Federal per diem rates, fiscal year 2027
Travel nurse stipend limits in Illinois
The lodging and meals rates GSA sets for Illinois, which agencies set travel nurses' tax-free stipends against, and the week they add up to in November 2026. 4 places have a rate of their own; every other county takes the standard rate. Travel assignments open now.
Every place in Illinois
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChicagoLake County, Cook County | $232 a night Oct to Nov, $148 a night Dec to Mar, $238 a night Apr to Jun, $213 a night Jul to Aug, $232 a night in Sep | $92 | $2,268 |
| East St. Louis / O'Fallon / Fairview HeightsSt. Clair County | $156 a night all year | $86 | $1,694 |
| Oakbrook TerraceDuPage County | $123 a night all year | $80 | $1,421 |
| Bolingbrook / Romeoville / LemontWill County | $119 a night all year | $74 | $1,351 |
| Every other countyThe standard rate | $113 a night all year | $68 | $1,267 |
Travel nurse stipend limits in Illinois: common questions
What is the most a travel nurse can be paid tax-free in Illinois?
By GSA's per diem rates for November 2026, a week's lodging and meals come to $2,268 in Chicago (Lake County and Cook County), $1,694 in East St. Louis / O'Fallon / Fairview Heights (St. Clair County), $1,421 in Oakbrook Terrace (DuPage County) and $1,351 in Bolingbrook / Romeoville / Lemont (Will County), and $1,267 in every other Illinois 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 Illinois's rates change by season?
Yes, in Chicago ($232 a night Oct to Nov, $148 a night Dec to Mar, $238 a night Apr to Jun, $213 a night Jul to Aug, $232 a night in Sep). Meals and incidentals stay the same all year.
How does Illinois 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 Illinois. Data as of 9 Nov 2026. https://carejobs.now/travel-nurse-stipends/illinois