Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses · Tennessee

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses Salary in Tennessee

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in Tennessee earn a median annual wage of $58,870 —8.6% below the national median of $64,400. That ranks TN #44 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$58,870
Median hourly
$28.31
Entry level (P10)
$41,110
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$67,540
90th percentile
Employment
20,830
6.4 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-8.6%
U.S. $64,400

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$41,110
$49,170
$58,870
$62,650
$41,110$58,870$67,540
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $58,870.

Employment is 1.52× as concentrated as the national average, making Tennessee a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. Tennessee is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Washington$83,150$39.986,7800.46
2Alaska$80,800$38.852900.21
3Oregon$80,470$38.694,2600.52
4Massachusetts$80,220$38.5713,2100.87
5Rhode Island$80,090$38.511,2900.62
6California$79,750$38.3482,8501.09
7New Hampshire$77,110$37.072,2200.78
8Arizona$77,070$37.056,5300.48
9Nevada$76,160$36.623,3500.52
10District of Columbia$75,740$36.421,0400.36

Related occupations in Tennessee

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Tennessee.

OccupationTennessee medianU.S. median
Registered Nurses$81,500$97,550
Pharmacy Technicians$41,920$45,750
Physicians, All Other$301,290$265,930
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$62,070$62,930
Nurse Practitioners$117,590$132,300
Pharmacists$133,390$140,910

Frequently asked questions

How much do licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses make in Tennessee?

The median annual wage for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in Tennessee is $58,870, or $28.31 per hour. That is 8.6% below the national median of $64,400.

What is the entry-level licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses salary in Tennessee?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $41,110 per year ($19.76/hour). The 25th percentile is $49,170.

How many people work as licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in Tennessee?

About 20,830 people work in this occupation in Tennessee, or 6.4 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Tennessee a good state for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses?

Tennessee ranks #44 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.52x as concentrated as the national average, making Tennessee a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses the most?

Washington has the highest median wage at $83,150 per year, followed by Alaska ($80,800) and Oregon ($80,470).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes