Registered Nurse Salary in Memphis, TN
Registered Nurses in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn a median $81,500 a year — 16% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $66,165 take-home, or $5,514 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in Memphis, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,100
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,053
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,182
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$66,165
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro spans Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Memphis, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,280 | $31.38 | $54,632 | $4,553 |
| 25th percentile | $78,900 | $37.93 | $64,336 | $5,361 |
| Median (50th) | $81,500 | $39.18 | $66,165 | $5,514 |
| 75th percentile | $95,780 | $46.05 | $76,211 | $6,351 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $112,310 | $54.00 | $87,840 | $7,320 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $81,500 buys in Memphis, TN
Prices in Memphis, TN are 7.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 20% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median registered nurse's $66,165 take-home pay has the buying power of $71,779 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Registered Nurse jobs are about as common in Memphis, TN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.04).
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Memphis, TN ranks #202 of 370 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $216,740 | $142,511 | $129,059 |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $203,290 | $134,031 | $123,555 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $174,550 | $116,298 | $107,899 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $171,460 | $114,514 | $107,353 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $186,610 | $123,394 | $106,730 |
| 6 | Santa Cruz, CA | $170,960 | $114,225 | $103,939 |
| 7 | Yuba City, CA | $149,320 | $101,728 | $97,597 |
| 8 | Olympia, WA | $125,020 | $96,717 | $93,293 |
| 202 | Memphis, TN | $81,500 | $66,165 | $71,779 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 370 metros →
Registered Nurse salaries elsewhere in Tennessee
- Kingsport, TN — $76,730
- Jackson, TN — $75,610
- Johnson City, TN — $77,660
- Morristown, TN — $75,680
- Clarksville, TN — $79,450
- Chattanooga, TN — $79,770
- Nashville, TN — $84,040
- Knoxville, TN — $77,240
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Memphis, TN?
The median registered nurse salary in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area is $81,500 a year, or about $39.18 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $78,900 and $95,780.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Memphis, TN?
On the median $81,500 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $66,165 a year ($5,514 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Memphis, TN a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 16% below the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 7.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $71,779 would in a typical U.S. city. Memphis, TN ranks #202 of 370 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Memphis, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Memphis, TN is $1,137 a month ($1,263 for two bedrooms) — 21% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Memphis, TN
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Pharmacist — $134,220
- Nurse Practitioner — $124,600
- Physical Therapist — $100,000
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $86,120
- Dental Hygienist — $78,580
- Paramedic — $66,830
- Respiratory Therapist — $66,460
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $66,320
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $64,000
- Surgical Technologist — $61,150
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $59,140