Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) salary in Tennessee
Tennessee nurse anesthetists earn a median of $211,450 a year ($101.66 an hour), according to BLS data for May 2025. That is 11% below the national median of $236,590, and ranks 38th of 44 states.
Median, Tennessee
$211,450
Mean $218,870
Middle half earns
$192,910 to $243,240
US: $206,730 to $294,350
Employed in Tennessee
1,690
1.55x the national concentration
Where Tennessee sits in the range
Tennessee
Statewide
United States
National
Nashville
Metro area
Knoxville
Metro area
Memphis
Metro area
Jackson
Metro area
Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) pay by percentile
Ten percent of Tennessee nurse anesthetists earned less than $167,480 and ten percent earned more than $286,630, a spread of $119,150. Where you land depends mostly on specialty, setting, experience and how the productivity pay is built, which is why two offers in the same city can be far apart.
| Percentile | Tennessee | United States | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $167,480 | $155,250 | +7.9% |
| 25th | $192,910 | $206,730 | -6.7% |
| Median | $211,450 | $236,590 | -10.6% |
| 75th | $243,240 | $294,350 | -17.4% |
| 90th | $286,630 | $339,500 | -15.6% |
Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) pay by metro area
BLS published CRNA pay for 4 metro areas that include part of Tennessee. Memphis, TN-MS-AR has the highest median at $243,240. Metro estimates rest on smaller samples than the statewide figure, so treat a low-precision row as a direction, not a number.
| Metro area | Employed | Median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TNmoderate precision | 830 | $211,450 | $192,910 to $214,300 |
| Knoxville, TNlow precision | 220 | $213,900 | $186,630 to $215,600 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 200 | $243,240 | $202,190 to $245,040 |
| Jackson, TNmoderate precision | 60 | $190,970 | $190,970 to $220,840 |
How CRNA pay compares with other clinicians in Tennessee
| Occupation | Tennessee | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) | $211,450 | $236,590 |
| Physician assistant | $118,240 | $135,880 |
| Nurse practitioner | $117,590 | $132,300 |
| Registered nurse | $81,500 | $97,550 |
The Tennessee CRNA workforce
BLS counts 1,690 nurse anesthetists on Tennessee payrolls, or 0.52 for every 1,000 jobs in the state, more concentrated than in the country as a whole.
Using these numbers when you negotiate
A state median is a reference point, not a target. If an offer comes in under $192,910, it sits in the bottom quarter of what Tennessee nurse anesthetists earn, and you should know why before you sign: a new-grad rate, a light schedule, or a base kept low because a productivity bonus is supposed to make up the difference. If it is above $243,240, ask what is expected in return, such as call, volume targets or a longer non-compete.
Compare the whole package, not the base: how the bonus is calculated, call pay, CME, PTO and who pays malpractice tail coverage. The negotiation guide and the contract checklist walk through each term.
Questions about CRNA pay in Tennessee
How much does a CRNA make in Tennessee?
The median annual wage for nurse anesthetists in Tennessee was $211,450 in May 2025, and the mean was $218,870, per the BLS. The middle half earned between $192,910 and $243,240.
What is the hourly rate for nurse anesthetists in Tennessee?
The median hourly wage was $101.66 and the mean was $105.23. BLS computes hourly figures from annual pay assuming a full-time year, so per-shift or per-diem rates can differ.
Where do CRNAs earn the most in Tennessee?
Among Tennessee metro areas with published data, Memphis, TN-MS-AR had the highest median at $243,240, and Jackson, TN the lowest at $190,970.
How does Tennessee rank for CRNA pay?
Tennessee ranks 38th of 44 states (including DC) by median CRNA pay, 11% below the national median of $236,590. Pay is only half the picture: compare it with what housing and taxes cost where you would live.
How many nurse anesthetists work in Tennessee?
BLS estimated 1,690 nurse anesthetists employed in Tennessee in May 2025.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (bls.gov/oes), SOC 29-1151, all industries and ownerships. NPI counts: NPPES monthly file, August 2026 (CMS, public domain). BLS wages are straight-time pay: they include production bonuses but leave out overtime, shift differentials, non-production bonuses and benefits, and they exclude the self-employed.
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