How Much Does an LPN Make in Memphis, TN in 2026?
Typical pay for LPNs 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 LPN in Memphis, Tennessee earns $28.43 per hour, or $59,140 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,928 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $41,130, and the top 10% of earners make over $68,410.
That pay is right at the Tennessee figure of $58,870 and 8% below the national figure of $64,400. Memphis ranks 2nd of 10 metro areas in Tennessee for LPN pay. About 2,980 LPNs work in the Memphis area.
LPN pay in Memphis at a glance
- Typical pay is $28.43 an hour, or $59,140 a year.
- That is right at the Tennessee figure, ranking 2nd of 10 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $41,130; the top 10% make over $68,410.
- Typical pay rose +41% from 2015 to 2025, against +61% for Tennessee as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an LPN make in Memphis?
Pay in Memphis runs from entry-level positions at around $19.77 an hour to more than $32.89 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Tennessee and national figures.
LPN pay by career stage in Memphis
| Career stage | Memphis | Tennessee | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $41,130$19.77 an hour | $41,110$19.76 an hour | $49,740$23.91 an hour |
| First years | $50,130$24.10 an hour | $49,170$23.64 an hour | $59,000$28.37 an hour |
| Typical LPN | $59,140$28.43 an hour | $58,870$28.31 an hour | $64,400$30.96 an hour |
| Experienced | $63,450$30.51 an hour | $62,650$30.12 an hour | $76,030$36.55 an hour |
| Top 10% | $68,410$32.89 an hour | $67,540$32.47 an hour | $83,440$40.12 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Memphis area as BLS defines it
LPN pay growth in Memphis
Typical (median) annual wage for LPNs in the Memphis area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical LPN pay in Memphis was $42,050 a year. By 2025 it had reached $59,140, a change of +41%, compared with +61% for Tennessee over the same years.
How Memphis compares with other Tennessee cities
Franklin pays LPNs the most in Tennessee at $61,940 a year, $2,800 more than Memphis. The lowest-paying area in the state is Jackson at $50,670.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Memphis | LPNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Franklin | $61,940 | $29.78 | +5% | 5,650 |
| 2 | Memphis | $59,140 | $28.43 | this city | 2,980 |
| 3 | Chattanooga | $58,580 | $28.16 | -1% | 1,560 |
| 4 | Clarksville | $58,260 | $28.01 | -1% | 630 |
| 5 | Knoxville | $57,960 | $27.86 | -2% | 2,650 |
| 6 | Morristown | $55,140 | $26.51 | -7% | 260 |
| 7 | Bristol metro incl. Kingsport | $54,050 | $25.99 | -9% | 800 |
| 8 | Cleveland | $52,350 | $25.17 | -11% | 270 |
| 9 | Johnson City | $51,480 | $24.75 | -13% | 820 |
| 10 | Jackson | $50,670 | $24.36 | -14% | 810 |
Every metro area in Tennessee with LPN wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Tennessee typical pay $58,870
Is Memphis a good place to work as an LPN?
LPNs in Memphis earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $59,140 a year, 8% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Memphis area, about 4.9 are LPN positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 4.2. That makes the local economy more reliant on LPNs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an LPN make in Memphis, TN?
- A typical LPN in Memphis earns $59,140 a year, or $28.43 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $41,130 and the top 10% earn over $68,410.
- How much does an LPN make an hour in Memphis?
- Typical hourly pay for LPNs in Memphis is $28.43. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $19.77, and the top 10% earn over $32.89 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an LPN in Memphis?
- Entry-level LPN positions in Memphis typically offer around $19.77 an hour, or $41,130 a year.
- Is LPN pay in Memphis higher than in the rest of Tennessee?
- Memphis pay is right at the Tennessee figure of $58,870 a year, ranking 2nd of 10 metro areas in the state. Franklin pays the most in Tennessee at $61,940.