Tennessee's average nurse practitioner salary of $115,510 falls 15.9% below the national mean of $137,300, and it trails most neighboring states including North Carolina ($130,870), Virginia ($129,060), Georgia ($128,800), and Kentucky ($125,010). Only Alabama ($110,970) comes in lower among the comparison states. For employers, this means Tennessee offers a relatively cost-effective hiring environment, though candidates who have worked in neighboring states may arrive with higher salary expectations.
Nurse practitioner salary in Tennessee (2026)
In this article
The average nurse practitioner salary in Tennessee is $115,510 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $117,590 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Tennessee employs 12,150 nurse practitioners, and the $2,080 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior nurse practitioners in Tennessee typically earn around $82,790, while senior specialists typically reach or exceed the $137,880 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a nurse practitioner hire in Tennessee, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $117,590 |
Average Annual Salary | $115,510 |
vs. National Average | 15.9% below the national mean of $137,300 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 12,150 employed nurse practitioners across Tennessee.
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Nurse practitioner salary percentiles in Tennessee
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $82,790 |
25th Percentile | $102,640 |
75th Percentile | $130,330 |
90th Percentile | $137,880 |
Employers setting an offer for a nurse practitioner in Tennessee should expect that most candidates will fall between $102,640 and $130,330, which covers the middle half of the market. Roles requiring specialized experience or leadership responsibilities will push toward or beyond the $137,880 threshold at the 90th percentile.
Nurse practitioner salary by city in Tennessee
City | Average Annual Salary |
Memphis | $121,660 |
Nashville | $118,990 |
Clarksville | $117,150 |
Chattanooga | $114,900 |
Knoxville | $112,460 |
Location meaningfully affects what you will need to offer a nurse practitioner in Tennessee, so budget accordingly when hiring in different markets. Memphis leads the state at $121,660 in average annual salary, while Knoxville sits at the lower end at $112,460, a spread of roughly $9,200 between the two markets. Employers hiring across multiple Tennessee cities should build location-based pay tiers rather than applying a single statewide figure.
How Tennessee compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Tennessee | $115,510 | $117,590 |
North Carolina | $130,870 | $128,990 |
Virginia | $129,060 | $127,810 |
Georgia | $128,800 | $129,430 |
Kentucky | $125,010 | $122,870 |
Alabama | $110,970 | $105,750 |
Tennessee is a cost-effective market for nurse practitioner hiring relative to most of its neighboring states, which matters when you are budgeting headcount across a multi-state footprint. Tennessee's mean of $115,510 sits below North Carolina ($130,870), Virginia ($129,060), Georgia ($128,800), and Kentucky ($125,010), though it runs above Alabama's mean of $110,970. Employers expanding into Tennessee from higher-cost neighboring states can expect to set offers at a lower anchor without sacrificing access to a large candidate pool of 12,150 employed practitioners.
Frequently asked questions about nurse practitioner salary in Tennessee
How does Tennessee compare to other states for nurse practitioner salary?
What do the top-earning nurse practitioners make in Tennessee?
Nurse practitioners at the 90th percentile in Tennessee earn $137,880 per year. The 75th percentile sits at $130,330, so senior specialists with advanced credentials or leadership responsibilities will typically fall in that upper range. When competing for top-tier candidates, plan your offer ceiling around the $137,880 figure and be prepared to go higher for roles with specialized scope.
What is the salary range for a nurse practitioner in Tennessee?
The published salary range for nurse practitioners in Tennessee runs from $82,790 at the 10th percentile to $137,880 at the 90th percentile. The middle half of the market falls between $102,640 and $130,330, which is the most practical range for setting offers on standard full-time roles. Use the 10th percentile as a floor only for entry-level or limited-scope positions, not as a general benchmark.
What is the average nurse practitioner salary in Tennessee?
The average nurse practitioner salary in Tennessee is $115,510 per year, with a median of $117,590. The median is the more useful figure for most hiring decisions because it is less affected by a small number of very high earners at the top of the market. When building a compensation offer, anchor to the $117,590 median and adjust up or down based on the seniority and specialization of the specific role you are filling.
Nurse Practitioner salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 29-1171 (Nurse Practitioners).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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The Rippling Team
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Nurse practitioner salaries in Virginia average $129,060, with pay ranging from $99,990 to $161,470. See city breakdowns and state comparisons.
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Nurse practitioner salary in North Carolina (2026)
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Nurse practitioner salaries in South Carolina average $124,170, ranging from $97,080 to $160,170. See BLS data by city, percentile, and neighboring state.
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Georgia nurse practitioners earn a median $129,430 per year. See salary percentiles, city breakdowns, and state comparisons to budget competitive offers.
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Nurse practitioner salary in Kentucky (2026)
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