How Much Does a Rad Tech Make in Tennessee in 2026?

A typical Rad Tech in Tennessee earns about $31.07 per hour ($64,630 per year), per the latest government wage data (May 2025). Broken down further, that comes to roughly $5,386 a month and $1,243 a week, calculated from the annual figure. These numbers cover radiographers working in hospitals, imaging centers, and clinics across the state.

Tennessee's typical pay runs about 19% below the national figure of $80,110 a year. The state ranks 47th out of 51 states and D.C. for Rad Tech pay. About 4,660 Rad Techs work in Tennessee, compared with 230,490 nationwide. That gap in pay often tracks a lower cost of living in the state compared with higher-paying regions.

Entry-level Rad Tech positions in Tennessee typically offer around $24.30 an hour ($50,540 a year), according to May 2025 wage data. Pay typically moves up toward the statewide typical figure of $31.07 an hour within the first few years on the job. New graduates often start in this range while completing clinical requirements or building experience in a specific modality.

Experienced Rad Techs in Tennessee often earn upwards of $37.84 an hour ($78,700 a year), and the top 10% of earners make over $90,790 a year. That's a spread of $40,250 between entry-level and top pay. Setting, years of experience, and city all factor into where an individual lands within that range.

Tennessee's typical Rad Tech pay rose from $50,580 in 2019 to $64,630 in 2025, a gain of $14,050, or about 28%, over six years, according to government wage data. Pay held roughly flat from 2019 through 2021, then climbed every year from 2022 onward. That stretch included a sizable jump between 2021 and 2022, when pay moved from $50,320 to $59,510.

Nationally, Rad Tech pay rose about 32% over the same six years, a somewhat faster pace than Tennessee's climb. For someone starting a Rad Tech career in Tennessee now, that history shows pay has moved up steadily, though it makes no promises about future increases. Current entry-level and typical figures still offer a useful starting point for weighing the profession.

Rad Tech pay runs highest in the Nashville metro area, where typical pay reaches $76,450 a year ($36.76 an hour), about 18% above the statewide figure. Franklin, Murfreesboro, and Davidson share that same figure, since they fall within the Nashville metro area. Johnson City follows closely behind, with typical pay of $75,980 a year.

Pay runs lowest in the Kingsport metro area, at $61,450 a year, a spread of $15,000 between the highest- and lowest-paying metro areas in the state. Nashville also has the largest Rad Tech workforce in Tennessee, with 1,450 employed there. Higher pay in Nashville generally tracks its higher cost of living compared with smaller Tennessee metro areas.

Tennessee's Rad Tech pay trails most of its neighbors. Virginia pays the most nearby, at $80,670 a year, about 25% higher than Tennessee, while Georgia and North Carolina both run about 15% higher, near $74,500. Pay dips below Tennessee's figure just across the southern border, with Alabama at $60,700 and Mississippi at $59,300. Licensing requirements can often be transferred or endorsed between neighboring states, which can simplify a move.

Rad Techs in Tennessee typically earn $64,630 a year ($31.07 an hour), up $14,050, or 28%, over the past six years, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Pay varies by city and experience, from entry-level positions near $50,540 to the top 10% earning over $90,790. Readers weighing a move or a new career should check Tennessee's licensing and registry requirements and compare local figures by city.