Nurse pay in Tennessee
Nurses in Tennessee are being offered a median $89,922 a year right now across 667 live job postings that state pay — ranking #35 of 51 states. Updated October 26, 2026.
- 10th percentile
- $57k
- 25th percentile
- $72k
- 75th percentile
- $104k
- 90th percentile
- $125k
Where does your pay sit in Tennessee?
Checked against 667 live postings that state pay. Your number stays in your browser.
- 10th percentile
- $57k
- 25th percentile
- $72k
- 75th percentile
- $104k
- 90th percentile
- $125k
Enter your pay to see your percentile.
Posted offers on live listings — not take-home pay or a promise of what any one nurse will earn.
Tennessee market overview
- 25th percentile
- $71,760
- Median
- $89,922
- 75th percentile
- $104,283
- 90th percentile
- $124,800
- Median hourly (320 postings)
- $33/hr
- Sign-on bonus, median (355 postings)
- $10,000
- Sign-on bonus, highest posted
- $50,000
- Live postings stating pay
- 667
Annual figures are posted offers (midpoint of stated ranges) on live listings, updated October 26, 2026.
What each specialty is offered in Tennessee
| Specialty | Median | 90th percentile | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICU | $96k | $118k | 34 |
| General | $104k | $127k | 19 |
| Acute Care | $92k | $98k | 15 |
| Travel | $95k | $100k | 15 |
| Cardiac | $101k | $132k | 14 |
| Medical/Surgical | $94k | $98k | 14 |
| Nursing Assistant | $47k | $54k | 14 |
| Nursing Management/Admin | $96k | $100k | 13 |
| Practical Nurse | $78k | $80k | 10 |
| Medical-Surgical | $93k | $102k | 7 |
| Education/Staff Development | $93k | $103k | 6 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $127k | $152k | 6 |
| Oncology | $90k | $125k | 6 |
| Pediatric | $90k | $120k | 6 |
| Labor & Delivery | $115k | $123k | 5 |
Highest-offering employers in Tennessee right now
- #1$135k
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
median across 20 priced postings
- #2$125k
East Tennessee Behavioral Health
median across 3 priced postings
- #3$125k
HH Health System-Lincoln
median across 3 priced postings
- #4$114k
TGN - A.T. Staffing
median across 29 priced postings
- #5$112k
HealthTrust Workforce Solutions
median across 16 priced postings
What are you being paid?
30 seconds, no name. After a quick review, your report joins the nurse-reported pay, always shown apart from what employers post, so nurses can compare the two.
What to do with this
- See the rolesSee open nursing roles in TennesseeEvery posting behind these numbers is a live job you can open and apply to.
- Offer in hand?Review an offerTurn it into a full-year number, see what it's worth where you'd live, and compare offers side by side.
- 3-minute PULSEFind the work that brings out your bestPay is one axis. Your pace, decision style, connection, scope, and energy rhythm shape the rest.
- CommunityAsk nurses what they really take homeDifferentials, ratios, and the offer nobody posts. Bring your number and compare notes.
Want the craft behind the numbers — differentials, negotiating, travel packages? Read the pay & salary guides.
Questions nurses ask
- How much do nurses make in Tennessee?
- Across 667 live job postings in Tennessee that state pay, the median posted offer is $89,922 a year (about $33/hr). The middle half of postings runs $71,760–$104,283, and the top 10% start at $124,800.
- How does Tennessee nurse pay compare nationally?
- Tennessee's posted median of $89,922 is 6% below the national median ($95,680), ranking #35 of 51 states on the Pay Index right now.
- Do Tennessee nursing jobs offer sign-on bonuses?
- 355 live postings in Tennessee advertise a sign-on bonus right now, with a median of $10,000 and offers up to $50,000.