Rates quoted by an agency for california assigment- help am i being lowballed

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These are the quotes I received from a travel agency for an assignment in northern California. I have tried to get the information to put in the rate calculator on pan travelers without success. Having never traveled before the Net pay for weekly seems reasonable if I take the non housing option (first set). I do not understand the low hourly rate and how that figures in the grand scheme of things.

Am I being lowballed ? RN for 27 years with 9 yr current in ICU/ER/PACU. I have always worked for hospital and never traveled before.

Can anyone explain this crappy hourly rate ?

  • Position- ICU
  • Shift- 3-12 hour nights and days
  • Length- 13 weeks
  • Pay with benefits not incorporated and housing not provided by JNP- $13.00/hour for first 8 hours and $23.00/hour after 8 hours with weekly meals and incidentals stipend of $427(untaxed) and weekly lodging stipend of $672(untaxed) and a one time travel reimbursement of $500(untaxed) on your first paycheck.
  • Gross- $1,687per week
  • Net- Assuming 25% taxes you get $1,540 per week


  • Position- ICU
  • Shift- 3-12 hour nights and days
  • Length- 13 weeks

  • Pay with benefits not incorporated and housing provided by JNP- $18.00/hour for first 8 hours and $30.00/hour after 8 hours with weekly meals and incidentals stipend of $427(untaxed) and a one time travel reimbursement of $500 (untaxed) on your first paycheck.
  • Gross- $1,219per week
  • Net- Assuming 25% taxes you get $1,021 per week

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I'm in a similar situation. I have been looking for jobs in the SFO area and was super excited that I was offered an assignment (12N), until they told me the pay rates. On the website they had it listed as around $30/h. I had assumed that was the base hourly with per diems and stipends added on. Nope! Rate is $20/h (blended rate - recruiter said they don't do the Cali time and a half after 8 hours), $245/week per diem (which makes up the hourly rate listed), and $2000/month housing (can't find housing for less than $2500 including extended stay hotels!). This is my 3rd assignment, my others have been in the Carolinas where the cost of living is much cheaper and my pay here is better.

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Just looking quickly at your first quote, looks like about $47 an hour total reimbursement. I have a friend who really works hard to get the best pay in California and he tops out at about $49 on traditional assignments. Epic conversions often pay $45 plus housing and so are over $50 total pay. So I think you are in the ballpark.

The crappy taxable hourly rate is just to move more of your compensation to non-taxed pay.

What issues were you having with the calculator?

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Thank you for your quick response, the calculator has terms which are not used by recruiter. Wanted to make sure I was not being taken advantage of negotiating. I asked about completion bonuses and the recruiter stated they usually only do extension bonuses. Really feel like I'm buying a used car and haggling instead competently negotiating the price of my services.

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Specializes in Surgical/ Peds ER.

Hey just to be honest your getting way low balled! I was offered 28 first assignment turned it down due to got better offer with 40 hr housing included and travel plus completion bonusCheck with a different agency I would suggest. Some will low ball you and don't actually care about you as a employee I've learned like they think you should be happy with what they'll give you can nurses are a dime a dozen but remember so are travel nursing agency don't low ball yourself good luck with everything!

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I did turn this offer down, took a job as an Clinical Instructor for the local college instead through December. I would really like to travel, having some serious doubts the recruiter I was dealing was reputable.

Thanks for your answer Bree :) Makes me feel better about my gut intuition.

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Intuition is a good thing, but the offer was fine. Despite not giving all the numbers, BreeeRN appeared to have a really good offer, but those assignments are not numerous (I suspect it was an Epic conversion). People respond to numbers emotionally, even when presented with calculator results proving the emotions false. I see it all the time, and have used it to my advantage as it works the other way with agencies and hospitals as well. What looks like a good deal might not be, and vice versa. Amazing how few people actually crunch the numbers.

But it is good not to work with someone you don't trust. Being a clinical instructor sounds like fun!

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I'm not sure if this helps but I'm a non-traveling RN in CA, 8+ years experience in step down and make $60/hr. I net aprox $2900/2 weeks.

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Dang! Where do you work??

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Those would be going rates being staff with 8 years of experience at most any Northern California Hospital. Hospitals are union and scales is based on years of experience. Pay is a bit lower in Southern California.

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The pay scale for rural hospitals tops out at 47$ after (7 years) plus 3.5 hour shift differential for nights. Pay scales are much lowerthe further away form an urban center. Also no bonus for BSN/MSN or certificate training such as CCRN or MICN. This applies to the Dignity system.

Mercy Redding's pay scales are higher. But the RVMC hospital rates in same town are 15- 20 % lower.

I cant speak for the coast or eastern region.

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Specializes in Level III NICU PP Mother Baby & MICU.

Hey Globetrotterrn what agency did you use for your assignments in the Carolinas

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