What to Pay a Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse in Nashville, TN (2026)
How to set your Med-Surg RN pay range in Nashville
Three pay positions, modeled against current Nashville market data. Pick the one that matches your comp philosophy and the role's strategic value.
Med-Surg RN salary percentile distribution in Nashville, TN
Where the Nashville market actually sits for Med-Surg RN base pay.
Most Nashville employers building a range for this role anchor the midpoint to the market median ($86,000) and set range width at 30–35% — a min of $75,000 and a max of $99,000. This keeps the band wide enough for experience-based progression without concentrating range penetration at the cap.
Tennessee pay transparency compliance for Med-Surg RN job postings
What you must post when hiring a Med-Surg RN in Tennessee.
For a Med-Surg RN role in Nashville, a compliant good-faith range looks like $75,000 to $99,000. No statutory requirement applies, but if you disclose voluntarily, post a good-faith range of $75,000–$99,000 rather than a single number — it screens out misaligned candidates and reduces offer-stage fallout.
Top Med-Surg RN employers in Nashville — who you're competing against
Top healthcare employers hiring Med-Surg RNs in the Nashville metro and what they're posting.
| Employer | Type | Disclosed Range | Sign-on Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Academic medical center | $81K–$101K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
| HCA Healthcare (TriStar Health) | Health system | $81K–$101K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
| Ascension Saint Thomas | Health system | $81K–$101K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
| Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital | Pediatric specialty | $81K–$101K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
| Williamson Medical Center | Community hospital | $77K–$98K | Very common ($10K–$18K) |
Med-Surg RN talent supply and hiring difficulty in Nashville
How hard is it to fill a Med-Surg RN role in Nashville.
Nashville med-surg RN market is the largest RN specialty by headcount. High turnover ratio drives constant recruitment cycles.
Skill premiums Med-Surg RN candidates command in Nashville, TN
| Skill / Credential | Pay Premium | Demand Signal |
|---|---|---|
| CMSRN (Med-Surg certified) | +5–8% | Standard progression |
| Telemetry / step-down experience | +4–7% | High |
| Charge nurse experience | +5–8% | High |
| BSN (vs ADN) | +5–8% | Standard at Magnet hospitals |
Med-Surg RN total compensation in Nashville — what candidates expect beyond base
Total rewards mix for Med-Surg RNs in Nashville. "Prevalence" reflects share of Nashville disclosed-range postings including each element.
| Component | Typical Value | Prevalence in Nashville Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $86,000 (median) | 100% |
| Shift differential | +12–20% premium | ~90% |
| Sign-on bonus | $7K–$15K | ~76% |
| CMSRN certification pay | +5–8% on base | ~48% |
| Overtime opportunity | $9K–$19K annualized | ~94% |
| Estimated total comp benchmark | ~$103K–$120K | — |
Shift differentials and sign-on bonuses are typically table stakes rather than differentiators. Tuition reimbursement for LPN-to-RN bridge programs is increasingly the lever that wins competitive offers, particularly for early-career candidates.
Med-Surg RN pay by setting in Nashville — SNF, hospital, clinic, home health
Where the Med-Surg RN range splits by employer type in the Nashville metro.
| Setting | Median | Competitive Range | Hiring Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult med-surg (community) | $81,000 | $72K–$93K | Very high |
| Adult med-surg (academic) | $88,000 | $77K–$100K | Very high |
| Telemetry / step-down | $91,000 | $81K–$103K | Very high |
| Progressive care unit (PCU) | $93,000 | $83K–$105K | Very high |
| Ortho / surgical unit | $86,000 | $77K–$98K | High |
FAQ: hiring a Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse in Nashville, TN
Related Med-Surg RN pay benchmarks — Tennessee metros and nearby nursing roles
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Data refreshed May 15, 2026. Next scheduled update: August 15, 2026.
© 2026 BetterComp. Market data informational only — not legal advice.