How much does a Surgeon make in Tennessee?

The average Surgeon salary in Tennessee is around $540,000 per year. After federal taxes, FICA, and Tennessee state taxes, your estimated take-home pay is approximately $365,537 annually ($30,461/month).

What is the take-home pay for a Surgeon in Tennessee?

On a $540,000 salary in Tennessee, your take-home pay is approximately $365,537/year or $30,461/month. Federal tax: $152,134. State tax: $0. FICA: $22,329.

Is $540,000 a good Surgeon salary?

$540,000 is a strong salary for a Surgeon — above the national median. In Tennessee, demand for this role is active.

How do Tennessee taxes affect Surgeon salaries?

Tennessee levies state income tax on top of federal taxes. Your estimated state tax on $540,000 is $0. Your total effective tax rate is approximately 32.3%.

What are the career growth prospects for Surgeons?

3% growth projected 2022-2032 (slower than average) overall — but specific subspecialties (cardiothoracic, neurosurgery, plastic, transplant, pediatric subspecialty) face severe shortage with 8-15 year supply lag from training pipeline. Aging Boomer demographic = sustained surgical volume through 2035+. AI/robotics augment but do not replace operative judgment in the 10-year window.. Related roles include: Anesthesiologist, Orthopedic Surgeon, Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Neurosurgeon, Plastic Surgeon, Vascular Surgeon, General Surgeon, Trauma Surgeon, Transplant Surgeon, Pediatric Surgical Subspecialist, Surgical Oncologist.

How can a Surgeon in Tennessee reduce their tax bill?

Maximize your 401(k) contribution ($24,500 in 2026) to reduce taxable income. An HSA ($4,400 single / $8,750 family) adds further pre-tax savings. These strategies can save thousands annually — use our calculator to see your exact savings.

Healthcare

Surgeon Salary in Tennessee (2026)

Average Surgeon pay in Tennessee

$540,000/year

≈ $260/hour before tax

After tax (single filer)

$365,537/year

$30,461/month · effective tax rate 32.31%

Federal $152,134
FICA $22,329
Take-home

Pay by role in Tennessee

Cardiothoracic Surgeon (CT)$545,000–$895,000+ TC
Neurosurgeon$545,000–$895,000+ TC
Orthopedic Surgeon (Sports / Joint Replacement)$485,000–$815,000
Orthopedic Trauma Surgeon$515,000–$855,000
General / Colorectal Surgeon$385,000–$625,000
Transplant Surgeon$535,000–$895,000

See all 10 roles with notes

See the full tax breakdown

Category	Amount
Annual Take-Home Pay	$365,537
Monthly Take-Home Pay	$30,461
Biweekly Take-Home Pay	$14,059
Hourly Take-Home Pay based on 2,080 hrs/year	$176/hr
Federal Tax	$152,134
State Tax	$0
FICA Taxes	$22,329
Effective Tax Rate total taxes ÷ gross salary	32.31%

Estimates only — not tax advice. · Full disclaimer →

Not all Surgeons earn the same — not even close

Tennessee's surgeon market is concentrated at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (Nashville, ~40K employees — the dominant TN academic medical center, ranking consistently top-15 nationally for NIH research funding and top-15 for surgical specialty depth), HCA Healthcare (Nashville HQ, the country's largest for-profit hospital system, ~50K employed clinicians + administrators in TN), Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare Memphis, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Memphis (the country's premier pediatric cancer center), Erlanger Hospital Chattanooga (Level 1 trauma), plus Saint Thomas + Ascension Saint Thomas health systems.

