Travel nursing in Montana
Stipend ceilings by area, compact license status, and every hospital guide in the state. Real numbers, with sources.
Housing stipend ceilings in Montana
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, 53 hospitals). Most expensive: Big Sky / West Yellowstone/Gardiner at $1,549/wk on average, $2,282/wk at peak.
| Area (county) | Housing /wk | Meals /wk | Hosp. |
|---|---|---|---|
Big Sky / West Yellowstone/Gardiner Gallatin/Park | $1,549 $1,183–$2,282 · peaks Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep | $560 | 3 |
Missoula Missoula | $1,094 $945–$1,393 · peaks Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep | $518 | 2 |
Kalispell/Whitefish Flathead | $1,088 $882–$1,708 · peaks Jul, Aug, Sep | $560 | 2 |
Helena Lewis and Clark | $980 flat all year | $518 | 2 |
Everywhere else Standard CONUS rate | $791 | $476 | 53 |
Got an offer? Decode it against the ceiling for your work ZIP and dates →
Montana nursing license
Montana is a compact state. If your primary state of residence is another compact state and you hold a multistate license, you can work here without a new license. If you live in Montana, your multistate license comes from the Montana board.
If you don't have a multistate license: typical endorsement steps
- Apply for licensure by endorsement on the Montana 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. Montana 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 Montana
Certified EHR reported to CMS by 53 of 62 hospitals (9 not reported, including VA hospitals). Know the system before day one.
- Oracle Health19 · 36%
- Epic16 · 30%
- MEDITECH10 · 19%
- TruBridge4 · 8%
- athenaOne3 · 6%
- RPMS1 · 2%
No hospital living guides in Montana yet; guides cover the top 100 travel-nurse housing markets. Use the offer checker for any of the 62 hospitals here.
Questions
- What is the maximum tax-free housing stipend in Montana?
- Under GSA FY2027 rates it ranges from $791/week (the standard rate for counties not listed) to $2,282/week in Big Sky / West Yellowstone/Gardiner at peak season. The meals and incidentals ceiling is $476/week or more depending on the area.
- Is Montana a compact nursing license state?
- Compact state (Enacted NLC), per the NCSBN Nurse Licensure Compact map checked 2026-10-11.
- How many hospitals are in Montana?
- CMS lists 62 acute care, critical access, children's and VA/DoD hospitals in Montana. TravelNurseMap has living guides for 0 of them in the top travel-nurse markets.
- What EHR do hospitals in Montana use?
- Of the 53 Montana hospitals that reported a certified EHR to CMS for 2023–2024, 36% use Oracle Health, 30% use Epic, 19% use MEDITECH. Each hospital guide shows its own system.