Registered Nurses pay range in Memphis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,280 a year or less, while the top 10% make $112,310 or more. The middle half of registered nurses in Memphis earn between $78,900 and $95,780.
- $65K10th
- $79K25th
- $82KMedian
- $96K75th
- $112K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $87,370 | $7,281 | $42.00 |
| Median | $81,500 | $6,792 | $39.18 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $78,900 | $6,575 | $37.93 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $95,780 | $7,982 | $46.05 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Registered Nurses pay in Memphis vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Registered nurses in Memphis earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($85,390) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($101,420). At the median the gap is -16% against the U.S. median of $97,550.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $87,370 | $81,500 | $65,280 | $112,310 | 13,760 |
| Tennessee | $85,390 | $81,500 | $63,970 | $104,920 | 72,200 |
| United States | $101,420 | $97,550 | $68,940 | $137,470 | 3,379,720 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Registered Nurses salary after taxes in Memphis
On the average salary of $87,370, a single filer in Memphis takes home about $70,295 a year, or $5,858 a month and $2,704 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $70,295 | $5,858 |
| Working in AR | $67,550 | $5,629 |
| Working in MS | $67,532 | $5,628 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Memphis a good place for registered nurses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Memphis area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $87,370 buys what about $94,783 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Memphis ($46,890). A typical home costs $247,229, or 2.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Registered Nurses salary in other Tennessee cities
Memphis ranks 2nd of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($92,350).
- Nashville$92,350
- Memphis$87,370
- Chattanooga$85,220
- Johnson City$84,350
- Clarksville$82,520
- Kingsport$80,250
- Knoxville$78,410
- Jackson$76,220
- Morristown$75,800
- Cleveland$71,990
Highest-paying cities for registered nurses
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($194,950).
- San Jose, CA$194,950
- Vallejo, CA$182,820
- San Francisco, CA$176,900
- Santa Rosa, CA$170,000
- Sacramento, CA$164,200
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Registered Nurses salary in Memphis: questions
How much do registered nurses make an hour in Memphis?
$42.01 an hour on average, and $39.18 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level registered nurses salary in Memphis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,280 a year and the 25th percentile is $78,900, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the registered nurses take-home pay in Memphis?
About $70,295 a year ($5,858 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $87,370. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do registered nurses earn more in Memphis than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% less than the U.S. average for this job ($101,420).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-1141; area Memphis, TN-MS-AR (32820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.04, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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