Cardiothoracic Surgeon (CT)

$545,000–$895,000+ TC

Vanderbilt CT surgery · TriStar Centennial Heart Vascular Surgery · HCA · transplant program

Neurosurgeon

$545,000–$895,000+ TC

Vanderbilt Neurosurgery (top-15 nationally) · Semmes-Murphey Neurologic Memphis · complex spine + tumor

Orthopedic Surgeon (Sports / Joint Replacement)

$485,000–$815,000

Vanderbilt Sports Med · Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance · Memphis Bone & Joint Clinic

Orthopedic Trauma Surgeon

$515,000–$855,000

Vanderbilt Level 1 trauma · Erlanger Level 1 (Chattanooga) · Regional One Memphis trauma

General / Colorectal Surgeon

$385,000–$625,000

Vanderbilt + Methodist Le Bonheur + Saint Thomas · senior community-hospital private practice

Transplant Surgeon

$535,000–$895,000

Vanderbilt Transplant Center (top-10 nationally for liver/kidney/heart combined) · academic leadership

Urologic Surgeon

$415,000–$685,000

Vanderbilt Urology · Memphis Urology · robotic prostatectomy + uro-oncology subspecialty premium

Pediatric Surgeon (St. Jude / Vanderbilt)

$475,000–$765,000

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital pediatric oncologic surgery · Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital

Plastic Surgeon (Reconstructive)

$425,000–$745,000

Vanderbilt Plastic · St. Jude reconstructive · Memphis + Nashville private cosmetic market

Senior Surgical Fellow (PGY-6 to PGY-8+)

$78,000–$95,000

Vanderbilt + Methodist Le Bonheur + St. Jude surgical fellowship programs · PGY scale plus call

Worth knowing: Vanderbilt University Medical Center is the structural depth feature most national surgeon-market surveys understate for TN. Vanderbilt UMC (Nashville, ~40K employees, ~$5B revenue, ranking top-15 nationally for NIH research funding) operates one of the South's strongest academic surgical centers — Vanderbilt Neurosurgery + Vanderbilt Transplant Center both top-10 nationally, and the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt is top-30 nationally ranked pediatric. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Memphis (founded 1962 by Danny Thomas, ~5K employees, fully donor-funded model where families pay nothing — globally unique structure) is the country's premier pediatric cancer center, and St. Jude's pediatric oncologic surgical practice is among the most prestigious. HCA Healthcare HQ Nashville (Fortune 100, ~$70B revenue, the country's largest for-profit hospital system) employs substantial physician administrative + clinical staff at the Nashville HQ. TN's 0% state income tax (Article II §28 constitutional bar, Hall Tax fully repealed 2021) means a $700K senior cardiothoracic surgeon takes home ~$45K more annually than the same role in MA paying 9% Fair Share — over a 25-year senior surgical career the delta exceeds $1.1M. TN joined IMLC in 2017 for multistate licensure mobility. Combined with 0.7% effective property tax (well below TX), TN has emerged as a major HNW physician relocation destination.

Sources & Methodology

Salary figures are market estimates for Surgeons in Tennessee and vary by employer, specialty, seniority, and metro. Take-home math assumes a single filer with no dependents, the standard deduction, and no state income tax (Tennessee levies none). Local taxes, insurance premiums, and pre-tax contributions will move your number — run the calculator for your own situation.

Want to model 401(k), HSA, or pre-tax contributions against your full salary? Open the salary calculator →

Got a year-end bonus, sign-on, or retention payout? See the bonus calculator →

1099 contract work or side gigs? Self-employment tax adds 15.3% on top. Open the 1099 tax calculator →

Selling appreciated assets (stocks, real estate, crypto)? LTCG, NIIT, and state cap-gains all matter. Open the capital-gains calculator →

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Typical Surgeon Salary by Experience (National)

US-wide ranges, not Tennessee figures. Each link shows the Tennessee taxes on that salary.

Entry Level (0–3 yrs)

$410,000

/year

Mid Level (3–7 yrs)

$540,000

/year

Senior Level (7+ yrs)

$950,000

/year

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Surgeon Salary in Other States

Surgeon Salary in California →Surgeon Salary in Texas →Surgeon Salary in New York →Surgeon Salary in Florida →Surgeon Salary in Washington →

More on Tennessee

All Professions in Tennessee →

Salaries by profession, top-paying roles by industry, and an economic breakdown for Tennessee in 2026.

Tennessee State Income Tax Guide →

Tax brackets, standard deductions, and take-home estimates for Tennessee in 2026.

Tennessee Paycheck Calculator →

Adjust filing status, 401(k) for your exact 2026 take-home in Tennessee.