Salary · TN · SOC 31-1131

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) salary in Tennessee, per year and per hour

BLS data for May 2025. Median, mean, and percentile pay for nursing assistants in Tennessee, with every metro area BLS publishes.

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, released May 15, 2026. Publisher page

Quick answer

The median pay for nursing assistants in Tennessee was $37,990 a year, or $18.27 an hour, in May 2025 (BLS). The middle 80% earned $31,110 to $44,660. About 27,040 were employed.

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Certified Nursing Assistant pay in Tennessee vs the US

Certified Nursing Assistant wages in Tennessee and the US, May 2025
Measure	TN annual	TN hourly	US annual
Median (50th percentile)	$37,990	$18.27	$42,260
Mean (average)	$38,230	$18.38	$42,700
10th percentile	$31,110	$14.96	$33,940
25th percentile	$35,560	$17.09	$37,260
75th percentile	$40,880	$19.66	$47,220
90th percentile	$44,660	$21.47	$51,980

Employment in Tennessee: 27,040. Location quotient: 0.89 (1.0 = the national share of jobs).

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

Certified Nursing Assistant salary by metro area in Tennessee

Certified Nursing Assistant median wage by metro area, Tennessee
Metro area	Median annual	Median hourly	Employed
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	$39,510	$18.99	7,420
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$38,010	$18.27	4,930
Knoxville, TN	$38,000	$18.27	3,860
Chattanooga, TN-GA	$38,790	$18.65	2,420
Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA	$37,550	$18.05	1,400
Johnson City, TN	$37,310	$17.94	1,390
Jackson, TN	$36,900	$17.74	1,080
Clarksville, TN-KY	$37,320	$17.94	620
Cleveland, TN	$37,130	$17.85	440
Morristown, TN	$37,620	$18.09	350

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

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Certified Nursing Assistant salary in Tennessee

Median pay: $37,990 a year ($18.27 an hour)

Middle 80% earn $31,110 to $44,660 a year

Employed: 27,040

BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: Rivvi

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<div style="font:14px/1.45 system-ui,sans-serif;color:#222;border:1px solid #E6E6EE;border-radius:12px;padding:14px 16px;max-width:360px;background:#fff"><div style="font-weight:600;font-size:15px;margin-bottom:6px">Certified Nursing Assistant salary in Tennessee</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Median pay: <strong>$37,990</strong> a year ($18.27 an hour)</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Middle 80% earn $31,110 to $44,660 a year</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Employed: 27,040</div><div style="margin-top:8px;font-size:12px;color:#555">BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: <a href="https://rivvi.ai/salary/certified-nursing-assistant/tn" style="color:#3C38C9">Rivvi</a></div></div>

Questions

How much does a CNA make per hour in Tennessee?

The median hourly wage was $18.27 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $14.96 and the 90th was $21.47.

What is the average CNA salary in Tennessee?

BLS reports a mean (average) of $38,230 a year and a median of $37,990 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.

Do nursing assistants in Tennessee earn more than the US median?

The Tennessee median of $37,990 is 10% lower than the US median of $42,260 (BLS, May 2025).

How does Tennessee rank for certified nursing assistant pay?

Tennessee ranks 40 of 51 states (plus DC) by median annual wage for nursing assistants (BLS, May 2025).

Where do these numbers come from?

The BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates, SOC 31-1131. BLS reports CNAs as Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131). Figures BLS did not publish are left out.