How much do registered nurses make in Tennessee?
What registered nurses earn in Tennessee and its metro areas, compared with the rest of the country (May 2025 BLS data).
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Median pay in Tennessee
$81,500
a year, or $39.18 an hour. That is 16% less than the national median of $97,550.
The middle half of registered nurses in Tennessee earn $75,460 to $95,250.
Pay range in Tennessee
- Bottom 10% earn under
- $63,970
- 25th percentile
- $75,460
- Median
- $81,500
- 75th percentile
- $95,250
- Top 10% earn over
- $104,920
Rank among states
#40 of 50
Tennessee pays registered nurses more than 10 of the other 49 states. Highest: California ($140,270).
Jobs in Tennessee
72,200
22.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the state, 1.01× the U.S. concentration.
Registered Nurse pay in Tennessee cities
Metro and rural (nonmetropolitan) areas as BLS defines them, including metro areas that cross into neighboring states.. Click a column to sort.
| Area | Pay a year | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $40.40 | 25,100 | |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $39.18 | 13,760 | |
| Knoxville, TN | $37.13 | 9,500 | |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $38.35 | 6,460 | |
| Johnson City, TN | $37.34 | 2,740 | |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $36.89 | 2,660 | |
| North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $37.37 | 2,410 | |
| Jackson, TN | $36.35 | 1,930 | |
| West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $36.72 | 1,860 | |
| East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $36.26 | 1,810 | |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $38.20 | 1,670 | |
| South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $36.34 | 1,570 | |
| Morristown, TN | $36.38 | 710 | |
| Cleveland, TN | $35.00 | 630 |
States with similar registered nurse pay
Other healthcare salaries in Tennessee
Home Health and Personal Care Aides
$32,130
median a year · 35,950 jobs
Nursing Assistants
$37,990
median a year · 27,040 jobs
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
$58,870
median a year · 20,830 jobs
Medical Assistants
$39,570
median a year · 19,180 jobs
Nurse Practitioners
$117,590
median a year · 12,150 jobs
Pharmacy Technicians
$41,920
median a year · 11,870 jobs
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians
$62,070
median a year · 8,410 jobs
Pharmacists
$133,390
median a year · 8,250 jobs
Dental Assistants
$46,720
median a year · 7,420 jobs
Physicians, All Other
$301,290
median a year · 5,340 jobs
Physical Therapists
$100,140
median a year · 4,800 jobs
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians
$64,630
median a year · 4,660 jobs
Questions about registered nurse pay in Tennessee
How much does a registered nurse make in Tennessee?
Registered Nurses in Tennessee earned a median of $81,500 a year ($39.18 an hour) in May 2025, 16% less than the national median of $97,550. The middle half earned $75,460 to $95,250.
Where in Tennessee do registered nurses earn the most?
Among areas in Tennessee, pay was highest in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN at $84,040.
How does Tennessee rank for registered nurse pay?
Tennessee ranks #40 of 50 states for registered nurses pay. California pays the most, at $140,270 a year. Pay figures don't account for differences in cost of living.
How many registered nurses work in Tennessee?
About 72,200 people worked as registered nurses in Tennessee in May 2025, or 22.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the state.
Tennessee hospitals
Tennessee hospital star ratings
Tennessee hospital finances
Tennessee shortage areas
Hospitals per capita
All healthcare salaries
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, all industries. Median pay is the middle wage; where BLS publishes no median, the average (mean) is shown, marked "(avg)". Values marked "+" are above the most BLS reports exactly. Pay doesn't reflect cost of living, overtime or shift differentials.