How Much Does an RN Make in Tennessee in 2026?

A typical RN in Tennessee earns about $39.18 per hour ($81,500 per year), per the latest government wage data (May 2025). Calculated from that annual figure, pay works out to roughly $6,792 a month or $1,567 a week. That figure describes the midpoint of pay across the state, not a starting wage or the highest a nurse can earn.

Nationally, RNs typically earn $97,550 a year ($46.90 an hour), which means Tennessee pay runs 16% below the national figure. That puts Tennessee 41st among the 51 states and D.C. for RN pay. Around 72,200 RNs work across the state, compared with roughly 3.38 million nationwide.

Entry-level positions in Tennessee typically offer around $30.76 an hour ($63,970 a year). New RNs usually start near this figure and see pay rise as they gain experience and move into specialized units. Within a few years, many reach the state's typical pay of $81,500 a year. Where a nurse works, in a hospital, clinic, or long-term care setting, also shapes how quickly pay moves upward.

Experienced RNs in Tennessee often earn upwards of $50.44 an hour, and the top 10% of earners make over $104,920 a year. That's a spread of $40,950 between entry-level and top pay. The gap tends to reflect years of experience, the type of facility, and which city a nurse works in, with the Nashville area generally paying more than smaller markets.

Over the past decade, typical pay for Tennessee RNs rose from $56,840 in 2015 to $81,500 in 2025, a gain of $24,660, or 43%. Growth was gradual through the late 2010s and accelerated after 2022, when pay jumped from $65,800 to $76,200 in a single year. That pace continued through 2024 and into 2025, pushing pay to its current typical figure.

Nationally, typical RN pay rose 45% over the same ten years, just ahead of Tennessee's 43% increase. The two track closely, with Tennessee's dollar gains keeping pace with the national trend rather than falling behind it. For someone starting an RN career in Tennessee now, pay has moved up steadily over the past decade, though nothing about future increases is guaranteed.

Pay runs highest in the Franklin and Nashville area, where RNs typically earn $84,040 a year ($40.40 an hour), about 3% above the state figure. These figures cover the full Nashville metro area, which also has Tennessee's largest RN workforce, with 25,100 nurses. Memphis follows closely at $81,500 a year, roughly in line with the statewide figure.

Pay is lowest in Cleveland, where RNs typically earn $72,800 a year ($35.00 an hour), a spread of $11,240 between the state's highest- and lowest-paying cities. That gap generally tracks the cost of living in each area, with higher pay in and around Nashville offsetting higher local expenses. Smaller markets like Cleveland and Morristown tend to pay less, but often come with lower housing and living costs as well.

Tennessee pay trails several of its neighbors. Virginia and Georgia both post typical RN pay near $93,600 a year, about 15% higher than Tennessee. North Carolina runs a bit higher too, at $84,350. On the other side, Mississippi and Alabama both come in lower, around $77,080 to $77,090 a year, roughly 5% below Tennessee. RN licenses can often be transferred or endorsed between neighboring states, which makes comparing local pay worthwhile before a move.

Typical pay for Tennessee RNs stands at $81,500 a year ($39.18 an hour) as of May 2025, up 43% over the past decade. Pay varies by city and experience, with entry-level nurses starting lower and experienced nurses in the Nashville area earning well above the state figure. Readers weighing a move or a new license should check Tennessee's state nursing licensing page for requirements and the city-level pages on this site for local pay figures.