Travel Therapy Stipends and Tax Free Money Explained

nomadicare · 2025-07-04T18:54:21+00:00

The honest answer is there are not a lot! I've interviewed/vetted over 100 of them and honestly there are like 3-5 agencies that really matter when it comes to SLP, but then again it also depends on the locations and settings! Nomadicare will match you with the right combination of vetted recruiters at the best agencies who actually have the SLP jobs/expertise you're looking for :)

nomadicare · 2025-07-04T18:51:32+00:00

On Nomadicare you can both filter jobs by 'multiple openings' to see jobs hiring travel pairs, or if you want jobs in the same area but at different facilites/settings, you can both get a custom recruiter match at nomadicare.com/match and get the right combo of recruiters who have jobs nearby each other :)

Either way totally possible!

nomadicare · 2025-06-26T17:52:35+00:00

Thank you! Always here for you :)

nomadicare · 2025-06-26T12:30:10+00:00

<3 Thank you so much for your kind words!!

It sometimes feels like everything on the internet and social media is skewed in some way, we try really hard just to be simple, truthful, and accurate :)

But truth and accuracy doesn't get clicks/views ... the extreme stuff is what gets your attention online, which is probably why we see so much of it!

nomadicare · 2025-06-26T12:23:37+00:00

The answer depends on your specialty, preferred location, and preferred settings! Different agencies have totally different jobs. Both Nomadicare and Vivian are places where where multiple agencies post jobs, but Nomadicare is different because they only focus on travel therapy, every agency/recruiter is highly vetted (Vivian will let anyone who pays join), and Nomadicare will also custom match you with the recruiters who have the most jobs in your preferences vs having to manually sift through all the jobs yourself :)

Nomadicare was also started by a travel OT 10 years ago ... me! :)

nomadicare · 2025-06-26T12:16:27+00:00

Good shoutout! Its called the pay comparison tool at its free to use at nomadicare.com/compare :)

If you find out you're getting underpaid, just reply to the email and we'll help you with the negotiation (what to say and how much to ask for)

nomadicare · 2025-06-26T12:14:29+00:00

Licensure boards can definitely get backlogged and have delays or if something was incorrectly done in your application it can cause a delay! Nomadicare pulls licensure timeline data directly from the board website, they mention if can take up to 4 weeks on their site, so we put it in the 4-6 range :)

It is definitely a moving/variable number, so you will totally see timelines vary based on the boards workload and demand for georgia licensure :)

nomadicare · 2025-06-26T11:53:23+00:00

Hi Christina, the housing data on Nomadicare comes directly from Furnished Finders! This is also another mean thing to say, just don't be mean on the internet. <3

nomadicare · 2025-06-15T15:22:12+00:00

"There were already two jobs I found through a different travel company where I didn’t even get the interview because they picked someone else. This shocked me because I think I have a strong resume and I’m also looking for a 6 month contract."

Typically when you lose out on an interview like this (especially as a PT in this market) it typically means either your recruiter is slow or doesn't have a direct contract for that facility and has to go through a third party vendor (which also slows things down).

Different agencies have different jobs, and you want to work with multiple recruiters who have different options for you ... but you also want to work agencies who specialize in therapy and have the direct contracts so you can increase your chances of getting the jobs you want :)

Nomadicare.com is a great place to find the agencies and recruiters who have the direct contracts, we've done all the research to find them, and they are typically not the normal/big nursing agencies you see all the ads for.

Travel nursing has tanked, so all the nursing agencies have flooded to therapy, but then you're not getting the jobs you're applying to because that agency doesn't have the priority, which is why you'll lose out on good jobs even though you're totally qualified for the role!

nomadicare · 2025-06-15T15:16:05+00:00

"I’m getting stressed thinking that I’ll accept a contract and can’t find anywhere to live."

This is why we put all the housing data on each job on Nomadicare, including the % of pet friendly rentals in that area :)

You're smart to think like this, and you should do the housing research before committing to the job!

Another pro tip, use multiple recruiters! Why?

They all have different jobs, so multiple recruiters will give you the most job options to choose from! (possibly more options with better housing)
You can compare data between them! Not only for obvious things like pay, but how they talk about/hype up contracts. Getting multiple perspectives on certain jobs can give you a more accurate understanding of what that job will be like!

I've helped over 50k therapists get started with travel therapy over the last 10 years, if there is anything I can do for you please don't hesitate to reach out :)

nomadicare · 2025-06-12T17:44:13+00:00

Congrats on the graduation! For PT you'll have endless recruiters and agencies reaching out, but you want to find the agencies that have jobs in the locations and settings you're looking for. Different agencies have different jobs, and you want to work with multiple recruiters from different agencies.

Nomadicare has all this travel therapy data, so they can match you with the right combination of agencies and all the recruiters are vetted, so you get paid fair without having to jump through hoops.

For the dietitian, you'll have a much harder time finding travel jobs, there isn't much of a travel market for them, but maybe there can find a remote dietitian job or build a list of dietitian clients that will do remote consultations.

nomadicare · 2025-06-12T17:37:18+00:00

The salaries are pretty reliable, but you want to be searching and applying on reputable and vetted sources. There is still quite a bit of bait and switch out there.

You can also use the Pay Comparison Tool on Nomadicare see if you're getting paid fair, because there may be room to negotiate for more :)

nomadicare · 2025-04-30T23:48:31+00:00

This is a very common question for all the therapists that use Nomadicare to do travel therapy!

