Registered Nurse Hourly Pay in Cookeville, TN: $37.26 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a registered nurse working in Cookeville, TN runs $37.26 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $77,499 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1141). Weighted against Cookeville's regional price level (BEA RPP 91.8, 8% below national), each hour of work buys what $40.59 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $46,499 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Cookeville, Tennessee, registered nurses see a median hourly pay of $37.26, which significantly lags behind the national median of $49.39. This disparity means that part-time nurses working three days a week may face challenges in achieving financial stability, especially when considering the diverse environments they may work in—including hospital floors, critical care units, emergency rooms, and outpatient facilities. For those considering per diem roles, the hourly range for nurses varies considerably, starting from $27.57 at the lower end to as much as $50.33 for top earners. These figures are drawn from annual salary projections, making it essential for registered nurses to understand the implications for their work schedules and potential earnings across different health care settings in Cookeville.
About the Cookeville Market
Salary estimated from Tennessee average ($71,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Registered Nurse Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $27.57 | $220.56 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $31.18 | $249.46 |
| Median (P50) | $37.26 | $298.07 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $42.17 | $337.33 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $50.33 | $402.62 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Cookeville
Based on $37.26/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $37.26/hr, a registered nurse working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Cookeville, TN can expect to earn approximately $77,498 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $44,710. With a cost-of-living index of 91.80 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Cookeville.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Cookeville
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,490.35 | $6,458 | $77,498 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $894.21 | $3,875 | $46,499 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $596.14 | $2,583 | $30,999 |
Compare RN Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Registered Nurse (Cookeville) | $37.26 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse (National Avg) | $29.34 |
| Nursing Assistant (CNA) (National Avg) | $18.60 |
| Nurse Practitioner (National Avg) | $63.50 |
| Medical Assistant (National Avg) | $19.70 |
Registered Nurses in Cookeville, TN earn a median of $77,499 per year (2026 est.), which is 24.56% lower than the national median of $102,730 and 5.00% below the Tennessee state average of $81,578.
Registered Nurse Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $37.26/hr = $46,499/year (purchasing power: $50,652).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $77,498/year (purchasing power: $84,421).
CoL index: 91.8 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$26.58/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$35.38/hr
2026 Current Est.
$37.26/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+47.6%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Registered Nurses in Cookeville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.31% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $26.58/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $27.32/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $28.14/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $29.46/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $31.22/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $29.77/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $35.38/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $37.26/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $39.24/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for registered nurses in Cookeville grew 33.1% from $26.58/hr (2019) to $35.38/hr (2025). At a 5.31% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $39.24/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem registered nurses can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Cookeville metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 5.31% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly Registered Nurse in Cookeville
While full-time registered nurses can expect consistent earnings, part-time professionals averaging 24 hours per week will bring home less annually than their full-time counterparts. Per diem registered nurse pay in Cookeville can be more lucrative, particularly for specialized roles where rates commonly reach between $50 and $80 per hour. With the demand spurred by shortages, travel nursing can also offer attractive contracts that range from $2,000 to $4,500 weekly, with crisis situations in intensive care yielding even higher rates. In Cookeville, hourly wages can fluctuate significantly depending on the employer type, with positions in acute care hospitals typically offering lower pay compared to outpatient clinics and home health agencies that may not provide benefits. Nurses may find themselves making trade-offs between higher hourly wages and the security of health insurance. For those negotiating, emphasizing specialty skills and flexibility can be beneficial in determining a more favorable hourly rate.
More salary data for Cookeville, TN:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Jordan Lee, RN, BSN
Career Analyst
Jordan Lee has 10 years of experience as a registered nurse. Their specialty is pediatric nursing in a community hospital. They analyze nursing workforce trends and salary data.
Methodology & Data Source
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 5.31% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for registered nurses in Cookeville. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Cookeville is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.31%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for registered nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, RN, BSN, a licensed registered nurse with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov