Median annual pay
$81,040 / year
16.9% below the national median
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Registered Nurses pay in Kentucky: the full picture
Registered Nurses in Kentucky earn a median of $81,040 per year ($38.96 per hour), based on May 2025 estimates (released April 2026) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The mean annual wage is $86,140, across an estimated 50,300 jobs. That puts Kentucky 16.9% below the national median of $97,550 for registered nurses.
| Measure | Pay |
|---|
| Mean hourly wage | $41.41 |
| Median annual wage | $81,040 |
| Mean annual wage | $86,140 |
| Median hourly wage | $38.96 |
| Total employment | 50,300 |
How Kentucky compares
Median annual pay for registered nurses across the areas we track. The national median is included for reference.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a RN make in Kentucky?
The median annual wage is $81,040 ($38.96/hour). The mean is $86,140 per year.
Is Kentucky a good place for registered nurses pay-wise?
Kentucky pays 16.9% below the national median ($97,550), with about 50,300 jobs in the area.
Where does this data come from?
All figures are May 2025 estimates (released April 2026) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), retrieved 2026-10-09. They are survey estimates, not job offers.
Keep exploring
More Registered Nurses salary data and other nursing roles in Kentucky.
Sources & methodology. All figures on this page come from the
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates (released April 2026), retrieved 2026-10-09.
"Median" is the 50th percentile — half of workers earn more, half earn less.
"Mean" is the arithmetic average. Annual figures assume full-time, year-round work
(2,080 hours). Employment estimates exclude the self-employed. Figures are
rounded survey estimates, not job offers — actual pay varies by employer,
shift, experience, and certifications.