Federal per diem rates, fiscal year 2027
Travel nurse stipend limits in California
The lodging and meals rates GSA sets for California, which agencies set travel nurses' tax-free stipends against, and the week they add up to in November 2026. 32 places have a rate of their own; every other county takes the standard rate. Travel assignments open now.
Every place in California
Lodging by season and meals per day; the week is at this month's lodging.
| Place and counties | Lodging | Meals a day | A week now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa MonicaLos Angeles County | $283 a night all year | $92 | $2,625 |
| San FranciscoSan Francisco County | $279 a night Oct to Dec, $325 a night Jan to Mar, $232 a night Apr to Aug, $279 a night in Sep | $92 | $2,597 |
| NapaNapa County | $266 a night Oct to Nov, $194 a night Dec to Mar, $266 a night Apr to Sep | $92 | $2,506 |
| Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San JoseSanta Clara County | $218 a night all year | $92 | $2,170 |
| Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara County | $214 a night Oct to Jun, $277 a night Jul to Aug, $214 a night in Sep | $92 | $2,142 |
| San Mateo / Foster City / BelmontSan Mateo County | $217 a night Oct to Nov, $194 a night Dec to Aug, $217 a night in Sep | $86 | $2,121 |
| San DiegoSan Diego County | $208 a night Oct to May, $249 a night Jun to Jul, $208 a night Aug to Sep | $86 | $2,058 |
| MontereyMonterey County | $196 a night Oct to Jan, $209 a night Feb to Jun, $293 a night Jul to Aug, $196 a night in Sep | $92 | $2,016 |
| Los AngelesLos Angeles County, Orange County, Ventura County, San Bernardino County, Kern County | $199 a night all year | $86 | $1,995 |
| South Lake TahoeEl Dorado County | $198 a night Oct to Nov, $262 a night Dec to Mar, $168 a night Apr to May, $198 a night Jun to Sep | $86 | $1,988 |
| Palm SpringsRiverside County | $186 a night Oct to Jan, $192 a night Feb to Apr, $141 a night May to Sep | $86 | $1,904 |
| Yosemite National ParkMariposa County | $184 a night Oct to Nov, $212 a night Dec to Apr, $184 a night May to Sep | $86 | $1,890 |
| Mill Valley / San Rafael / NovatoMarin County | $169 a night all year | $92 | $1,827 |
| San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo County | $170 a night Oct to May, $213 a night Jun to Jul, $170 a night Aug to Sep | $86 | $1,792 |
| Santa RosaSonoma County | $163 a night all year | $86 | $1,743 |
| OaklandAlameda County | $152 a night all year | $92 | $1,708 |
| SacramentoSacramento County | $156 a night all year | $86 | $1,694 |
| Bakersfield / RidgecrestKern County | $164 a night all year | $74 | $1,666 |
| Santa CruzSanta Cruz County | $149 a night Oct to May, $181 a night Jun to Aug, $149 a night in Sep | $86 | $1,645 |
| Death ValleyInyo County | $154 a night all year | $80 | $1,638 |
| TruckeeNevada County | $148 a night Oct to Nov, $178 a night Dec to Feb, $151 a night Mar to May, $174 a night Jun to Sep | $86 | $1,638 |
| Antioch / Brentwood / ConcordContra Costa County | $147 a night all year | $86 | $1,631 |
| Mammoth LakesMono County | $146 a night Oct to Nov, $208 a night Dec to Mar, $146 a night Apr to Sep | $86 | $1,624 |
| West Sacramento / DavisYolo County | $148 a night all year | $80 | $1,596 |
| FresnoFresno County | $136 a night all year | $86 | $1,554 |
| Point Arena / GualalaMendocino County | $134 a night all year | $86 | $1,540 |
| Tahoe CityPlacer County | $132 a night all year | $86 | $1,526 |
| OakhurstMadera County | $137 a night all year | $80 | $1,519 |
| Eureka / Arcata / McKinleyvilleHumboldt County | $130 a night Oct to May, $181 a night Jun to Aug, $130 a night in Sep | $86 | $1,512 |
| VisaliaTulare County | $136 a night all year | $80 | $1,512 |
| Barstow / Ontario / VictorvilleSan Bernardino County | $129 a night all year | $86 | $1,505 |
| StocktonSan Joaquin County | $137 a night all year | $74 | $1,477 |
| Every other countyThe standard rate | $113 a night all year | $68 | $1,267 |
Travel nurse stipend limits in California: common questions
What is the most a travel nurse can be paid tax-free in California?
By GSA's per diem rates for November 2026, a week's lodging and meals come to $2,625 in Santa Monica (Los Angeles County), $2,597 in San Francisco (San Francisco County), $2,506 in Napa (Napa County), $2,170 in Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose (Santa Clara County) and $2,142 in Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara County), and $1,267 in every other California county (the standard rate). Agencies set tax-free stipends against these limits; anything above is taxed as wages, and only a traveler with a tax home elsewhere takes them tax-free.
Do California's rates change by season?
Yes, in San Francisco ($279 a night Oct to Dec, $325 a night Jan to Mar, $232 a night Apr to Aug, $279 a night in Sep); Napa ($266 a night Oct to Nov, $194 a night Dec to Mar, $266 a night Apr to Sep); Santa Barbara ($214 a night Oct to Jun, $277 a night Jul to Aug, $214 a night in Sep); San Mateo / Foster City / Belmont ($217 a night Oct to Nov, $194 a night Dec to Aug, $217 a night in Sep). Meals and incidentals stay the same all year.
How does California compare?
Every place GSA rates, the highest first. Travel assignments open now: travel healthcare jobs.
Sources and method
GSA's rates as its ZIP code file sets them for each month of fiscal year 2027. A week is seven nights' lodging and seven days' meals and incidentals. Not tax advice. Read 9 Nov 2026. Every state.
- US General Services Administration, per diem rates for fiscal year 2027 (ZIP code file)
Cite this page
CareJobs.Now. (2026). Travel nurse stipend limits in California. Data as of 9 Nov 2026. https://carejobs.now/travel-nurse-stipends/california