SOC 29-1141 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Registered Nurses — Nashville
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN · 9 metro areas compared
In Nashville, TN the median wage is $84,040.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Nashville, TN the median wage is $84,040. That is 13.8% lower than the national median of $97,550. Pay ranges from under $69,480 at the tenth percentile to more than $112,030 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $81,630 to $103,550.
Employment stands at 25,100, or 22.8 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Memphis records the highest median at $81,500. Of the 609 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 116th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $69,480 | −28.8% |
| 25th | $81,630 | −16.3% |
| Median (50th) | $84,040 | −13.8% |
| 75th | $103,550 | +6.2% |
| 90th | $112,030 | +14.8% |
| Mean | $92,350 | −5.3% |
Other metro areas in Tennessee
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memphis | $81,500 | 13,760 | |
| 2 | Chattanooga | $79,770 | 6,460 | |
| 3 | Clarksville | $79,450 | 1,670 | |
| 4 | Johnson City | $77,660 | 2,740 | |
| 5 | Knoxville | $77,240 | 9,500 | |
| 6 | Kingsport | $76,730 | 2,660 | |
| 7 | Morristown | $75,680 | 710 | |
| 8 | Jackson | $75,610 | 1,930 | |
| 9 | Cleveland | $72,800 | 630 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Nashville run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $84,040 goes as far as $91,447 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 6.3% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$84,040as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$91,447US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $84,040 a year, 13.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $69,480 to $112,030 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 25,100 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Memphis, at $81,500.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Registered Nurses in Nashville, TN?
The median annual wage is $84,040, or $40.40 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $97,550, so pay in Nashville, TN is 13.8% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Nashville, TN earns more than $112,030 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $69,480 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Memphis, at $81,500 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 25,100 jobs in this occupation in Nashville, TN. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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