Contract A vs. Contract B: The Real Way to Compare Travel Nurse Pay

I get some version of this question all the time: "Contract A pays more per hour, but Contract B has better stipends, so which one actually pays out more?" It's one of the most common things travel nurses ask each other about. And honestly, you can't tell just from the headline rate. I've seen two offers with really different hourly numbers land within a few dollars of each other once you actually run the math, and I've also seen two offers with the exact same "blended rate" end up hundreds of dollars apart in your actual take-home pay.

So here's the process I actually use to compare any two contracts fairly. It takes maybe ten minutes max once you've done it a couple times.

Step 1: Get both offers into the same format

Never compare a blended rate to an itemized rate directly. Ask both recruiters (or dig through both offers yourself) until you have the same five numbers for each contract:

1. Taxable hourly wage
2. Weekly hours guaranteed
3. Weekly housing stipend
4. Weekly M&IE (meals & incidentals) stipend
5. Any bonuses (completion, sign-on) and when they actually get paid out

Once you've got this for both offers, you're now comparing apples to apples.

Step 2: Do the blended rate math yourself

Your real blended rate is total weekly compensation (taxable wages plus all stipends) divided by hours worked. So say you're getting $1,800/week taxable ($50/hr times 36 hours) plus $1,400/week in combined stipends, that works out to roughly $89/hour on a 36-hour week. Run this same calculation for both offers. Don't just take either recruiter's blended number at face value, because what counts as "included" varies a lot. Some agencies fold in the value of benefits or company housing, and that can change the math more than you'd think.

Step 3: Check the stipends against GSA rates for that location

The GSA publishes maximum tax-free per diem rates by location, updated every year, and it's basically the comparison the IRS uses. If you see a stipend that's way higher than the GSA rate for that city, paired with a suspiciously low taxable base, be a little careful. That's a structure that can trigger IRS scrutiny down the line, and it's something experienced travelers bring up a lot when they're comparing offers.

Step 4: Subtract cost of living

A higher blended rate in an expensive city can actually leave you with less spending money than a lower rate somewhere cheaper. Take your projected weekly take-home for each contract and subtract realistic local rent, plus a rough estimate for groceries, parking, and getting around. The contract that initially looked the best doesn't always win after this step.

Step 5: Compare guaranteed hours, not just the rate

A contract with a higher rate but no guaranteed hours clause is basically a bet against low census. A contract with a slightly lower rate but solid guaranteed hours and defined call-off pay is often the safer choice financially, especially for your first assignment when you don't have a feel yet for how a unit handles a slow week. These can often be harder to find, but it's worth at least trying to negotiate these in.

Step 6: Don't forget the stuff that doesn't show up in the pay math

• Extension terms: does the rate stay the same if you extend, or does it usually drop?
• Health insurance start date: day-one coverage versus a 30 or 60 day waiting period is a real difference if you need care early on.
• License and travel reimbursement: does either agency cover your licensing costs or travel to the assignment, and does that make up for a lower headline rate?
• Agency reputation: a slightly lower-paying agency with a responsive recruiter and a solid track record of not cancelling contracts can genuinely be worth more than a few extra dollars an hour from an agency that's shakier.

A simple side-by-side template

	Contract A	Contract B
Taxable hourly rate
Guaranteed hours/week
Housing stipend/week
M&IE stipend/week
True blended rate
Est. weekly rent
Est. take-home after rent
Bonuses
Extension rate confirmed?

Fill this in for any two offers before you decide, and the "better" contract usually becomes pretty obvious. It's not always the one with the bigger number in the subject line of the email.