Nurse salary in Kentucky

Kentucky is one of the lower paying states for registered nurses. The registered nurse salary in Kentucky is $62,480 per year. This means that nurses in Kentucky earn an average of $30.04 per hour. On the other hand, the national average for registered nurses is $77,600 per year. This annual salary is approximately $37.31 per hour.‍

(Data courtesy of the Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Use Salary Explorer to see which cities in Kentucky are paying registered nurses the most.

Average gross weekly nurse pay in the top cities/wider metro area

1. Lexington - $2,270
2. Frankfort - $1,923
3. Bowling Green - $1,793
4. Florence - $1,640
5. Prospect - $1,490
6. Williamstown - $1,458
7. Owensboro - $1,360
8. Louisville - $1,340
9. Pineville - $1,251
10. Brownsville - $1,213

(Data courtesy of Trusted Health, May 2021)

Average annual nurse salary in the following cities/wider metro areas

1. Louisville/Jefferson County - 63,480
2. Lexington/Fayette - $63,150
3. Elizabethtown/Fort Knox - $62,630
4. Owensboro - $62,350
5. Bowling Green- $60,550

(Data courtesy of the Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Average annual nurse salary for the following nurse specialties

1. Med/Surg Nurse - $96,986 (Range of $86,837 - $106,932)
2. Progressive Care Nurse - $82,397 (Range of $72,882 - $92,642)
3. Operating Room Nurse - $77,832 (Range of $69,835 - $86,037)
4. ICU Nurse - $75,338 (Range of $67,882 - $81,860)
5. Labor and Delivery Nurse - $73,000 (Range of $66,500 - $82,700)
6. Pediatric Nurse - $71,500 (Range of $64,800 - $81,900)
7. Emergency Nurse - $71,204 (Range of $63,718 - $79,189)
   

(Data courtesy of Salary.com, November 2022)

Although nurse salaries in Kentucky may be 19.5% lower than the national average, living in Kentucky is more affordable. Kentucky ranks below the national cost of living index. While your nursing salary may be lower, the cost of rent alone may make up for it. For more detailed cost of living by city, check out the nurse Salary Explorer.

‍(Data courtesy of World Population Review)

Kentucky is a popular destination for staff and travel nurses alike. In 2021, Kentucky was home to more than 44,930 nurses.

However, Kentucky has a strong job outlook, as the number of nurses in Kentucky is expected to grow. Registered nurse jobs are forecasted to grow by more than 1.9% between 2021 and 2023, bringing the total number of working nurses in Kentucky to more than 45,790.

(Data courtesy of Projections Central)