Why Travel Pay Looks Higher
A travel nurse contract might advertise $55/hr while a staff nurse at the same facility makes $32/hr. But the real comparison is more nuanced:
Staff Nurse Pay Structure:
- Base hourly rate ($28–$40/hr depending on region and experience)
- Night differential ($3–$8/hr)
- Weekend differential ($2–$6/hr)
- Holiday premium (1.5–2x base)
- Charge/preceptor add-ons
- Benefits (health insurance, retirement, PTO — worth $8–$15/hr equivalent)
Travel Nurse Pay Structure:
- Taxable hourly rate (often $20–$30/hr)
- Tax-free stipends (housing, meals, travel — can be $1,000–$2,000/week)
- Blended rate (stipends + hourly divided by hours = the "effective" rate)
- Usually NO separate differentials (already baked into the contract rate)
- Usually NO benefits (or minimal insurance)
The "Rate Includes Differentials" Setting
In DiffPay, when you create a travel/agency job profile, check "Rate includes differentials" if your contract rate already has night/weekend premiums built in. This prevents double-counting when calculating your effective rate.
What to Compare
The real comparison is effective hourly rate including the dollar value of benefits:
| Category | Staff Nurse | Travel Nurse |
|---|---|---|
| Base rate | $34/hr | $25/hr (taxable) |
| Avg differentials | +$4/hr | $0 (included) |
| Stipends (÷ hours) | $0 | +$25/hr (tax-free) |
| Benefits value | +$12/hr | +$2/hr |
| Effective rate | $50/hr | $52/hr |
The gap is often smaller than the headline rate suggests. DiffPay tracks your actual effective rate per shift and per period so you can make informed decisions about which jobs to pursue.
When to Switch
Use DiffPay's cross-job comparison (Pro) to track your effective rate at each employer over time. If your staff position consistently yields a higher effective rate when you account for benefits and differentials, the stability may be worth more than a travel contract.