Registered Nurse Salary in Tennessee: $85,242 (2026)
Quick Answer:Across Tennessee's 30 metropolitan areas, the average median registered nurse pay sits at $85,242/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 29-1141. Because Tennessee sits at BEA RPP 91.8 (8% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $92,856 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Nashville ($84,040), Franklin ($83,028), Murfreesboro ($82,551).
Salaries for registered nurses in Tennessee are projected to average $85,242 in 2026, which is approximately 17.0% lower than the national median of $102,730. The highest-paying city in the state, Nashville, offers salaries averaging $88,503, while Tullahoma has the lowest at $75,360, illustrating a significant wage gap of $13,143. This difference can primarily be attributed to varying costs of living, demand for healthcare services, and the presence of major medical facilities in urban areas versus smaller towns. In Tennessee, registered nurses must fulfill the state's licensing requirements and adhere to specific scope of practice laws, which can affect job responsibilities and potential earnings. The demand for nurses is driven by factors such as an aging population and a growing emphasis on healthcare services, leading to a projected 5.31% annual growth rate in the profession, based on 2025 BLS data. The job market for registered nurses appears promising, with a total of 65,362 RNs employed statewide and increasing opportunities in metropolitan areas like Franklin ($87,437), Murfreesboro ($86,934), Memphis ($85,828), and Chattanooga ($84,006). This outlook suggests a steady demand for nurses across Tennessee, with prospects for salary growth moving forward.
Tennessee Registered Nurse Salary Range
Overall salary range in Tennessee: $54,610 (lowest entry-level) to $124,187 (highest top earner)
Tennessee vs National Average
Tennessee registered nurses earn 17.02% less than the national median ($-17,488/year difference).
Tennessee Registered Nurse Salary Distribution (2026)
Registered Nurse salaries in Tennessee range from $68,220 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $113,122 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $85,242. The Tennessee median is $17,488 below the US national median of $102,730. The average hourly rate is $40.98/hr. Approximately 65,362 registered nurses are employed across 30 cities.
2019 BLS Actual
$62,062
2025 BLS Actual
$80,944
2026 Current Est.
$85,242
2019–2027 Growth
+44.6%
Salary Trajectory for Registered Nurses in Tennessee (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.31% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $62,062 | Actual |
| 2020 | $62,905 | Actual |
| 2021 | $62,160 | Actual |
| 2022 | $69,733 | Actual |
| 2023 | $74,752 | Actual |
| 2024 | $78,226 | Actual |
| 2025 | $80,944 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $85,242 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $89,768 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Tennessee metropolitan area, the median registered nurse salary grew 30.4% from $62,062 (2019) to $80,944 (2025). At a 5.31% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $89,768 by 2027 — a total increase of $27,706 (44.64%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Tennessee 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.
Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in Tennessee
Lowest Paying Cities in Tennessee
| City | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Tullahoma | $75,360 |
| Cleveland | $76,666 |
| Sevierville | $77,003 |
| Maryville | $77,448 |
| Cookeville | $77,499 |
Best Value Cities for Registered Nurses in Tennessee
When adjusted for local cost of living, these Tennessee cities offer the most purchasing power for registered nurses.
| City | Nominal Salary | CoL Index | Adjusted Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin | $87,437 | 91.8 | $95,247 |
| Murfreesboro | $86,934 | 91.8 | $94,699 |
| Kingsport | $80,804 | 86.447 | $93,472 |
| Memphis | $85,828 | 92.179 | $93,110 |
| Jackson | $79,625 | 85.522 | $93,105 |
Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.
Salary by Experience Level in Tennessee
| Experience Level | Estimated Annual |
|---|---|
| Entry Level (0-2 years) | $68,220 |
| Mid Career (3-7 years) | $85,242 |
| Experienced (7+ years) | $113,122 |
Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Tennessee metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
All 30 Cities in Tennessee
| # | City | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville | $88,503 |
| 2 | Franklin | $87,437 |
| 3 | Murfreesboro | $86,934 |
| 4 | Memphis | $85,828 |
| 5 | Chattanooga | $84,006 |
| 6 | Clarksville | $83,669 |
| 7 | Smyrna | $82,443 |
| 8 | Bartlett | $82,029 |
| 9 | Johnson City | $81,784 |
| 10 | Collierville | $81,745 |
| 11 | Knoxville | $81,341 |
| 12 | Spring Hill | $81,118 |
| 13 | Kingsport | $80,804 |
| 14 | Lebanon | $80,030 |
| 15 | Oak Ridge | $80,024 |
| 16 | Morristown | $79,699 |
| 17 | Jackson | $79,625 |
| 18 | Columbia | $79,486 |
| 19 | Germantown | $79,385 |
| 20 | Hendersonville | $79,226 |
| 21 | Gallatin | $79,087 |
| 22 | Brentwood | $78,676 |
| 23 | Shelbyville | $78,064 |
| 24 | Mount Juliet | $78,062 |
| 25 | La Vergne | $77,898 |
| 26 | Cookeville | $77,499 |
| 27 | Maryville | $77,448 |
| 28 | Sevierville | $77,003 |
| 29 | Cleveland | $76,666 |
| 30 | Tullahoma | $75,360 |
More Tennessee Salary Data
Hourly Rates
Explore registered nurse hourly pay in Tennessee cities.
Senior / Experienced
Top earner salaries for experienced registered nurses.
Compare Cities in Tennessee
View all comparisons →Explore More Registered Nurse Salary Data
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do registered nurses make in Tennessee in 2026?
What is the highest paying city for registered nurses in Tennessee?
How does Tennessee registered nurse pay compare to the national average?
What is the entry-level registered nurse salary in Tennessee?
How many registered nurses are employed in Tennessee?
Which Tennessee city offers the best value for registered nurses?
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
Statewide salary 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 each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 registered nurse compensation across Tennessee. State averages are employment-weighted across 30 metro areas — larger metro areas with more registered nursescontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
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