How Much Does an RN Make in Johnson City, TN in 2026?
Typical pay for RNs in Johnson City, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Tennessee.
BLS OES May 2025 · Johnson City metro area
A typical RN in Johnson City, Tennessee earns $37.34 per hour, or $77,660 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,472 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $61,380, and the top 10% of earners make over $117,770.
That pay is 5% below the Tennessee figure of $81,500 and 20% below the national figure of $97,550. Johnson City ranks 5th of 10 metro areas in Tennessee for RN pay. About 2,740 RNs work in the Johnson City area.
RN pay in Johnson City at a glance
- Typical pay is $37.34 an hour, or $77,660 a year.
- That is 5% below the Tennessee figure, ranking 5th of 10 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $61,380; the top 10% make over $117,770.
- Typical pay rose +56% from 2016 to 2025, against +43% for Tennessee as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an RN make in Johnson City?
Pay in Johnson City runs from entry-level positions at around $29.51 an hour to more than $56.62 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Tennessee and national figures.
RN pay by career stage in Johnson City
| Career stage | Johnson City | Tennessee | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $61,380$29.51 an hour | $63,970$30.76 an hour | $68,940$33.14 an hour |
| First years | $72,080$34.65 an hour | $75,460$36.28 an hour | $80,330$38.62 an hour |
| Typical RN | $77,660$37.34 an hour | $81,500$39.18 an hour | $97,550$46.90 an hour |
| Experienced | $97,090$46.68 an hour | $95,250$45.79 an hour | $112,350$54.02 an hour |
| Top 10% | $117,770$56.62 an hour | $104,920$50.44 an hour | $137,470$66.09 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Johnson City area as BLS defines it
RN pay growth in Johnson City
Typical (median) annual wage for RNs in the Johnson City area · BLS OES May estimates, 2016 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2016, typical RN pay in Johnson City was $49,890 a year. By 2025 it had reached $77,660, a change of +56%, compared with +43% for Tennessee over the same years.
How Johnson City compares with other Tennessee cities
Franklin pays RNs the most in Tennessee at $84,040 a year, $6,380 more than Johnson City. The lowest-paying area in the state is Cleveland at $72,800.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Johnson City | RNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Franklin | $84,040 | $40.40 | +8% | 25,100 |
| 2 | Memphis | $81,500 | $39.18 | +5% | 13,760 |
| 3 | Chattanooga | $79,770 | $38.35 | +3% | 6,460 |
| 4 | Clarksville | $79,450 | $38.20 | +2% | 1,670 |
| 5 | Johnson City | $77,660 | $37.34 | this city | 2,740 |
| 6 | Knoxville | $77,240 | $37.13 | -1% | 9,500 |
| 7 | Kingsport metro incl. Bristol | $76,730 | $36.89 | -1% | 2,660 |
| 8 | Morristown | $75,680 | $36.38 | -3% | 710 |
| 9 | Jackson | $75,610 | $36.35 | -3% | 1,930 |
| 10 | Cleveland | $72,800 | $35.00 | -6% | 630 |
Every metro area in Tennessee with RN wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Tennessee typical pay $81,500
Is Johnson City a good place to work as an RN?
RNs in Johnson City earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $77,660 a year, 20% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Johnson City area, about 34 are RN positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 22. That makes the local economy more reliant on RNs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an RN make in Johnson City, TN?
- A typical RN in Johnson City earns $77,660 a year, or $37.34 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $61,380 and the top 10% earn over $117,770.
- How much does an RN make an hour in Johnson City?
- Typical hourly pay for RNs in Johnson City is $37.34. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $29.51, and the top 10% earn over $56.62 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an RN in Johnson City?
- Entry-level RN positions in Johnson City typically offer around $29.51 an hour, or $61,380 a year.
- Is RN pay in Johnson City higher than in the rest of Tennessee?
- Johnson City pay is 5% below the Tennessee figure of $81,500 a year, ranking 5th of 10 metro areas in the state. Franklin pays the most in Tennessee at $84,040.