Salary · TN · SOC 29-2061

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) salary in Tennessee, per year and per hour

BLS data for May 2025. Median, mean, and percentile pay for licensed practical and vocational nurses 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 licensed practical and vocational nurses in Tennessee was $58,870 a year, or $28.31 an hour, in May 2025 (BLS). The middle 80% earned $41,110 to $67,540. About 20,830 were employed.

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Licensed Practical Nurse pay in Tennessee vs the US

Licensed Practical Nurse wages in Tennessee and the US, May 2025
Measure	TN annual	TN hourly	US annual
Median (50th percentile)	$58,870	$28.31	$64,400
Mean (average)	$56,470	$27.15	$67,050
10th percentile	$41,110	$19.76	$49,740
25th percentile	$49,170	$23.64	$59,000
75th percentile	$62,650	$30.12	$76,030
90th percentile	$67,540	$32.47	$83,440

Employment in Tennessee: 20,830. Location quotient: 1.52 (1.0 = the national share of jobs).

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

Licensed Practical Nurse salary by metro area in Tennessee

Licensed Practical Nurse median wage by metro area, Tennessee
Metro area	Median annual	Median hourly	Employed
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	$61,940	$29.78	5,650
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$59,140	$28.43	2,980
Knoxville, TN	$57,960	$27.86	2,650
Chattanooga, TN-GA	$58,580	$28.16	1,560
Johnson City, TN	$51,480	$24.75	820
Jackson, TN	$50,670	$24.36	810
Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA	$54,050	$25.99	800
Clarksville, TN-KY	$58,260	$28.01	630
Cleveland, TN	$52,350	$25.17	270
Morristown, TN	$55,140	$26.51	260

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

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Licensed Practical Nurse salary in Tennessee

Median pay: $58,870 a year ($28.31 an hour)

Middle 80% earn $41,110 to $67,540 a year

Employed: 20,830

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">Licensed Practical Nurse salary in Tennessee</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Median pay: <strong>$58,870</strong> a year ($28.31 an hour)</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Middle 80% earn $41,110 to $67,540 a year</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Employed: 20,830</div><div style="margin-top:8px;font-size:12px;color:#555">BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: <a href="https://rivvi.ai/salary/licensed-practical-nurse/tn" style="color:#3C38C9">Rivvi</a></div></div>

Questions

How much does an LPN make per hour in Tennessee?

The median hourly wage was $28.31 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $19.76 and the 90th was $32.47.

What is the average LPN salary in Tennessee?

BLS reports a mean (average) of $56,470 a year and a median of $58,870 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.

Do licensed practical and vocational nurses in Tennessee earn more than the US median?

The Tennessee median of $58,870 is 9% lower than the US median of $64,400 (BLS, May 2025).

How does Tennessee rank for licensed practical nurse pay?

Tennessee ranks 44 of 51 states (plus DC) by median annual wage for licensed practical and vocational nurses (BLS, May 2025).

Where do these numbers come from?

The BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates, SOC 29-2061. Figures BLS did not publish are left out.