TN · Memphis · Updated October 15, 2026

Registered Nurse jobs in Memphis, TN

The median registered nurse pay in the Memphis area is $38.10 per hour ($79,250 a year), with the typical range running from $34.48 to $44.43. That ranks 272nd of 379 U.S. metro areas for registered nurse pay, and 246th of 335 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 11 hospitals in Memphis. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Memphis.

More open Registered Nurse roles in Memphis

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

PermanentPosted today

Registered Nurse - RN

Fresenius Medical Care · Memphis, TN

Pay range with your report
  • Full time
  • Req R0273562
New this week
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PermanentPosted yesterday

Registered Nurse RN

Universal Health Services · Memphis, TN

Pay range with your report
  • Full Time Nursing 36
  • Req 375390
New this week
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All Registered Nurse jobs in Tennessee

Registered Nurse pay in Memphis, TN

The metro median is in line with the Tennessee statewide median of $38.00 per hour. Nationally the median is $45.00 per hour. BLS counts about 13,570 registered nurses employed in the Memphis metro area, 21.9 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is about as concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.03).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$31.12$64,73031% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$34.48$71,72023% below U.S. median
Median$38.10$79,25015% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$44.43$92,4101% below U.S. median
Top 10%$52.12$108,41016% above U.S. median

How Memphis ranks

  • 272nd of 379 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 246th of 335 after adjusting for local prices
  • 2nd of 10 Tennessee metro areas

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

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

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What your pay buys in Memphis

  • Overall prices in Memphis run 8% below the U.S. average (index 92.2, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 20% below the U.S. average (index 79.8).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $38.10 median hour buys what $41.33 buys at the national price level, 8% 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 Memphis paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,372
  • Per year: $68,580
  • Per month: $5,715
  • Tennessee has no state income tax on wages.

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

Travel assignment per diem in Memphis

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$129
Meals and incidentals per day$74
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,421
13-week assignment$18,473

Travel registered 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 Registered Nurse roles in Tennessee

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

PermanentPosted today

Registered Nurse

Acadia Healthcare · Nashville, TN

$34.00–$47.08/ hour
  • FULL_TIME
  • Req 112193
New this week
View role
PermanentPosted 2 days ago

Oncology Registered Nurse

CommonSpirit Health · Chattanooga, TN

$33.11–$49.25/ hour
  • Full Time
  • Req 101907025344
New this week
View role
PermanentPosted 2 days ago

Endoscopy RN

CommonSpirit Health · Chattanooga, TN

$33.11–$49.25/ hour
  • Full Time
  • Req 101915993360
New this week
View role

All Registered Nurse jobs in Tennessee

Hospitals in Memphis

CMS lists 11 hospitals in Memphis, 0 of the 5 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of registered nurses.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Baptist Memorial Hospital
Memphis, TN
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Memphis Va Medical Center
Memphis, TN
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal3 of 5Yes
Methodist Hospitals Of Memphis
Memphis, TN
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Regional One Health
Memphis, TN
Acute careGovernment and federal1 of 5Yes
St Francis Hospital
Memphis, TN
Acute careFor-profit1 of 5Yes
Delta Specialty Hospital
Memphis, TN
Acute careFor-profitNot ratedYes
St Jude Childrens Research Hospital
Memphis, TN
Children'sNonprofitNot ratedNo
Crestwyn Behavioral Health
Memphis, TN
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedYes
Lakeside Behavioral Health System
Memphis, TN
PsychiatricNonprofitNot ratedNo
Memphis Mental Health Institute
Memphis, TN
PsychiatricGovernment and federalNot ratedYes

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

Primary care shortage areas in Shelby County

HRSA lists 10 active primary care shortage designations that include Shelby County (6 population-group, 4 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 22 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.

Registered Nurse pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Southaven, MS11 mi$38.10/hr57,493
Bartlett, TN12 mi$38.10/hr56,708
Jonesboro, AR63 mi$37.85/hr82,384
Jackson, TN74 mi$34.44/hr69,303
North Little Rock, AR130 mi$38.38/hr64,498
Little Rock, AR138 mi$38.38/hr204,774

Registered Nurse jobs in Tennessee · Registered 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 Memphis

Memphis city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do registered nurses make in Memphis, TN?

Registered Nurses in the Memphis metro area have a median pay of $38.10 per hour, about $79,250 a year. The middle half earn between $34.48 and $44.43 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Memphis a good place for registered nurses once cost of living is counted?

Memphis ranks 246th of 335 metro areas for registered nurse pay after adjusting for local prices, and 272nd of 379 before adjusting. Overall prices run 8% below the U.S. average.

Where do registered nurses work in Memphis?

CMS lists 11 hospitals in Memphis, led by Baptist Memorial Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Tennessee license to work in Memphis as a registered 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 Memphis in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 10 active primary care shortage designations that include Shelby 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 Memphis?

The federal per diem benchmark in Memphis is $129 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,421 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place registered nurses in Memphis?

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

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What do employers near Memphis pay registered nurses? Get the report.

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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 · RN near Memphis, TN
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your RN pay reportMemphis, TN · pay published by employers and employer-reported wage offers in federal filings

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • Methodist Le Bonheur HealthcareMemphis, TN · 2 wage offers$41.69/ hr$36–$46
  • Select MedicalNashville, TN · 3 postings$46.94/ hr$40–$54
  • CommonSpirit HealthCHATTANOOGA, TN · 26 postings$41.18/ hr$25–$55
  • Acadia HealthcareNashville, TN · 3 postings$40.54/ hr$34–$47

Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings.

2What they are offering now

Low$33Median$40.77High$51

46 RN postings with published pay in Tennessee, 40 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 46 RN roles

  1. Registered Nurse-Emergency Department (ED)Permanent
    $67k–$126k/ year
    Veterans Health Administration · Johnson City, TN · posted today
  2. Interventional Cardiology RNPermanent
    $33.39–$47.92/ hour
    CommonSpirit Health · Chattanooga, TN · posted today

+ 44 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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