Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses Salary
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in Tennessee make a median of $58,870 a year, or about $28.31 an hour. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $68K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $65,571 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 29.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $59K get you in Tennessee?
About licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $59K locally vs. $64K nationwide, a 9% difference. Rent runs $1,215/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $68K or more, a $26K spread from bottom to top.
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses salary by metro in Tennessee
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $62K | +5% | 5,650 |
| Memphis | $59K | +0% | 2,980 |
| Chattanooga | $59K | -0% | 1,560 |
| Clarksville | $58K | -1% | 630 |
| Knoxville | $58K | -2% | 2,650 |
| Morristown | $55K | -6% | 260 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $54K | -8% | 800 |
| Cleveland | $52K | -11% | 270 |
| Johnson City | $51K | -13% | 820 |
| Jackson | $51K | -14% | 810 |
Compare to other states
Track licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 29.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses typically earn — is $41K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,467/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 49% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $59K locally vs. $64K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses?
Tennessee pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $64K — that’s -9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $66K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses make in Tennessee?
The median is $58,870 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,110, and experienced licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses can clear $67,540. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,112/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 29.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses salary go in Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses salary is worth about $65,571 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.