[hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”aboveTheFold” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Kentuckians often describe their state as a mix of “southern charm and northern industry.” More than 40,000 registered nurses (RNs) work in Kentucky, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). If you are considering working as a nurse in Kentucky, or you already work in the state, this guide to registered nurse (RN) salaries in Kentucky can help you negotiate the income you deserve.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Keep reading for more on cities where RN salaries in Kentucky are highest, cost-of-living considerations, and what other nursing jobs pay.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ style=”margin-top:2em”][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]Source:[/hen-ui-text] BLS, [hen-ui-link href=”https://projectionscentral.org/” target=”_blank”]Projections Central[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”belowTheFold” /] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Average RN Salaries in Kentucky[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Half of all RN salaries in Kentucky are between $59,640 and $77,030. The average annual [hen-ui-link href=”/registered-nursing/”]RN salary[/hen-ui-link] in Kentucky is $67,260, compared to $48,170 for all jobs, according to the BLS. While this brings RN salaries in [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/state/kentucky/”]Kentucky[/hen-ui-link] well above the state average, these figures are still lower than the national median RN salary of $77,600.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The average hourly RN salary in Kentucky is $30.04, with 80% of Kentucky RNs earning between $23.08 and $39.62 an hour.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Although RN salaries in Kentucky are lower than national rates, the cost of living is also lower, which means salaries stretch further than in other states.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-table] Kentucky RN Salary Range [hen-ui-table-header] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Percentile[/hen-ui-table-head] [hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Average Annual RN Salary[/hen-ui-table-head] [hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Average Hourly RN Salary[/hen-ui-table-head] [/hen-ui-table-row] [/hen-ui-table-header] [hen-ui-table-body] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Percentile”]10%[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average Annual RN Salary”]$48,000[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average Hourly RN Salary”]$23.08[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Percentile”]25%[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average Annual RN Salary”]$59,640[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average Hourly RN Salary”]$28.67[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Percentile”]50% (Median)[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average Annual RN Salary”]$62,480[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average Hourly RN Salary”]$30.04[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Percentile”]75%[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average Annual RN Salary”]$77,030[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average Hourly RN Salary”]$37.03[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Percentile”]90%[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average Annual RN Salary”]$82,410[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average Hourly RN Salary”]$39.62[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [/hen-ui-table-body][/hen-ui-table][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ align=”right”][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]Source:[/hen-ui-text] BLS[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Kentucky RN Salary, Adjusted for Cost of Living[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The cost-of-living index for Kentucky is 89.8, compared to the national index of 100. RN salary in Kentucky has 10.2% more spending power than the U.S. average. The cost of living is based on comparing prices for goods and services in a particular region to national averages. These calculations include food, housing, education, healthcare, transportation, and typical discretionary spending, such as entertainment.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Adjusted for the cost of living, the average RN salary in Kentucky is worth $74,120. However, this data still ranks Kentucky 40th among all states.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Highest-Paying Cities for RNs in Kentucky[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]RN salaries in Kentucky are substantially higher in the major metropolitan areas. In Louisville, the average RN salary is more than 10% higher than the state median salary. Louisville is one of the oldest cities in the Midwest and home to several hospitals, including the University of Louisville Hospitals. While the Elizabethtown-Fort Knox area’s biggest economic driver is the local military, it is also home to Baptist Health Hardin, one of the largest hospital systems in the state.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]If you love horses and racing, Lexington is nicknamed “the horse capital of the world.” Owensboro hosts a metro population of approximately 115,000, and the largest employer is Owensboro Health. Its barbecue and bluegrass festivals are famous. [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.countyoffice.org/bowling-green-ky-hospitals/” target=”_blank”]According to County Office[/hen-ui-link], Bowling Green is ranked 66th of 1,258 cities in hospitals per square mile and 78th in hospitals per capita.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-table] Highest-Paying Cities for RNs in Kentucky [hen-ui-table-header] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]City[/hen-ui-table-head] [hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Average RN Salary[/hen-ui-table-head] [/hen-ui-table-row] [/hen-ui-table-header] [hen-ui-table-body] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”City”]Louisville/Jefferson County, KY — IN[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average RN Salary”]$70,010[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”City”]Elizabethtown — Fort Knox, KY[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average RN Salary”]$67,560[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”City”]Lexington — Fayette, KY[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average RN Salary”]$66,950[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”City”]Owensboro, KY[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average RN Salary”]$66,600[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-row] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”City”]Bowling Green, KY[/hen-ui-table-cell] [hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average RN Salary”]$61,560[/hen-ui-table-cell] [/hen-ui-table-row] [/hen-ui-table-body][/hen-ui-table][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ align=”right”][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]Source:[/hen-ui-text] BLS[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Average Salaries for Other Nursing Roles in Kentucky[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]While RN salaries in Kentucky are higher than the average salary, they are still lower than RN salaries in most other states, even adjusted for the lower cost of living. If you are interested in increasing your earning potential, consider earning a graduate degree and becoming an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). The average salary for nurse anesthetists is almost twice the median RN salary in Kentucky.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Becoming a nurse anesthetist requires a [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/dnp//”]doctor of nursing practice[/hen-ui-link] (DNP). Nurse practitioners and nurse anesthetists earn 40% more than the median RN salary in Kentucky. These roles require a [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/msn/”]master of science in nursing[/hen-ui-link] (MSN).[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ style=”margin-top:2em”][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]Source:[/hen-ui-text] BLS[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Related Pages[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-article-row variant=”slider” ids=”34468,34259,34193″][/hen-ui-article-row]