Travel Nurse Pay in Houston, TX

GSA-verified per diem rates · Updated 2024–25 · After federal + state tax calculations

GSA Per Diem Rates — Houston, TX

Lodging Rate

$146/day

$1022/week

M&IE Rate

$69/day

$483/week

Total Stipend

$215/day

$1,505/week

Top Take-Home

$5,229/wk

Locum MD – Hospitalist

✅ Source: US General Services Administration (GSA) FY2024–25 · TX state income tax: 0.0%

Take-Home Pay by Specialty — Houston

Specialty	Hourly Range	Schedule	Net Taxable/wk	Stipend/wk	Take-Home/wk	13-wk Total
🏆 Locum MD – Hospitalist	$100–$175/hr	5×8 hrs	$3,724	$1,505	$5,229	$67,977
Physical Therapist	$32–$52/hr	5×8 hrs	$1,277	$1,505	$2,782	$36,166
MRI Technologist	$26–$46/hr	4×10 hrs	$1,108	$1,505	$2,613	$33,971
CT Technologist	$25–$45/hr	4×10 hrs	$1,080	$1,505	$2,585	$33,605
OR / Surgical RN	$22–$42/hr	3×12 hrs	$906	$1,505	$2,411	$31,337
Surgical Tech	$20–$36/hr	4×10 hrs	$883	$1,505	$2,388	$31,045
ER / Emergency RN	$22–$40/hr	3×12 hrs	$880	$1,505	$2,385	$31,008
NICU RN	$22–$38/hr	3×12 hrs	$855	$1,505	$2,360	$30,679
Respiratory Therapist	$22–$38/hr	3×12 hrs	$855	$1,505	$2,360	$30,679
Labor & Delivery RN	$21–$38/hr	3×12 hrs	$842	$1,505	$2,347	$30,514
ICU / Critical Care RN	$20–$38/hr	3×12 hrs	$830	$1,505	$2,335	$30,350
Telemetry RN	$20–$34/hr	3×12 hrs	$779	$1,505	$2,284	$29,691
Med-Surg RN	$18–$30/hr	3×12 hrs	$699	$1,505	$2,204	$28,648

Travel Nurse Pay in Houston: What to Know

Travel nurses working in Houston, TX qualify for a GSA tax-free housing stipend of $146 per day ($1022/week) plus a Meals & Incidental Expenses (M&IE) allowance of $69 per day ($483/week). Combined, this totals $1505 per week in tax-free income on top of your taxable hourly rate.

TX has no state income tax, which significantly boosts your take-home pay compared to high-tax states like California or New York.

To qualify for tax-free stipends in Houston, you must maintain a tax home at least 50 miles away from your assignment and work as a temporary contract employee. Always consult a CPA who specializes in travel healthcare workers for your specific situation.

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