May 2025 BLS data · live take-home
Registered Nurses Salary in Tennessee
The median annual salary for registered nurses in Tennessee is $81,500, based on May 2025 BLS data. Here is what that salary looks like on a biweekly paycheck after taxes.
Live scenario
Your salary, same assumptions
Starts at the BLS May 2025 median for registered nurses in Tennessee. Type your own salary and the take-home card updates through the same 2026 tax engine.
BLS median $81,500 ·
- State
- Tennessee
- Filing status
- Single
- Pay frequency
- Biweekly (26 checks)
- 401(k) & pre-tax
- None
Registered Nurses pay across Tennessee scenarios
The BLS median represents the midpoint — half of registered nurses in Tennessee earn more, half earn less. Run your own number through the Tennessee paycheck calculator or compare states with the state income tax comparison.
Official Tennessee wage range
BLS thresholdsThese are published annual BLS thresholds, not entry-level and maximum salaries. Employer, experience, specialty and metro area can materially change an offer.
| P10 | P25 | P50 median | P75 | P90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $63,970 | $75,460 | $81,500 | $95,250 | $104,920 |
The highlighted P50 column is the BLS median used in the scenario above. Enter a different salary to see which official band it falls in.
What taxes come out of a Tennessee paycheck
The examples below stay at the BLS median salary of $81,500; only the live scenario card and wage-band highlight update when you enter a different salary. These are modeled taxes for a single filer, spread across 26 biweekly checks:
| Tax layer | Annual | Per check | Share of gross |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $9,100 | −$350 | 11.2% |
| Social Security (up to the wage base) | $5,053 | −$194 | 6.2% |
| Medicare, including Additional Medicare if applicable | $1,182 | −$45 | 1.5% |
| Tennessee state income tax | $0 | −$0 | 0.0% |
| Total estimated taxes | $15,335 | −$590 | 18.8% |
| Net take-home | $66,165 | $2,545 | 81.2% |
This estimate uses the 2026 federal standard deduction for a single filer ($16,100), Social Security up to its wage base, Medicare and Tennessee's modeled income tax rules. It excludes local taxes, state disability/payroll deductions (including California SDI), retirement contributions and health premiums. Actual withholding depends on your payroll settings. Adjust supported inputs in the Tennessee paycheck calculator and check the coverage limitations.
What $2,545 per check means for your budget
A two-check month gives you approximately $5,090 in modeled take-home pay. Across this 26-check year, the monthly average is $5,514 — higher because two months have a third check. The illustrative 50/30/20 split below uses that annual average, not the cash available in every month:
| Category | Monthly average | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Needs (50%) — housing, food, transport, insurance | $2,757 | $33,083 |
| Wants (30%) — dining, entertainment, travel | $1,654 | $19,850 |
| Savings & debt (20%) — emergency fund, 401(k), loans | $1,103 | $13,233 |
In this 26-check year, the two third checks total approximately $5,090. That is potential savings only if you can set both aside; it is already included in annual take-home, not additional income. To budget from the amount actually deposited, use the 50/30/20 budget splitter.
Compare an offer with the wage distribution
The BLS wage distribution shows how registered nurses pay spreads across the workforce in Tennessee. The gap between P10 ($63,970) and P90 ($104,920) is $40,950: the P90 threshold is 64% higher than P10. These are percentile boundaries, not group averages, minimums, maximums or a career progression forecast. At P75 ($95,250), the same single-filer model estimates $2,917 per biweekly check, subject to the exclusions above.
Compare the role, location, schedule and benefits before using a statewide percentile as a negotiation reference. A percentile does not guarantee an available offer. The Salary Explorer helps compare salary scenarios with modeled taxes and stated exclusions. See BLS methodology and wage definitions for the limits of this dataset.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median Registered Nurses salary in Tennessee?
The median annual salary for registered nurses in Tennessee is $81,500 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). After federal tax, FICA and Tennessee state income tax, a single filer keeps approximately $2,545 per biweekly check.
How much does a registered nurses take home in Tennessee after taxes?
On the median salary of $81,500, the model estimates $2,545 every two weeks ($3,135 gross) for a single filer. The modeled effective tax rate is 18.8%. This excludes local taxes, state disability/payroll deductions (including California SDI), retirement contributions and health premiums. Actual payroll withholding can differ.
Do P10 and P25 show starting pay for registered nurses in Tennessee?
No. BLS wage percentiles describe the distribution across covered workers, not starting salaries or experience bands. The P10 threshold is $63,970 and P25 is $75,460. They are comparison points, not minimum wages or guaranteed entry-level offers. Starting pay depends on the specific role, employer and location.
How does Tennessee rank for registered nurses salaries?
Tennessee ranks #41 among the 51 states and territories where BLS publishes a median for this occupation. This places it among the lower-paying states.
Is $81,500 a good salary in Tennessee?
For a single filer with no dependents, $81,500 produces approximately $66,165 in annual take-home pay ($2,545 per biweekly check). Whether this is "good" depends on your household size, housing costs, debt load, and location within Tennessee. Use the Tennessee paycheck calculator to model your specific situation.
How much would I earn hourly as a registered nurses in Tennessee?
Dividing the median annual salary of $81,500 by 2,080 hours gives an hourly equivalent of $39.18. This is a conversion, not a published hourly offer or an overtime entitlement. Actual hours, pay arrangements and overtime eligibility vary by role and employer.
Other salaries in Tennessee
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in TennesseeMedian $59,980 · see take-home
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in TennesseeMedian $58,620 · see take-home
- Retail Salespersons in TennesseeMedian $31,950 · see take-home
- Cashiers in TennesseeMedian $28,590 · see take-home
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners in TennesseeMedian $33,440 · see take-home
- Software Developers in TennesseeMedian $122,430 · see take-home
Registered Nurses salary in other states
AL AlabamaAK AlaskaAZ ArizonaAR ArkansasCA CaliforniaCO ColoradoCT ConnecticutDE Delaware