Registered Nurse salary in Tennessee
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A registered nurse in Tennessee earns a median of $81,500 a year ($39.18/hour equivalent), 16.5% below the national median of $97,550. Tennessee ranks #41 of 51 states. About 72,200 people do this job in Tennessee.
Take-home pay in Tennessee
At the Tennessee median, a single filer keeps about $66,165 a year after federal, FICA and Tennessee taxes — $2,545 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Tennessee paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $3,134.62
- Federal income tax
- −$350.00
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$194.35
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$45.45
- Tennessee income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $2,544.82
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $81,500
- Federal
- $9,100
- FICA
- $6,235
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $66,165
- Marginal federal rate
- 22.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
How Tennessee compares
| Rank | State | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | $140,270 |
| #2 | Hawaii | $136,320 |
| #3 | Oregon | $129,010 |
| #4 | Washington | $124,200 |
| #5 | Alaska | $109,480 |
| #41 | Tennessee | $81,500 |
| #49 | South Dakota | $78,060 |
| #50 | Mississippi | $77,090 |
| #51 | Alabama | $77,080 |
See the national registered nurse salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Tennessee?
The median salary is $81,500 a year and the average is $85,390 (BLS May 2025).
Is Tennessee a good state for registered nurses?
Tennessee ranks #41 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 16% below the national median of $97,550.
What is $81,500 after taxes in Tennessee?
About $66,165 a year ($2,545 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.