How Much Does an RN Make in Memphis, TN in 2026?
Typical pay for RNs 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 RN in Memphis, Tennessee earns $39.18 per hour, or $81,500 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,792 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $65,280, and the top 10% of earners make over $112,310.
That pay is right at the Tennessee figure of $81,500 and 16% below the national figure of $97,550. Memphis ranks 2nd of 10 metro areas in Tennessee for RN pay. About 13,760 RNs work in the Memphis area.
RN pay in Memphis at a glance
- Typical pay is $39.18 an hour, or $81,500 a year.
- That is right at the Tennessee figure, ranking 2nd of 10 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $65,280; the top 10% make over $112,310.
- Typical pay rose +35% from 2015 to 2025, against +43% for Tennessee as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an RN make in Memphis?
Pay in Memphis runs from entry-level positions at around $31.38 an hour to more than $53.99 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Tennessee and national figures.
RN pay by career stage in Memphis
| Career stage | Memphis | Tennessee | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $65,280$31.38 an hour | $63,970$30.76 an hour | $68,940$33.14 an hour |
| First years | $78,900$37.93 an hour | $75,460$36.28 an hour | $80,330$38.62 an hour |
| Typical RN | $81,500$39.18 an hour | $81,500$39.18 an hour | $97,550$46.90 an hour |
| Experienced | $95,780$46.05 an hour | $95,250$45.79 an hour | $112,350$54.02 an hour |
| Top 10% | $112,310$53.99 an hour | $104,920$50.44 an hour | $137,470$66.09 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Memphis area as BLS defines it
RN pay growth in Memphis
Typical (median) annual wage for RNs in the Memphis area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical RN pay in Memphis was $60,500 a year. By 2025 it had reached $81,500, a change of +35%, compared with +43% for Tennessee over the same years.
How Memphis compares with other Tennessee cities
Franklin pays RNs the most in Tennessee at $84,040 a year, $2,540 more than Memphis. The lowest-paying area in the state is Cleveland at $72,800.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Memphis | RNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Franklin | $84,040 | $40.40 | +3% | 25,100 |
| 2 | Memphis | $81,500 | $39.18 | this city | 13,760 |
| 3 | Chattanooga | $79,770 | $38.35 | -2% | 6,460 |
| 4 | Clarksville | $79,450 | $38.20 | -3% | 1,670 |
| 5 | Johnson City | $77,660 | $37.34 | -5% | 2,740 |
| 6 | Knoxville | $77,240 | $37.13 | -5% | 9,500 |
| 7 | Kingsport metro incl. Bristol | $76,730 | $36.89 | -6% | 2,660 |
| 8 | Morristown | $75,680 | $36.38 | -7% | 710 |
| 9 | Jackson | $75,610 | $36.35 | -7% | 1,930 |
| 10 | Cleveland | $72,800 | $35.00 | -11% | 630 |
Every metro area in Tennessee with RN wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Tennessee typical pay $81,500
Is Memphis a good place to work as an RN?
RNs in Memphis earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $81,500 a year, 16% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Memphis area, about 22 are RN positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 22. RN jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an RN make in Memphis, TN?
- A typical RN in Memphis earns $81,500 a year, or $39.18 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $65,280 and the top 10% earn over $112,310.
- How much does an RN make an hour in Memphis?
- Typical hourly pay for RNs in Memphis is $39.18. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $31.38, and the top 10% earn over $53.99 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an RN in Memphis?
- Entry-level RN positions in Memphis typically offer around $31.38 an hour, or $65,280 a year.
- Is RN pay in Memphis higher than in the rest of Tennessee?
- Memphis pay is right at the Tennessee figure of $81,500 a year, ranking 2nd of 10 metro areas in the state. Franklin pays the most in Tennessee at $84,040.