What RNs earn in Memphis
Registered nurses in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro earn a median of $81,500 a year, 16% below the national RN median of $97,550. The middle half of RNs here earn between $78,900 and $95,780, so experience, specialty and shift differentials can move you a long way inside that range. Among the 60 metro markets The RN Network tracks, Memphis ranks #57 for median RN pay. Before you compare that number to anywhere else, see what an RN here actually takes home below.
| Role | Median | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $81,500 | $78,900 – $95,780 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $124,600 | $106,670 – $134,300 |
| Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) | $243,240 | $202,190 – $245,040 |
| Nurse Midwife | $116,440 | $104,400 – $118,880 |
Powered by RN Workforce Insights™ · 2025 annual pay. Typical range is the 25th to 75th percentile.
What a Memphis RN actually takes home
Here is the part most pay comparisons miss. Tennessee does not tax wages, so the state takes nothing out of your paycheck. Federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare still come out the same way they do in every state, but there is no second income tax stacked on top.
At the Memphis median of $81,500, every 1% of state income tax you would pay somewhere else is about $815 a year that stays with you here. In a state with a 5% income tax, that adds up to roughly $4,075 a year, or about $340 a month. To match a Memphis paycheck at the median, a job in that state would need to pay about $85,789.
Tennessee is also a Nurse Licensure Compact state. If you hold a multistate license from another compact state, you can start working here on that license, then apply for your Tennessee multistate license once you make Tennessee your home.
Compare offers on take-home pay, not on the number at the top of the offer letter.
Cost of living and the Memphis nursing market
Pay only tells half the story. A two-bedroom apartment at fair market rent runs about $1,274 a month in Memphis, which is roughly 19% of a median RN salary before taxes. That leaves RNs here more room in the budget than in most big nursing markets.
About 13,760 RNs work in this metro, the #48 largest RN workforce of the markets we track. The RN Network directory lists 109 healthcare employers in Memphis, including 37 dialysis centers, 31 behavioral health facilities, 15 long-term care facilities and 13 outpatient surgery centers.
Hospitals hiring nurses in Memphis
Every hospital below has its own page with pay context, nearby openings and a direct line to its careers site.
Nursing jobs in Tennessee
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RN Workforce Insights™ shows time to fill, turnover and nurse supply for Memphis, so you plan hiring around real numbers.
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Career advice for Memphis nurses
Watch the latest episode of Nursing Matters, the show that helps nurses find the right job, land the offer and grow their careers.
You Passed the NCLEX. Can You Lose This License? Nursing Matters Episode 102626
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Read the article →Common questions about nursing in Memphis
How much do registered nurses make in Memphis?
The median RN salary in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro is $81,500 a year, and the middle half of RNs earn between $78,900 and $95,780.
What do nurse practitioners earn in Memphis?
Nurse practitioners in the Memphis metro earn a median of $124,600 a year.
Can a nurse afford to live in Memphis?
A two-bedroom apartment at fair market rent costs about $1,274 a month in Memphis, roughly 19% of a median RN salary before taxes.
Which hospitals hire nurses in Memphis?
Hospitals in the Memphis area include Baptist Memorial Hospital, Memphis VA Medical Center, Methodist Hospitals of Memphis, Regional One Health, St Francis Hospital. See the full list in The RN Network facility directory.
Does Tennessee have a state income tax on nurse pay?
No. Tennessee does not tax wages, so no state income tax comes out of an RN paycheck in Memphis. Federal income tax and Social Security and Medicare still apply. At the Memphis median RN salary, every 1% of state income tax you would pay elsewhere is about $815 a year that stays in your pocket here.
How do I find a nursing job in Memphis?
Browse current Tennessee openings on The RN Network job board, claim your free Talent Agent profile so employers hiring in Memphis can find you, and compare pay using the Tennessee salary guide.