Nurse PayCompare Travel Nurse Contracts
Enter two offers and see which pays more — on contract total, weekly package, effective hourly or pay after housing — and exactly why.
Offer A pays more
+$1,963
more over the contract than Offer B
Total estimated compensation over the full contract, including one-time payments.
Why Offer A comes out ahead (over the contract)
- Taxable wagesLower with Offer A
- −$1,872.00
- Housing stipendHigher with Offer A
- +$2,730.00
- Meals & incidentalsHigher with Offer A
- +$1,105.00
Offer A
- $2,842
- weekly package
- $36,946
- 13-week total
- $78.94/hr
- effective hourly
Offer B
- $2,691
- weekly package
- $34,983
- 13-week total
- $74.75/hr
- effective hourly
Keep every offer in your pocket.
Nurse Pay for iPhone saves the contracts you're weighing so you can compare them again when a recruiter calls back. Side-by-side comparison is part of Nurse Pay Pro.
Download on theApp StoreWorked example: higher rate vs higher stipends
Offer A pays $32/hour with $1,260 housing and $430 meals per week. Offer B pays $36/hour with $1,050 housing and $345 meals. Both are 36 hours for 13 weeks. B has the higher hourly rate, but A pays $1,963.00 more over the contract:
The reasons always add up to the headline difference, to the cent.
Ways to compare
- Contract: Total estimated compensation over the full contract, including one-time payments.
- Weekly: Taxable wages plus stipends for one week.
- Hourly: Total contract compensation divided by total contract hours.
- After housing: Total contract compensation minus the housing and duplicate-expense costs you entered.
When contract lengths differ, the comparison defaults to the weekly package, so a longer contract doesn't look better just because it's longer. For one contract in detail, use the travel nurse contract calculator.
Comparisons worth running
- Same total, different taxable rate
- Check the taxable wages row. Tax treatment and overtime pay depend on it. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and eligibility. Nurse Pay does not provide tax advice.
- Expensive city vs cheap city
- Enter expected housing costs and compare on "After housing".
- Big sign-on bonus
- Bonuses count in contract total and hourly, not in the weekly package.
- 8 weeks vs 13 weeks
- Compare weekly or hourly — the total favors the longer contract.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare two travel nurse contracts?
Put both packages in the same terms: weekly package, contract total and effective hourly. Then subtract what you'll spend on housing if the locations differ.
Should I compare on hourly rate?
Not the taxable rate alone — stipends can make a lower-rate offer pay more. Effective hourly includes everything.
Does this account for taxes?
No. It compares gross compensation. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and eligibility. Nurse Pay does not provide tax advice.
Related calculators and guides
- Travel Nurse Contract CalculatorWeekly package, contract total and true hourly for one contract.
- Hourly to Salary CalculatorTurn an hourly rate into annual, monthly and weekly pay.
- Nurse Pay CalculatorEverything for one shift: base pay, differentials, overtime and holiday pay.
- How to Calculate Nurse PayThe method, step by step, with worked examples.
Nurse Pay for iPhone
Keep every offer. Compare any two.
- Save offers as recruiters send them.
- Side-by-side comparison with the reasons one wins (Nurse Pay Pro).
- No account; your offers stay on your iPhone.
Nurse Pay provides estimates based on the compensation information and rules you enter. Actual payroll, overtime, differentials, employer policies, taxes, deductions, and applicable laws may vary. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and eligibility. Nurse Pay does not provide tax advice.