Tennessee Registered Nurse Overtime & Pay Rules
Side-by-side statutory audit of Registered Nurse hourly wages, 1.5x overtime thresholds, shift benchmarks ($42.80/hr median), and meal break penalty pay under T.C.A. § 50-2-101.
Tennessee Registered Nurse Paycheck Calculator
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In Tennessee, a Registered Nurse is entitled to a minimum statutory base wage of $7.25/hr (State industry median: $42.80/hr). Overtime is calculated at 1.5x regular rate after 40 hours per week under T.C.A. § 50-2-101.
Visual Pay Composition Breakdown
FLSA Exemption & Overtime Rules for Registered Nurses in Tennessee
Non-Exempt (Eligible for 1.5x Overtime & Shift Differential Premiums)
Registered Nurses paid on an hourly basis are non-exempt under FLSA regulations and MUST receive 1.5x overtime pay for all hours over 40.
Tennessee Labor Code & FLSA Authority
Statutory Citation: T.C.A. § 50-2-101
Tennessee adopts federal FLSA minimum wage ($7.25/hr). Includes mandatory 30-minute unpaid meal break for shifts over 6 hours.
Employee Statutory Rights (TN)
- ✓ Minimum wage of $7.25/hr.
- ✓ Mandatory 30-minute unpaid meal break for shifts over 6 hours under T.C.A. § 50-2-103.
- ✓ 1.5x overtime over 40 hours.
Employer Mandatory Obligations (TN)
- § Provide 30-minute meal break for shifts longer than 6 hours.
- § Pay non-exempt staff at least semi-monthly.
- § Maintain timecard records.
Common Tennessee Payroll Compliance Traps & Audit Penalties
Failing to provide mandatory 30-minute meal break.
Tip credit shortfalls.
Off-the-clock shift work.
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Audit Tennessee Registered Nurse Overtime & Pay
Verify 2026 statutory minimum wage floors, 1.5x overtime thresholds, and meal break penalties for Registered Nurses in Tennessee.