Registered Nurses in Tennessee. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Registered Nurses in Tennessee earned a median annual wage of $79,030 in 2024. That is about 16% below the US median of $94,511, a gap of roughly $15,500 per year.
The spread between low and high earners is wide. A nurse at the 10th percentile earned $59,540, while one at the 90th earned $102,040. That is a difference of more than $42,000 on the same job title, which usually reflects a mix of specialty, setting, and years of experience. ICU and travel nurses tend to sit at the top of that range; new graduates in smaller hospitals tend to sit near the bottom.
Tennessee's cost of living runs below the national average. The state's overall index came in at 92.5, meaning prices here are roughly 7.5% lower than the US baseline. After adjusting for that, the effective purchasing power of the Tennessee median comes closer to $85,400 in national-baseline dollars. That narrows the headline gap with the US median to about 10%.
BLS projects employment for Registered Nurses to grow 4.9% between 2024 and 2034, which falls in the average category. That pace is modest compared to some healthcare occupations, but the occupation's sheer size means average growth still produces a large number of openings each year, many of them from retirement and turnover rather than net new positions.
Salary distribution
Where Tennessee registered nurses fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $75,460 and $95,250, with a median of $81,500.
Registered Nurses in Tennessee: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 76 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $69,826. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level II — qualified | 14 | $74,734 |
| Level III — experienced | 62 | $69,826 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Registered Nurses in Tennessee. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avant Healthcare Professionals, LLC. | Clinical Nurse III | 62 | $69,826 |
| Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare | Registered Nurse - System Float Pool | 8 | $74,734 |
| Ballad Health | RN- Acute Care Float Pool | 2 | $73,216 |
| Management Health Systems, LLC | RN-BSN | 2 | $74,734 |
| Conexus Medstaff LLC | Registered Nurse (ED) | 1 | $63,357 |
| Jackson-Madison County General Hospital | Registered Nurse BSN | 1 | $68,640 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- RN- Acute Care Float Pool at Ballad Health$77,210Johnson CityWage Level IIDecided Mar 26, 2026I-200-26078-714903
- Registered Nurse - System Float Pool at Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare$74,734MemphisWage Level IIDecided Mar 4, 2026I-200-26056-663721
- Clinical Nurse III at Avant Healthcare Professionals, LLC.$73,403KnoxvilleWage Level IIIDecided Jan 30, 2026I-200-26023-586857
- Registered Nurse BSN at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital$68,640JacksonWage Level IIDecided Jan 16, 2026I-200-26009-548430
- Registered Nurse - System Float Pool at Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare$74,734MemphisWage Level IIDecided Jan 7, 2026I-200-25364-516860
- Clinical Nurse III at Avant Healthcare Professionals, LLC.$73,403KnoxvilleWage Level IIIDecided Dec 23, 2025I-200-25350-486088
- Registered Nurse - System Float Pool at Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare$74,734MemphisWage Level IIDecided Nov 19, 2025I-200-25316-402514
- Clinical Nurse III at Avant Healthcare Professionals, LLC.$73,403KnoxvilleWage Level IIIDecided Nov 7, 2025I-200-25305-355686
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Registered Nurses pay by experience level in Tennessee
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Registered Nurses specialties in Tennessee
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 70 certified offers. The most common variant is Clinical Nurse at a median of $69,826.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical Nurse | Avant Healthcare Professionals, LLC. | 62 | $69,826 |
| Registered Nurse - System Float Pool | Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare | 8 | $74,734 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Registered Nurses in Tennessee, by industry
Median offered wage across 76 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $69,826.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Avant Healthcare Professionals, LLC. | 65 | $69,826 |
| Healthcare | Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare | 11 | $74,734 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Tennessee over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.6 / 5
Psychology
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge
- 4.2 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Deductive Reasoning
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Social Perceptiveness
Technical
- 4.1 / 5
Problem Sensitivity
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Speaking
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Record patients' medical information and vital signs.
- 02
Administer medications to patients and monitor patients for reactions or side effects.
- 03
Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records.
- 04
Monitor, record, and report symptoms or changes in patients' conditions.
- 05
Provide health care, first aid, immunizations, or assistance in convalescence or rehabilitation in locations such as schools, hospitals, or industry.
- 06
Consult and coordinate with healthcare team members to assess, plan, implement, or evaluate patient care plans.
- 07
Direct or supervise less-skilled nursing or healthcare personnel or supervise a particular unit.
- 08
Monitor all aspects of patient care, including diet and physical activity.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+4.9%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Registered Nurses in Tennessee?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Registered Nurses in Tennessee is $81,500.
- How does Tennessee compare to the national median for Registered Nurses?
- The Tennessee median is -17.1% versus the BLS national figure of $98,331.
- What is the salary range for Registered Nurses in Tennessee?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $63,970 and the 90th-percentile at $104,920, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Registered Nurses a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 4.9% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Registered Nurses?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.