What RNs earn in Nashville
Registered nurses in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro earn a median of $84,040 a year, 14% below the national RN median of $97,550. The middle half of RNs here earn between $81,630 and $103,550, so experience, specialty and shift differentials can move you a long way inside that range. Among the 60 metro markets The RN Network tracks, Nashville ranks #44 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 | $84,040 | $81,630 – $103,550 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $122,320 | $105,230 – $134,570 |
| Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) | $211,450 | $192,910 – $214,300 |
| Nurse Midwife | $117,010 | $115,850 – $135,190 |
Powered by RN Workforce Insights™ · 2025 annual pay. Typical range is the 25th to 75th percentile.
What a Nashville 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 Nashville median of $84,040, every 1% of state income tax you would pay somewhere else is about $840 a year that stays with you here. In a state with a 5% income tax, that adds up to roughly $4,202 a year, or about $350 a month. To match a Nashville paycheck at the median, a job in that state would need to pay about $88,463.
Tennessee makes up the difference at the register. Sales tax in Nashville is 9.75% on most purchases and 6.75% on groceries, so how far ahead you come out depends on how much of your paycheck you spend versus save. For most nurses, keeping the income tax beats paying a little more at checkout.
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 Nashville nursing market
Pay only tells half the story. A two-bedroom apartment at fair market rent runs about $1,730 a month in Nashville, which is roughly 25% of a median RN salary before taxes. That is a manageable share, but it is worth negotiating hard on base pay and differentials.
About 25,100 RNs work in this metro, the #30 largest RN workforce of the markets we track. The RN Network directory lists 142 healthcare employers in Nashville, Murfreesboro and Franklin, including 55 behavioral health facilities, 29 outpatient surgery centers, 23 long-term care facilities and 18 dialysis centers.
Hospitals hiring nurses in Nashville
Every hospital below has its own page with pay context, nearby openings and a direct line to its careers site.
Nursing around Nashville
Some of the best nursing jobs in the region are a short drive from downtown. Explore the hospitals and healthcare employers in the communities around Nashville.
Brentwood, TN
10 healthcare employers →Mount Juliet, TN
5 healthcare employers →Spring Hill, TN
3 healthcare employers →Nursing jobs in Nashville
Do not wait for the right posting to find you. Claim your free Talent Agent profile and get matched with Nashville roles that fit your specialty.
Hiring nurses in Nashville?
How long has your hardest Nashville RN role been open? Every week a position sits empty costs your team extra shifts, overtime and the good nurses who start looking elsewhere. Pick the fastest way to fill it.
Reach nurses who are looking now
Put your opening in front of nurses searching for Nashville jobs today.
Post a Job →Know this market before you hire
RN Workforce Insights™ shows time to fill, turnover and nurse supply for Nashville, so you plan hiring around real numbers.
See Nashville Workforce Intelligence →Fill the roles a posting won't
The RN Network's Recruiting Services team goes and gets them, finding and presenting qualified RNs for the roles that will not fill from a posting.
Start a Search →Run a facility in Nashville? Feature it in the directory →
Career advice for Nashville nurses
Watch the latest episode of Nursing Matters, the show that helps nurses find the right job, land the offer and grow their careers.
How to Land a Nashville Nursing Job (Insider Secrets)
Latest article
Nashville Hospitals Want Nurses. Here's Which Ones Deserve You (Plus 5 Nashville Nurses Who Hired Themselves)
Every Nashville hospital says it's a great place to work. Here's which one is great for YOU, plus five Nashville nurses who built businesses of their own.
Read the article →Common questions about nursing in Nashville
How much do registered nurses make in Nashville?
The median RN salary in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro is $84,040 a year, and the middle half of RNs earn between $81,630 and $103,550.
What do nurse practitioners earn in Nashville?
Nurse practitioners in the Nashville metro earn a median of $122,320 a year.
Can a nurse afford to live in Nashville?
A two-bedroom apartment at fair market rent costs about $1,730 a month in Nashville, roughly 25% of a median RN salary before taxes.
Which hospitals hire nurses in Nashville?
Hospitals in the Nashville area include Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Williamson Medical Center, Metro Nashville General Hospital, Tristar Centennial Medical Center, Tristar Southern Hills Medical Center. 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 Nashville. Federal income tax and Social Security and Medicare still apply. At the Nashville median RN salary, every 1% of state income tax you would pay elsewhere is about $840 a year that stays in your pocket here.
How do I find a nursing job in Nashville?
Browse current Tennessee openings on The RN Network job board, claim your free Talent Agent profile so employers hiring in Nashville can find you, and compare pay using the Tennessee salary guide.