSA localityAssignment startAssignment end

Travel days (M&IE)

Most travel-nurse stipend benchmarks use full daily M&IE. Choose 75% on first and last days only if your agency or tax preparer follows federal travel-day rules.

Agency stipends (optional — for comparison)

Weekly housing stipend ($)Weekly meals / incidentals ($)