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verified BLS-Verified Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) May 2025 release

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Salary in Kentucky

Median Annual in Kentucky
$60,460/yr
Median Hourly Wage
$29.07/hr
▼ 6% below U.S. median

Salary Distribution in Kentucky

groups Employed in KY
8,570
public U.S. Median
$64,400
savings Real pay (cost-adjusted)
$67,059 #29 of 51

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) pay in Kentucky, explained

Licensed practical nurses in Kentucky earn a median of $60,460 per year ($29.07 per hour), which is 6% below the national median of $64,400. Entry-level workers earn around $48,420, while the most experienced licensed practical nurses reach about $73,220. Pay varies by employer, setting, and metro area within Kentucky.

Is $60,460 good pay in Kentucky?

Adjusted for Kentucky's cost of living (which runs 90% of the U.S. average), that $60,460 is worth about $67,059 in national buying power — ranking Kentucky #29 for real pay (vs #42 on the sticker number).

See the full Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Real Pay Index arrow_forward

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) pay by experience in Kentucky

Entry level (10th pct)
$48,420
$23.28/hr
Median
Mid-career (50th pct)
$60,460
$29.07/hr
Experienced (90th pct)
$73,220
$35.20/hr

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) pay in neighboring states

StateMedian / yrReal payvs KY
Kentucky (here) $60,460 $67,059 —
Illinois $75,000 $75,032 −$14,540
Indiana $65,720 $70,418 −$5,260
Virginia $64,920 $64,211 −$4,460
Ohio $61,950 $66,775 −$1,490
Missouri $61,530 $67,752 −$1,070
Tennessee $58,870 $64,080 +$1,590
West Virginia $55,360 $61,857 +$5,100

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in Kentucky: FAQ

How much do licensed practical nurses make in Kentucky?

Licensed practical nurses in Kentucky earn a median of $60,460 per year ($29.07 per hour), compared with $64,400 nationally.

Does Kentucky pay licensed practical nurses well?

At $60,460, Kentucky pays 6% below the national median for licensed practical nurses. An estimated 8,570 work in the state.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) salary in other states

Washington · $83,150 Alaska · $80,800 Oregon · $80,470 Massachusetts · $80,220 Rhode Island · $80,090 California · $79,750 New Hampshire · $77,110 Arizona · $77,070 Nevada · $76,160 District of Columbia · $75,740 New Jersey · $75,160 Illinois · $75,000

All 51 states ranked arrow_forward

Related careers in Kentucky

Registered Nurse $81,040/yr median Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) $38,370/yr median Nurse Practitioner $122,870/yr median