RN salary · May 2025 BLS
RN Salary in Tennessee: $81,500 Median (May 2025)
Registered nurses in Tennessee earn a median of $81,500 per year — $39.18 an hour — $16,050 below the national median of $97,550, ranking #41 of 51 states and D.C. The middle 80% of Tennessee RNs earn between $63,970 and $104,920. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — the federal wage survey, not job-board self-reports.
Part of Nursing in Tennessee — schools, RN and NP pay, and licensing on one page.
Tennessee RN pay range (May 2025)
Dark band = middle 50% of Tennessee RNs (25th–75th percentile). Light band = middle 80%. New grads typically start near the left edge.
Compare Tennessee With Any State
Weighing a move, travel contracts, or a compact-state license? Put Tennessee side by side with any other market.
| May 2025 federal data | Tennessee | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Typical yearly pay | $81,500 | $95,970 |
| Typical hourly pay | $39.18/hr | $46.14/hr |
| Lower starting point | $63,970 | $67,120 |
| Higher pay with experience | $95,250 | $105,100 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $104,920 | $127,950 |
| RNs working | 72,200 | 271,380 |
Thinking past the bedside? Nurse practitioner salary in Tennessee →
The path to this salary runs through the NCLEX
Tennessee has 103 board-approved nursing programs across 91 schools — compare them by real first-time NCLEX pass rates. Then check what the degree costs against these wages with your own numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do registered nurses make in Tennessee?
RNs in Tennessee earn a median of $81,500 per year — $39.18 per hour — $16,050 below the national median of $97,550 (BLS May 2025). That ranks Tennessee #41 of 51 states and D.C. by median RN pay.
What is a starting RN salary in Tennessee?
New nurses generally start near the lower percentiles: in Tennessee, the 10th percentile is $63,970 and the 25th percentile is $75,460. Most RNs move toward the $81,500 median within their first several years.
What do the highest-paid RNs in Tennessee earn?
The top 10% of RNs in Tennessee earn above $104,920 per year — typically nurses with specialty certifications, leadership roles, or high-differential schedules.
How many RNs work in Tennessee?
72,200 registered nurses are employed in Tennessee per the BLS May 2025 estimates.
RN salary in other states
Keep going
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