How Much Does a CNA Make in Memphis, TN in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Memphis, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Tennessee.
BLS OES May 2025 · Memphis metro area
A typical CNA in Memphis, Tennessee earns $18.27 per hour, or $38,010 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,168 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $31,660, and the top 10% of earners make over $44,540.
That pay is right at the Tennessee figure of $37,990 and 10% below the national figure of $42,260. Memphis ranks 3rd of 10 metro areas in Tennessee for CNA pay. About 4,930 CNAs work in the Memphis area.
CNA pay in Memphis at a glance
- Typical pay is $18.27 an hour, or $38,010 a year.
- That is right at the Tennessee figure, ranking 3rd of 10 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $31,660; the top 10% make over $44,540.
- Typical pay rose +59% from 2015 to 2025, against +70% for Tennessee as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Memphis?
Pay in Memphis runs from entry-level positions at around $15.22 an hour to more than $21.42 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Tennessee and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Memphis
| Career stage | Memphis | Tennessee | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $31,660$15.22 an hour | $31,110$14.96 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $36,400$17.50 an hour | $35,560$17.09 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $38,010$18.27 an hour | $37,990$18.27 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $41,960$20.18 an hour | $40,880$19.66 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $44,540$21.42 an hour | $44,660$21.47 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Memphis area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Memphis
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Memphis area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Memphis was $23,880 a year. By 2025 it had reached $38,010, a change of +59%, compared with +70% for Tennessee over the same years.
How Memphis compares with other Tennessee cities
Nashville pays CNAs the most in Tennessee at $39,510 a year, $1,500 more than Memphis. The lowest-paying area in the state is Jackson at $36,900.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Memphis | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville | $39,510 | $18.99 | +4% | 7,420 |
| 2 | Chattanooga | $38,790 | $18.65 | +2% | 2,420 |
| 3 | Memphis | $38,010 | $18.27 | this city | 4,930 |
| 4 | Knoxville | $38,000 | $18.27 | 0% | 3,860 |
| 5 | Morristown | $37,620 | $18.09 | -1% | 350 |
| 6 | Kingsport metro incl. Bristol | $37,550 | $18.05 | -1% | 1,400 |
| 7 | Clarksville | $37,320 | $17.94 | -2% | 620 |
| 8 | Johnson City | $37,310 | $17.94 | -2% | 1,390 |
| 9 | Cleveland | $37,130 | $17.85 | -2% | 440 |
| 10 | Jackson | $36,900 | $17.74 | -3% | 1,080 |
Every metro area in Tennessee with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Tennessee typical pay $37,990
Is Memphis a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in Memphis earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $38,010 a year, 10% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Memphis area, about 8.1 are CNA positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 9.4. CNA jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a CNA make in Memphis, TN?
- A typical CNA in Memphis earns $38,010 a year, or $18.27 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $31,660 and the top 10% earn over $44,540.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Memphis?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Memphis is $18.27. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $15.22, and the top 10% earn over $21.42 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Memphis?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Memphis typically offer around $15.22 an hour, or $31,660 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Memphis higher than in the rest of Tennessee?
- Memphis pay is right at the Tennessee figure of $37,990 a year, ranking 3rd of 10 metro areas in the state. Nashville pays the most in Tennessee at $39,510.