Travel nursing in Minnesota
Stipend ceilings by area, compact license status, and every hospital guide in the state. Real numbers, with sources.
Housing stipend ceilings in Minnesota
The most an agency can pay tax-free for housing is the GSA lodging rate × 7 nights. Cheapest: $791/wk (standard rate, every county not listed below, 99 hospitals). Most expensive: Duluth at $1,291/wk on average, $1,540/wk at peak.
| Area (county) | Housing /wk | Meals /wk | Hosp. |
|---|---|---|---|
Duluth St. Louis | $1,291 $1,113–$1,540 · peaks Oct, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep | $602 | 10 |
Minneapolis / St. Paul Hennepin / Ramsey | $1,071 flat all year | $644 | 14 |
Rochester Olmsted | $973 flat all year | $560 | 2 |
Everywhere else Standard CONUS rate | $791 | $476 | 99 |
Got an offer? Decode it against the ceiling for your work ZIP and dates →
Minnesota nursing license
Minnesota: not a compact state. No pending NLC legislation. A multistate license from another state doesn't cover Minnesota; you need a Minnesota license by endorsement before you start.
Typical endorsement steps
- Apply for licensure by endorsement on the Minnesota board of nursing's site.
- Verify your current license through Nursys (or your original board if it doesn't use Nursys).
- Complete the criminal background check and fingerprints if the board requires them.
- Ask whether a temporary license is available while the full application processes, and how long processing takes now.
Requirements and timelines vary. Minnesota board contact details (NCSBN) →
Where can your license take you?
Source: NCSBN Nurse Licensure Compact map, checked 2026-10-11. Covers RN/LPN compact licensure for the 50 states and DC. Confirm with the state board before you accept an assignment.
Charting systems in Minnesota
Certified EHR reported to CMS by 121 of 125 hospitals (4 not reported, including VA hospitals). Know the system before day one.
- Epic99 · 82%
- MEDITECH17 · 14%
- Oracle Health2 · 2%
- RPMS2 · 2%
- athenaOne1 · 1%
Top travel-nurse markets in Minnesota
- Minneapolis, MN
- Rochester, MN
Questions
- What is the maximum tax-free housing stipend in Minnesota?
- Under GSA FY2027 rates it ranges from $791/week (the standard rate for counties not listed) to $1,540/week in Duluth at peak season. The meals and incidentals ceiling is $476/week or more depending on the area.
- Is Minnesota a compact nursing license state?
- Not a compact state (No pending NLC legislation), per the NCSBN Nurse Licensure Compact map checked 2026-10-11.
- How many hospitals are in Minnesota?
- CMS lists 125 acute care, critical access, children's and VA/DoD hospitals in Minnesota. TravelNurseMap has living guides for 6 of them in the top travel-nurse markets.
- What EHR do hospitals in Minnesota use?
- Of the 121 Minnesota hospitals that reported a certified EHR to CMS for 2023–2024, 82% use Epic, 14% use MEDITECH, 2% use Oracle Health. Each hospital guide shows its own system.