how is travel nursing pay set up?

[tvm4315]

Can someone break down to me what travel nursing agencies mean when they pay an hourly wage as well as a per diem amount per day? Is it normal to have a lower wage and a higher per diem? Why the two different types anyway?

For example, this isnt an exact quote I received from a recruiter, but she said this is about average for telemetry in southern california (LA/San Diego area). Does this sound about right?

-Take home to be $810/week with the free/provided housing. I am from Louisiana and it is only about $100 more than what I take home per week now. should I be asking for more?

I have an interview with Kaiser San Diego next Tuesday. Has anyone ever worked there? As the ball gets rolling and I get real numbers, I will post them on here for any feedback from you seasoned travelers.

thank you

[meandragonbrett]

What company are you with? Sounds like an AMN company since you have an interview with Kaiser. Just be prepared to float and float frequently as a traveler at Kaiser. Floating is a way of doing business at Kaiser for the most part.

[amckenz340]

Also take into consideration that you're being compensated through tax exempt temporary housing and utilities, which in CA is usually around $2100 per month. Be prepared to answer a lot of clinical questions for the Kaiser interview.

[NedRN]

There is a limited pot of money. If some of it can be paid without income and payroll taxes, the theory is that more can be paid to the traveler. That is true as far as it goes, but there are a dozen other factors as well.

San Diego is the lowest paying city in California. But the rents are almost as high as anywhere else in the state. Double whammy. Remember, compensation all comes out of the same pot. More rent, less hourly.

$5,000 more a year in the bank plus provided housing is not chump change! But you do need to shop around. Emerald is based in Southern California and while I don't know about San Diego specifically, they do pay well in other parts of California.

[jhayroe]

I'm a traveler, and yes, the pay breakdown is confusing, especially at first. I have another question. I had one company that wanted to pay me $30/hour, but divided it up between $15/hour pay, then $15/stipend, then paid housing was separate (I had a place to live, but never saw the money for it). So basically, half of my earnings were "tax free". But another recruiter told me this was a bad practice and that this would send up red flags to the IRS. I now get paid $30/hour which is all taxed and a separate tax free housing stipend (and find my own housing). Does anyone have insight about if the "tax free" hourly pay is legit?

[NedRN]

The IRS is now requiring agencies who pay housing to supply per diem as well but not all agencies are complying yet. Not a worry on your end, but not only is it legit, it is required. There are no "red flags" for the IRS, they don't see reimbursements (per diems, housing stipends, travel, licensure). Such is the talk of the ignorant. The higher your tax free reimbursements (assuming gross pay is the same) the more money you can put in the bank. Most people do not willingly pay higher taxes when it is legal to pay less. But do what you like.