Agencies
Read the package before you read the pitch
Recruiters quote a weekly gross. What matters is how it splits, what happens if the hospital cancels, and who pays for the license. Here's the plain-language version.
Anatomy of a pay package
Where a weekly gross actually goes
| Line item | Taxed? | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Taxable hourly base | Yes | A very low base inflates the stipend and shrinks overtime and unemployment. |
| Housing stipend | No* | Only untaxed if you maintain a qualifying tax home and duplicate expenses. |
| Meals & incidentals | No* | Usually capped by the federal per-diem rate for that county. |
| Travel reimbursement | No | Often split half on arrival, half on completion. Confirm both halves in writing. |
| Completion bonus | Yes | Forfeited if you're cancelled — even when the cancellation isn't your doing. |
| Guaranteed hours | — | The single most important clause. Ask what happens when the unit calls off. |
* Stipends are only tax-free if you qualify. This is general information, not tax advice — talk to a preparer who works with travelers.
Before you sign
Ten questions worth a recruiter's time
What are the guaranteed hours, and what triggers a call-off?
What's the taxable base, separate from the stipends?
Which unit, which shift, and is floating in the contract?
What's the cancellation policy on both sides, and the notice period?
Who pays for licensure, certifications, and the physical?
When does health insurance start, and is there a gap between contracts?
Is overtime paid at time-and-a-half of the base, or a blended rate?
How is the requested-time-off list handled once I'm on site?
What's the orientation length, and is it paid at the full rate?
Can I see the full contract in writing before I verbally commit?
How to shop
Work three agencies, not one
Agencies hold different contracts with different hospitals. The same unit can be listed at two very different rates.
Large national agencies
The widest job board, structured benefits, and a recruiter who may carry sixty travelers.
Regional specialists
Fewer postings, deeper relationships with the hospitals in one state. Often better rates there.
Transparent-rate platforms
Marketplaces that publish the bill rate and their cut. Useful as a benchmark even if you sign elsewhere.
Don't let two recruiters submit you to the same job. Duplicate submissions get profiles pulled from consideration entirely. Track who submitted you where, in writing.
Directory coming soon
An agency comparison, kept current
Specialties, states covered, benefits start dates, and how each one handles cancellations. Join the list to hear when it goes live.
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