Registered Nurse Salary in Memphis, TN — 2026 Guide
Estimated salaries are adjusted for Memphis's cost of living (index: 84). National data from BLS OEWS 2024; city adjustments reflect local market conditions.
Registered Nurse Salary in Memphis — Key Numbers
Cost of Living in Memphis
Rent-to-income below 28% is considered affordable; above 35% is cost-burdened. Home price multiple below 3× is affordable; above 5× is expensive by traditional guidelines.
Job Market in Memphis
Memphis has a metro population of 1,360,000, offering a sizeable job market with strong opportunities across key sectors. The 5.4% unemployment rate is near the national average.
Financial Calculators for Memphis
Other Professions in Memphis
Registered Nurse Salary — Other Tennessee Cities
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Registered Nurse make in Memphis, TN?
The estimated median salary for a Registered Nurse in Memphis is $72,299 per year (2026). This is derived from the national BLS median of $86,070 adjusted by Memphis's cost of living index (84). The typical salary range runs from $57,868 (25th percentile) to $90,460 (75th percentile), with top earners reaching $111,451.
Is Memphis affordable for a Registered Nurse?
On a $72,299 annual salary, a Registered Nurse in Memphis would spend approximately 15.1% of gross monthly income on median rent ($908/month). This is well within the 28% affordability threshold, making Memphis relatively affordable for this profession. The median home price of $195,000 is 2.7× the annual salary.
How does a Registered Nurse's salary compare to Memphis's overall income?
Memphis's median household income is $50,200. A Registered Nurse earning the city-adjusted median of $72,299 earns 44.0% more than the typical Memphis household — placing them solidly in the middle-to-upper income tier for the city.
Explore More Salary Data
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS, 2024 release. City salary estimates adjusted by cost of living index. City data from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024–2025). Last updated: March 2026.