TN · Knoxville · Updated October 15, 2026

Licensed Practical Nurse jobs in Knoxville, TN

The median licensed practical nurse pay in the Knoxville area is $24.54 per hour ($51,040 a year), with the typical range running from $21.45 to $28.79. That ranks 353rd of 386 U.S. metro areas for licensed practical nurse pay, and 334th of 341 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 6 hospitals in Knoxville. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Knoxville.

More open Licensed Practical Nurse roles in Knoxville

6 more open roles from employers in Knoxville. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

PermanentPosted 3 days ago

LPN

Covenant Health · Knoxville, TN

Pay range with your report
  • OTHER
  • Req 76597
New this week
View role

Licensed Practical Nurse pay in Knoxville, TN

The metro median is 6% below the Tennessee statewide median of $26.22 per hour. Nationally the median is $29.97 per hour. BLS counts about 2,330 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses employed in the Knoxville metro area, 5.6 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.36).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$17.62$36,65041% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$21.45$44,62028% below U.S. median
Median$24.54$51,04018% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$28.79$59,8804% below U.S. median
Top 10%$30.03$62,460in line with U.S. median

How Knoxville ranks

  • 353rd of 386 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 334th of 341 after adjusting for local prices
  • 6th of 10 Tennessee metro areas

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses (SOC 29-2061), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

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Named employers near Knoxville, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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What your pay buys in Knoxville

  • Overall prices in Knoxville run 7% below the U.S. average (index 92.6, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 17% below the U.S. average (index 82.8).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $24.54 median hour buys what $26.51 buys at the national price level, 12% below the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

Estimate your Knoxville paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$883
  • Per year: $44,172
  • Per month: $3,681
  • Tennessee has no state income tax on wages.

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Knoxville metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Knoxville

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$119
Meals and incidentals per day$74
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,351
13-week assignment$17,563

Travel licensed practical nurse assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.

Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).

Open Licensed Practical Nurse roles in Tennessee

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Knoxville as they open.

PermanentPosted 3 days ago

Clinic LPN

CommonSpirit Health · Ooltewah, TN

$20.86–$29.46/ hour
  • Full Time
  • Req 101861428512
New this week
View role
PermanentPosted 8 days ago

Pediatric Clinic LPN

CommonSpirit Health · Hixson, TN

$20.86–$29.46/ hour
  • Full Time
  • Req 101652226608
View role

All Licensed Practical Nurse jobs in Tennessee

Hospitals in Knoxville

CMS lists 6 hospitals in Knoxville, 1 of the 3 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of licensed practical nurses.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
University Health System, Inc
Knoxville, TN
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center
Knoxville, TN
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Parkwest Medical Center
Knoxville, TN
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
East Tennessee Childrens Hospital
Knoxville, TN
Children'sNonprofitNot ratedYes
East Tennessee Behavioral Health
Knoxville, TN
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedNo
Knoxville Center For Behavioral Medicine
Knoxville, TN
PsychiatricNonprofitNot ratedNo

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Primary care shortage areas in Knox County

HRSA lists 2 active primary care shortage designations that include Knox County (1 population-group, 1 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 19 on a 0 to 25 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.

Shortage areas are where demand for nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other clinicians is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.

Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.

Licensed Practical Nurse pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Cleveland, TN75 mi$25.22/hr50,232
Asheville, NC83 mi$29.92/hr94,992
Kingsport, TN87 mi$23.72/hr57,109
Johnson City, TN91 mi$24.02/hr73,635
Chattanooga, TN96 mi$27.66/hr191,496
Greenville, SC119 mi$28.69/hr74,371

Licensed Practical Nurse jobs in Tennessee · Licensed Practical Nurse jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Tennessee

Tennessee is in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an RN or LPN/LVN with a multistate license from another compact state can work here without a new license. Nurses whose home state is not in the compact apply for a Tennessee license by endorsement.

Tennessee does not tax wage income at the state level, so take-home pay is higher than the same gross pay in a state that does.

Tennessee state guide · Nurse Licensure Compact guide

Other healthcare roles in Knoxville

Knoxville city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do licensed practical nurses make in Knoxville, TN?

Licensed Practical Nurses in the Knoxville metro area have a median pay of $24.54 per hour, about $51,040 a year. The middle half earn between $21.45 and $28.79 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Knoxville a good place for licensed practical nurses once cost of living is counted?

Knoxville ranks 334th of 341 metro areas for licensed practical nurse pay after adjusting for local prices, and 353rd of 386 before adjusting. Overall prices run 7% below the U.S. average.

Where do licensed practical nurses work in Knoxville?

CMS lists 6 hospitals in Knoxville, led by University Health System, Inc. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Tennessee license to work in Knoxville as a licensed practical nurse?

Tennessee is in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an RN or LPN/LVN with a multistate license from another compact state can work here without a new license. Nurses whose home state is not in the compact apply for a Tennessee license by endorsement. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

Is Knoxville in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 2 active primary care shortage designations that include Knox County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.

What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Knoxville?

The federal per diem benchmark in Knoxville is $119 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,351 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place licensed practical nurses in Knoxville?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Knoxville and across Tennessee. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Knoxville.

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    Pay for your role at other hospitals

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    What they are offering now

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The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval: Health Care Staffing Services Certification, since 2022American Staffing Association memberNATHO member: National Association of Travel Healthcare OrganizationsNALTO member: National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations

Pay report · LPN / LVN near Knoxville, TN
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your LPN / LVN pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Tennessee list by name comes with the full report

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • CommonSpirit HealthOOLTEWAH, TN · 2 postings$25.16/ hr$21–$29
  • AmedisysWinchester, TN · 3 postings$24.75/ hr$22–$27
  • MaineGeneral HealthAugusta, ME · 4 postings$47.83/ hr$32–$63
  • CommonSpirit HealthWOODLAND, CA · 5 postings$41.23/ hr$31–$51

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Tennessee list

2What they are offering now

Low$21Median$24.95High$31

6 LPN / LVN postings with published pay in Tennessee, 5 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 6 LPN / LVN roles

  1. Clinic LPNPermanent
    $20.86–$29.46/ hour
    CommonSpirit Health · Ooltewah, TN · posted 3 days ago
  2. Pediatric Clinic LPNPermanent
    $20.86–$29.46/ hour
    CommonSpirit Health · Hixson, TN · posted 8 days ago

+ 4 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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