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Registered Nurses salary in Tennessee

Median: $81,500 / year · $39.18 / hr · 2025

16% below the U.S. average

Mean
$85,390
$41.05 / hr
Median hourly
$39.18 / hr
10th–90th percentile
$63,970 – $104,920
U.S. median
$97,550
Wage distribution (annual)
  • 10th percentile$63,970
  • Median$81,500
  • Mean$85,390
  • 90th percentile$104,920

U.S. median $97,550

Take-home estimate

$65,494

On a $81,500 OEWS median, single filer (2024). Not tax advice.

  • Federal income tax$9,771 (12.0%)
  • Social Security$5,053 (6.2%)
  • Medicare$1,182 (1.5%)
  • Net take-home$65,494 (80.4%)
  • Share of $81,500 gross (single filer). Not tax advice.

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Living-cost context

$88,712

U.S.-average purchasing power of this median. Tennessee RPP is 91.9 (8% below the U.S. average).

Tennessee cost of living →

Related occupations in Tennessee

ZIP codes in Tennessee

All Tennessee ZIP codes →

Highest-paying states for Registered Nurses

Tennessee ranks #41 of 51 states and DC with a published OEWS median ($81,500).

Registered Nurses median salary by state
RankStateMedian
#1 Highest California$140,270
#2Hawaii$136,320
#3Oregon$129,010
#4Washington$124,200
#5Alaska$109,480
#6New York$109,440
#7New Jersey$106,500
#8Massachusetts$104,550
#9Nevada$103,670
#10Connecticut$102,740
#11District of Columbia$102,540
#12Minnesota$101,510
#13Rhode Island$100,640
#14Colorado$100,260
#15Maryland$99,790
#16New Hampshire$99,700
#17Delaware$99,520
#18Arizona$99,500
#19Vermont$97,460
#20Pennsylvania$96,430
#21Illinois$95,990
#22Texas$95,970
#23Wisconsin$95,530
#24New Mexico$94,340
#25Michigan$94,300
#26Virginia$93,600
#27Georgia$93,550
#28Idaho$92,460
#29Maine$86,990
#30Montana$85,280
#31Nebraska$84,730
#32Utah$84,600
#33North Carolina$84,350
#34Florida$84,190
#35Wyoming$83,760
#36Indiana$83,500
#37Oklahoma$82,920
#38Ohio$82,510
#39South Carolina$82,360
#40Missouri$81,780
#41Tennessee$81,500
#42Kentucky$81,040
#43North Dakota$80,730
#44Louisiana$80,230
#45West Virginia$80,130
#46Kansas$79,320
#47Arkansas$78,940
#48Iowa$78,630
#49South Dakota$78,060
#50Mississippi$77,090
#51 Lowest Alabama$77,080

Frequently asked questions

What is the median registered nurses salary in Tennessee?
The OEWS median is $81,500 per year ($39.18 / hr) (2025), 16% below the U.S. average.
How much does a registered nurses make per hour in Tennessee?
The OEWS hourly median is $39.18 / hr.
Is this take-home pay?
No. OEWS is pre-tax. A single-filer estimate on this median is about $65,494 after federal, state, and FICA. Use the take-home calculator to change the gross.
How does registered nurses pay compare nationally?
The Tennessee median is 16% below the U.S. average versus the U.S. OEWS median of $97,550.
Which states pay registered nursess the most?
California has the highest published OEWS median at $140,270. Tennessee ranks #41 of 51.
What is that salary worth after Tennessee living costs?
BEA all-items RPP is 91.9 (U.S. = 100), 8% below the U.S. average. $81,500 in Tennessee has about the same purchasing power as $88,712 at U.S. average prices.