RN salary · May 2025 BLS
RN Salary in Kentucky: $81,040 Median (May 2025)
Registered nurses in Kentucky earn a median of $81,040 per year — $38.96 an hour — $16,510 below the national median of $97,550, ranking #42 of 51 states and D.C. The middle 80% of Kentucky RNs earn between $64,170 and $111,750. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — the federal wage survey, not job-board self-reports.
Part of Nursing in Kentucky — schools, RN and NP pay, and licensing on one page.
Kentucky RN pay range (May 2025)
Dark band = middle 50% of Kentucky RNs (25th–75th percentile). Light band = middle 80%. New grads typically start near the left edge.
Compare Kentucky With Any State
Weighing a move, travel contracts, or a compact-state license? Put Kentucky side by side with any other market.
| May 2025 federal data | Kentucky | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Typical yearly pay | $81,040 | $95,970 |
| Typical hourly pay | $38.96/hr | $46.14/hr |
| Lower starting point | $64,170 | $67,120 |
| Higher pay with experience | $97,200 | $105,100 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $111,750 | $127,950 |
| RNs working | 50,300 | 271,380 |
Thinking past the bedside? Nurse practitioner salary in Kentucky →
The path to this salary runs through the NCLEX
Kentucky has 99 board-approved nursing programs across 46 schools — compare them by real first-time NCLEX pass rates. Then check what the degree costs against these wages with your own numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do registered nurses make in Kentucky?
RNs in Kentucky earn a median of $81,040 per year — $38.96 per hour — $16,510 below the national median of $97,550 (BLS May 2025). That ranks Kentucky #42 of 51 states and D.C. by median RN pay.
What is a starting RN salary in Kentucky?
New nurses generally start near the lower percentiles: in Kentucky, the 10th percentile is $64,170 and the 25th percentile is $75,670. Most RNs move toward the $81,040 median within their first several years.
What do the highest-paid RNs in Kentucky earn?
The top 10% of RNs in Kentucky earn above $111,750 per year — typically nurses with specialty certifications, leadership roles, or high-differential schedules.
How many RNs work in Kentucky?
50,300 registered nurses are employed in Kentucky per the BLS May 2025 estimates.
RN salary in other states
Keep going
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