Nursing Assistants · Tennessee

Nursing Assistants Salary in Tennessee

Nursing Assistants in Tennessee earn a median annual wage of $37,990 —10.1% below the national median of $42,260. That ranks TN #40 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$37,990
Median hourly
$18.27
Entry level (P10)
$31,110
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$44,660
90th percentile
Employment
27,040
8.2 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-10.1%
U.S. $42,260

Wage distribution

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

10th percentile90th percentile
$31,110
$35,560
$37,990
$40,880
$31,110$37,990$44,660
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $37,990.

Employment concentration (0.89×) is close to the national average.

Highest-paying states for nursing assistants

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

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Oregon$49,830$23.9614,8000.81
2Washington$49,180$23.6530,2700.91
3New York$48,590$23.3687,9900.97
4New Hampshire$47,870$23.027,8101.23
5District of Columbia$47,700$22.933,4900.53
6California$47,630$22.90110,0600.65
7Colorado$47,380$22.7822,2400.83
8Vermont$47,130$22.663,0301.07
9Maine$47,070$22.638,5401.43
10New Jersey$46,830$22.5232,4000.81

Related occupations in Tennessee

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Tennessee.

OccupationTennessee medianU.S. median
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$32,130$35,800
Medical Assistants$39,570$45,690
Dental Assistants$46,720$48,070
Phlebotomists$38,550$45,230
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$36,320$38,150
Physical Therapist Assistants$62,500$68,380

Frequently asked questions

How much do nursing assistants make in Tennessee?

The median annual wage for nursing assistants in Tennessee is $37,990, or $18.27 per hour. That is 10.1% below the national median of $42,260.

What is the entry-level nursing assistants salary in Tennessee?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $31,110 per year ($14.96/hour). The 25th percentile is $35,560.

How many people work as nursing assistants in Tennessee?

About 27,040 people work in this occupation in Tennessee, or 8.2 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Tennessee a good state for nursing assistants?

Tennessee ranks #40 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (0.89x) is close to the national average.

Which state pays nursing assistants the most?

Oregon has the highest median wage at $49,830 per year, followed by Washington ($49,180) and New York ($48,590).

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