How much does a travel nurse make in Washington?

Travel nurses in Washington benefit from no state income tax, which adds $50–$400/week to take-home pay compared to high-tax states. On a typical contract with $26/hr taxable wages and $1,600/week stipends worked 36 hours/week, you keep your full taxable earnings with no state deduction.

Are travel nurse stipends tax-free in Washington?

Yes. Tax-free housing and meal stipends are not subject to Washington state income tax. Stipend tax-free status is governed by federal IRS rules (maintaining a qualifying tax home), not by state law. Washington's no-income-tax status additionally means your taxable hourly wages also incur no state tax.

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Travel Nurse Pay Calculator — Washington

Washington (WA) has no state income tax — every dollar of taxable wages stays in your pocket. No state income tax. Enter your offer below to see your exact take-home.

Your Offer

Taxable Hourly Rate

$/hr

Hours / Week(usually 36)

hrs

Contract Length

wks

Completion Bonus(taxable)

Housing Stipend(tax-free)

$/wk

Meals Stipend(tax-free)

$/wk

Assignment State

★ = no state income tax

Filing Status

Weekly Take-Home

$2,391

after all taxes + stipends

Weekly Taxable Pay

$936

before taxes

Weekly Tax-Free

$1,600

housing + meals

Contract Net

$31,087

13 weeks total

✓ IRS Stipend Risk: Looks Reasonable

Stipend-to-taxable ratio looks within normal range. Always verify stipend amounts don't exceed GSA per-diem rates for the assignment location.

Tax Breakdown (13-week contract)

Gross Taxable Income$12,168

Federal Income Tax−$951

State Income Tax−$0

Social Security−$754

Medicare−$176

Net Taxable Income$10,287

Tax-Free Stipends+$20,800

Total Net Income$31,087

Effective federal rate: 7.8% · Total tax rate: 15.5%

Travel Nursing in Washington

Washington is one of the most financially attractive states for travel nurses because it levies no state income tax. On a typical $26/hr taxable + $1,600/week stipend package, this saves nurses roughly $50–$150/week compared to moderate-tax states and $150–$400/week compared to high-tax states like California or Oregon.

Remember that tax-free stipends are not subject to state income tax, regardless of which state you work in. A large housing stipend in Washington produces the same tax-free income as anywhere else — the state tax only applies to your hourly wages.

What to watch out for in Washington

Always verify your tax home qualifies under IRS rules before accepting tax-free stipends
Washington's lack of state income tax is permanent as of 2026 — no risk of change in the near term
Compare total contract net income, not just weekly gross, when evaluating offers

Compare with other states:

Alabama Arizona Arkansas California