Tennessee · TN

Nurse salary in Tennessee

Registered nurses in Tennessee earn about $81,500 a year ($39.18/hr) — about 16% below the U.S. average. State figures are estimates based on national pay and local cost of living — a starting point, not a guaranteed local wage.

Registered nurse — Tennessee

Verified public wage data

Median annual pay

$81,500

-16% vs national

Hourly

$39.18/hr

Median $81,500

$63,970Middle 50%: $75,460–$95,250$104,920

Typical range: $75,460–$95,250; What most nurses earn
High end: $104,920; Top earners
Entry level: $63,970; Newer nurses

Explore Tennessee nurse pay

Switch between cities and roles to drill into local pay.

All metros

NashvilleCity / metro$84,040/yr$40.40/hrVerified public wage data MemphisCity / metro$81,500/yr$39.18/hrVerified public wage data KnoxvilleCity / metro$77,240/yr$37.13/hrVerified public wage data

Calculate your pay →Submit your salary →Each figure is the median wage reported for that area in official public wage data.

Nurse pay by type in Tennessee

Estimated annual pay by nurse type, ranked. Local figures are estimates.

All nurse roles in Tennessee

Estimated pay for every nurse type in Tennessee — open one for the full local breakdown.

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist$211,450 Nurse Practitioner$117,590 Certified Nurse Midwife$116,980 Nurse Manager$105,950 Travel Nurse$101,880 Flight Nurse$93,730 ICU Nurse$91,280 ER Nurse$89,650 NICU Nurse$89,650 Cath Lab Nurse$89,650 Operating Room Nurse$88,020 Nurse Informaticist$88,020 Charge Nurse$87,210 Labor & Delivery Nurse$86,390 PACU Nurse$86,390 Transplant Nurse$86,390 Trauma Nurse$86,390 Oncology Nurse$85,580 Case Management Nurse$85,580 Endoscopy Nurse$85,580 Cardiac Nurse$84,760 Neuroscience Nurse$84,760 Psychiatric Nurse$83,950 Telemetry Nurse$83,950 Pediatric Nurse$83,130 Correctional Nurse$83,130 Orthopedic Nurse$83,130 Gastroenterology Nurse$83,130 Registered Nurse$81,500 Med-Surg Nurse$81,500 Dialysis Nurse$81,500 Wound Care Nurse$81,500 Infusion Nurse$81,500 Occupational Health Nurse$81,500 Aesthetic Nurse$81,500 Rehabilitation Nurse$81,500 Urology Nurse$81,500 Hospice Nurse$80,690 Home Health Nurse$79,870 Ambulatory Care Nurse$79,870 Telehealth Nurse$79,060 Clinic Nurse$75,800 Public Health Nurse$74,980 School Nurse$73,350 Licensed Practical Nurse$58,870 Licensed Vocational Nurse$58,870 Nursing Assistant (CNA)$37,990

What affects nurse pay in Tennessee

Pay below the national median. Within Tennessee, pay is shaped by the metro labor market, the mix of hospitals vs long-term care and clinics, union presence, shift differentials, and how short-staffed local employers are. Advanced-practice roles (NP, CRNA) and critical-care specialties command the highest pay. Use the calculator to estimate your own.

Take-home note. Tennessee levies no state income tax on wages, so a nurse's take-home pay stretches further than the gross figures above suggest compared with a high-tax state. Note this affects net pay, not the gross wage shown here.

Where this figure comes from

This is the actual median wage reported for Tennessee in official U.S. government wage data — about 16% below the U.S. average. It is measured from employer-reported payroll, not estimated from a national average.

In Tennessee, the lowest-paid 10% earn about $63,970 and the highest-paid 10% about $104,920. Where you land depends on specialty, shift, overtime, union status, employer type, and years of experience.

Source year: 2025. Updated when new official wage data is published.

How to use this state figure

It’s the median actually reported for Tennessee — half of nurses earn more, half earn less. A midpoint, not an offer you’re guaranteed.
Your actual pay shifts with role and specialty, care setting, shift, overtime, union status, and years of experience — so compare a role-specific page and personalize the calculator.
Reviewed salary submissions from nurses in Tennessee make this page more precise over time.

Registered Nurse salary Licensed Practical Nurse salary Nurse Practitioner salary Personalize the calculator

Source & confidence— A verified figure from official U.S. public wage data.

BLS OEWS (May 2025, state)

Tennessee figures are published directly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Tennessee (May 2025). They are not estimated or adjusted.

Source year 2025. Last reviewed July 17, 2026. Full methodology

Last reviewed July 17, 2026.

Nearby states

Alabama ($77,080)Arkansas ($78,940)Delaware ($99,520)District of Columbia ($102,540)Florida ($84,190)