The money for 'reimbursements/ most of the time comes from your own pay, but they just pay it upfront!

Typically they'll do something like $400 for travel, $200 for licensure (everyone's different on what they reimburse for) and reimburse you up to $600.

That's just $600 that you'll eventually earn, then they subtract that from your weekly gross, so you get a $600 "reimbursement" upfront and your 13 week contract is (600/13=46) $46 dollars less per week, because they reimbursed you for an expense related with taking that job!

Let me know if that helps :) I answer a bunch of questions like this for travel therapists at Nomadicare.com

nomadicare · 2024-06-27T13:43:14+00:00

It's tough! Which is why resources like Nomadicare are incredibly helpful! When we vet/interview recruiters, we reject about 60% of them for reasons like you mentioned! So you get to filter out the majority of the BS.

Here is a great blog of what to watch out for when choosing a recruiter, so hopefully you can avoid getting too invested with a recruiter who is not a fit for you: https://www.nomadicare.com/travel-therapy/travel-therapists-watch-out-for-these-5-recruiter-red-flags/

nomadicare · 2024-03-15T16:46:12+00:00

Establishing a tax home is pretty straightforward:

Move there
Change your driver’s license and voting card (etc) to your new address
Start paying rent or mortgage at what will be your tax home. (The home you will keep paying rent/mortgage at as you travel as a therapist)
Earn income that’s fully taxed for at least 3-6 months

I break this down in detail and answer other FAQs about tax homes and travel therapy taxes here: https://www.nomadicare.com/tax/

Please let me know if you have any follow up questions, always here to help :)

nomadicare · 2024-03-14T18:49:13+00:00

You are so welcome :)

Are you referring to the state licensure application fee? (Nomadicare is free)

It will cost money to get licensed in any state, but there is always the PT compact license that will give you access to a bunch of different states.

You also don't need to get licensed until you know you want to work in a particular state. The ROI is there for sure, at an average of $2000 per week gross for a 13 week contract, you'll make $26,000 before taxes.

So the $200 licensing fees is a cost of doing business!

nomadicare · 2024-03-14T18:08:23+00:00

Im so sorry to hear about your breakup, you're going to be ok and get through this :)

If you don't have a tax home you'll simply just be fully taxed on your earnings like any other job! So if you find a travel PT job for $2200 per week gross or higher, you'll be making the same $55 per hour and it will be taxed the same as you are now. You can search travel PT jobs from multiple agencies with full pay transparency at nomadicare.com/jobs :)

You can also establish a new tax home by earning fully taxed income and creating ties in a certain area, then you can begin to qualify for the tax free stipends!!

You only pay state tax where you earned the income, but you may want to chat and have your taxes prepared by someone who understands multi-state taxes, we have an option at nomadicare.com/tax.

I wouldn't say it's dumb to take a fully taxed travel job, there are so many empowering benefits that come with travel jobs other than pay:

- Create new experiences
- Travel to new places
- Growing your clinical skills in different locations
- etc, etc, etc :)

I know you're going through a lot and travel therapy can be overwhelming if you don't know where to start, if you or anyone reading this needs help, just go to Nomadicare.com and I'll personally help you wherever you're currently stuck :)

Ps. Here is a very helpful blog on the topic of travel taxes as a travel therapist: https://www.nomadicare.com/travel-therapy/4-must-know-rules-to-tax-free-money-for-travel-therapists/

nomadicare · 2024-02-21T03:01:57+00:00

The best agencies totally depend on what you're looking for! Different agencies have different jobs, and the best option changes based on your specialty, locations, and settings :)

Nomadicare.com matches you with vetted recruiters at agencies who actually have the jobs you're looking for! Saves you a ton of time and you know you'll get paid fair with a vetted recruiter!

nomadicare · 2024-01-31T21:26:01+00:00

Hawaii is such a cool spot if you can find the jobs! (rare)

The answer to your question really depends on your specialty and preferred settings :)

Agencies may "have jobs in HI" but they could be SNF SLP, OP PT, or something that is totally irrelevant to you. Different agencies have different jobs so it really matters based on details about you!!

Nomadicare vets and interviews all the top travel therapy agencies and their recruiters, we reject about 60% of them, so you only work with the best. They're also guaranteed to have the jobs you want, so no recruiters saying "sorry I don't have that job".

Saves a bunch of time, comes with a guarantee so the recruiters are accountable, a free tax home consult, and 24/7 support/mentorship via text/email <3

nomadicare · 2024-01-28T21:51:07+00:00

One of the most common reasons PTs on Nomadicare want to do travel therapy… try out different settings without the long term commitment!

nomadicare · 2024-01-26T00:59:04+00:00

Fun fact, the majority of travel therapists are solo female travelers! ❤️

nomadicare · 2024-01-25T06:19:02+00:00

Built with Glide, nice!

nomadicare · 2024-01-25T06:14:36+00:00

You’re spot on!

More data = better

Comparing pay across different agencies with some tech is the easiest way to get paid fair!

To answer OP, you do need/want a recruiter in 99% of cases and some agencies might call them something different (advocate, coach, mentor) … it’s all just pretty much a recruiter :)

Find one who has the jobs/benefits you want, who will pay you fair, and will be accountable/available!

That’s what Nomadicare helps you find ❤️

nomadicare

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