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

Registered Nurse Salary in Kentucky

Median Annual in Kentucky
$81,040/yr
Median Hourly Wage
$38.96/hr
▼ 17% below U.S. median

Salary Distribution in Kentucky

groups Employed in KY
50,300
public U.S. Median
$97,550
savings Real pay (cost-adjusted)
$89,886 #37 of 51

Registered Nurse pay in Kentucky, explained

Registered nurses in Kentucky earn a median of $81,040 per year ($38.96 per hour), which is 17% below the national median of $97,550. Entry-level workers earn around $64,170, while the most experienced registered nurses reach about $111,750. Pay varies by employer, setting, and metro area within Kentucky.

Is $81,040 good pay in Kentucky?

Adjusted for Kentucky's cost of living (which runs 90% of the U.S. average), that $81,040 is worth about $89,886 in national buying power — ranking Kentucky #37 for real pay (vs #42 on the sticker number).

See the full Registered Nurse Real Pay Index arrow_forward

Registered Nurse pay by experience in Kentucky

Entry level (10th pct)
$64,170
$30.85/hr
Median
Mid-career (50th pct)
$81,040
$38.96/hr
Experienced (90th pct)
$111,750
$53.73/hr

Registered Nurse pay in neighboring states

StateMedian / yrReal payvs KY
Kentucky (here) $81,040 $89,886 —
Illinois $95,990 $96,030 −$14,950
Virginia $93,600 $92,578 −$12,560
Indiana $83,500 $89,468 −$2,460
Ohio $82,510 $88,937 −$1,470
Missouri $81,780 $90,049 −$740
Tennessee $81,500 $88,712 −$460
West Virginia $80,130 $89,534 +$910

Registered Nurse in Kentucky: FAQ

How much do registered nurses make in Kentucky?

Registered nurses in Kentucky earn a median of $81,040 per year ($38.96 per hour), compared with $97,550 nationally.

Does Kentucky pay registered nurses well?

At $81,040, Kentucky pays 17% below the national median for registered nurses. An estimated 50,300 work in the state.

Registered Nurse salary in other states

California · $140,270 Hawaii · $136,320 Oregon · $129,010 Washington · $124,200 Alaska · $109,480 New York · $109,440 New Jersey · $106,500 Massachusetts · $104,550 Nevada · $103,670 Connecticut · $102,740 District of Columbia · $102,540 Minnesota · $101,510

All 51 states ranked arrow_forward

Related careers in Kentucky

Nurse Practitioner $122,870/yr median Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) $38,370/yr median Physician Assistant $120,760/yr median