Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse Salary in Nashville, TN

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn a median $61,940 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $51,949 take-home, or $4,329 a month.

Median salary
$61,940
$29.78 per hour
Typical range
$46,730 – $73,200
10th to 90th percentile
Jobs in Nashville, TN
5,650
1.23× national concentration
▲2.7%
Pay trend: The median for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in Nashville, TN rose from $60,290 (May 2024) to $61,940 (May 2025). That roughly kept pace with inflation (2.4%).

Take-home pay calculator

Pre-filled with the median licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse salary in Nashville, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse in Nashville, TN
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$51,949
per year · effective tax rate 16.1%
$4,329Monthly
$2,165Twice a month
$1,998Every 2 weeks
$24.98Hourly
  • Federal income tax$5,253
  • Social Security (6.2%)$3,840
  • Medicare (1.45%)$898
  • Tennessee income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$51,949

Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state

Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse pay by experience in Nashville, TN

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home / yrPer month
10th percentile (entry level)$46,730$22.47$39,728$3,311
25th percentile$54,080$26.00$45,633$3,803
Median (50th)$61,940$29.78$51,949$4,329
75th percentile$67,450$32.43$56,281$4,690
90th percentile (top earners)$73,200$35.19$60,326$5,027

Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.

What $61,940 buys in Nashville, TN

Prices in Nashville, TN are 3.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse's $51,949 take-home pay has the buying power of $53,923 in a typical American city.

1-bedroom rent
$1,530
35% of monthly take-home
2-bedroom rent
$1,685
39% of monthly take-home
Left after 1-BR rent
$2,799
per month for everything else

Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.

Nashville, TN has 1.2× the national concentration of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.

Best-paying cities for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, adjusted for cost of living

Nashville, TN ranks #28 of 53 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.

#Metro areaMedian salaryTake-homeReal value*
1San Jose, CA $95,320$70,013$63,405
2Seattle, WA $85,690$69,113$62,189
3Las Vegas, NV $75,920$62,240$62,106
4Providence, RI $78,990$62,054$60,973
5San Francisco, CA $94,310$69,410$60,036
6Phoenix, AZ $78,080$62,016$60,026
7Boston, MA $82,190$62,761$57,969
8Chicago, IL $78,070$60,033$57,949
28Nashville, TN$61,940$51,949$53,923

*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 53 metros →

About the job: licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

Care for ill, injured, or convalescing patients or persons with disabilities in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes, group homes, and similar institutions. May work under the supervision of a registered nurse. Licensing required.

Typical education
Postsecondary nondegree award
Work experience
None required
On-the-job training
None
Job outlook, 2025–35
+3.0% (about average)

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse salaries elsewhere in Tennessee

Frequently asked questions

How much does a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse make in Nashville, TN?

The median licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse salary in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area is $61,940 a year, or about $29.78 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $54,080 and $67,450.

What is a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse’s take-home pay in Nashville, TN?

On the median $61,940 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $51,949 a year ($4,329 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.

Is Nashville, TN a good place to work as a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse?

Pay here is 4% below the national median of $64,400. Local prices are 3.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $53,923 would in a typical U.S. city. Nashville, TN ranks #28 of 53 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.

Can a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse afford rent in Nashville, TN?

HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Nashville, TN is $1,530 a month ($1,685 for two bedrooms) — 35% of a median licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.

Related jobs in Nashville, TN

Cost of living & all salaries in Nashville, TN →