Med-Surg Nurse vs ER Nurse salary in Tennessee
In Tennessee, er nurses earn more — an estimated $94,430 a year versus $85,840 for med-surg nurses, a gap of about $8,590 (roughly 10% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Tennessee.
Med-Surg Nurse — Tennessee
Specialty estimateMedian annual pay
$85,840
-12% vs nationalHourly
$41.27/hr
- Typical range
- $70,690–$98,870
- What most nurses earn
- High end
- $120,970
- Top earners
- Entry level
- $60,670
- Newer nurses
ER Nurse — Tennessee
Specialty estimateMedian annual pay
$94,430
-12% vs nationalHourly
$45.40/hr
- Typical range
- $77,760–$108,750
- What most nurses earn
- High end
- $133,070
- Top earners
- Entry level
- $66,730
- Newer nurses
Why the gap in Tennessee
ER nurses are modeled to earn slightly more than med-surg nurses, though both are staff RN roles drawing on the same underlying wage data. The difference comes from the emergency department's trauma acuity, unpredictable patient volume, and shift differentials common in emergency settings. The Tennessee figures apply the same local pay adjustment to both roles, so the gap here mirrors the national picture, shifted for Tennessee's cost of labor. Actual pay varies with experience, specialty, shift, and employer — compare the national Med-Surg Nurse vs ER Nurse comparison or personalize the calculator.
Med-Surg Nurse vs ER Nurse in Tennessee — FAQ
- Do med-surg nurses or er nurses earn more in Tennessee?
- In Tennessee, er nurses earn more — an estimated $94,430 a year versus $85,840 for med-surg nurses, a gap of about $8,590 (roughly 10% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Tennessee's local pay level.
- How much is the med-surg nurse vs er nurse pay gap in Tennessee?
- The estimated gap in Tennessee is about $8,590 a year, or roughly 10% more for er nurses. Your actual pay depends on experience, specialty, shift, and employer — use the calculator to compare both for your situation.
- Are these Tennessee figures exact?
- No — they're modeled estimates, not verified Tennessee wages. They start from each role's national pay and adjust for Tennessee's cost of labor, and they update to verified numbers when official state data is loaded.
- Why are some figures verified and others estimates?
- National pay for the main nursing roles — registered nurses, LPNs/LVNs, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, nurse midwives, and nursing assistants — comes from verified public wage data. State, city, and specialty figures that aren't reported on their own start from that national pay and are labeled "Estimated" or "Specialty estimate." We never show an estimate as a verified figure.
Source & confidence— An estimate for a specialty that public pay data does not list on its own. A ballpark to start from, not an exact figure.
Modeled estimate (BLS national × state wage index)
Tennessee figures are estimated by adjusting the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS national median for local pay levels (a state adjustment of 0.88×).
Source year 2025. Last reviewed July 3, 2026. Full methodology
Estimated figures for Tennessee. Last reviewed July 3, 2026.