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Registered Nurses Salary in Kentucky

What Registered Nurses earn in Kentucky, labor market by labor market, and what is left after taxes and living costs in 21 counties.

Average in KY
$81,840
local median wages, weighted
Rank among states
37 of 45
published states
Workers in state
79,360
BLS employment estimate
Wage areas
3
21 counties

Pay by labor market in Kentucky

Registered Nurses pay by wage area in Kentucky
Wage areaMedian wageTake-home payMargin per yearLargest county
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN$84,850$64,980$45,504Jefferson County, KY
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN$83,650$64,184$43,868Kenton County, KY
Lexington-Fayette, KY$79,040$61,125$39,885Fayette County, KY

Counties ranked by what is left after the basics

Registered Nurses in Kentucky counties, by yearly margin
#CountyMedian wageTake-home payMargin per year
1Nelson County, KY$84,850$64,980$48,828
2Meade County, KY$84,850$64,980$48,552
3Grant County, KY$83,650$64,184$46,616
4Shelby County, KY$84,850$64,980$46,224
5Jefferson County, KY$84,850$64,980$45,504
6Bullitt County, KY$84,850$64,980$45,504
7Oldham County, KY$84,850$64,980$45,504
8Spencer County, KY$84,850$64,980$45,504
9Henry County, KY$84,850$64,980$45,504
10Kenton County, KY$83,650$64,184$43,868
11Boone County, KY$83,650$64,184$43,868
12Campbell County, KY$83,650$64,184$43,868
13Pendleton County, KY$83,650$64,184$43,868
14Gallatin County, KY$83,650$64,184$43,868
15Bracken County, KY$83,650$64,184$43,868
16Fayette County, KY$79,040$61,125$39,885
17Scott County, KY$79,040$61,125$39,885
18Jessamine County, KY$79,040$61,125$39,885
19Clark County, KY$79,040$61,125$39,885
20Woodford County, KY$79,040$61,125$39,885
21Bourbon County, KY$79,040$61,125$39,885

Registered Nurses pay in Kentucky

The employment-weighted average of local median wages for Registered Nurses in Kentucky is $81,840, based on 79,360 workers. Among the 45 states with published data, that ranks number 37. The BLS national median for the occupation is $97,550, so Kentucky averages 16.1% below it.

Inside Kentucky, pay depends on the labor market. The highest local median is $84,850 in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN area and the lowest is $79,040 in Lexington-Fayette, KY, a difference of $5,810 across 3 wage areas.

Cost of living for Registered Nurses in Kentucky

We compare 21 Kentucky counties after federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics: a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline. Nelson County, KY leaves the largest yearly margin, $48,828. Bourbon County, KY leaves the smallest, $39,885. The median wage covers all four basics in 21 of the 21 counties.

Registered Nurses in other states

The states with the highest average local median wages for Registered Nurses are California ($151,152), Oregon ($126,881), Washington ($123,996) and New Jersey ($113,690).

Frequently asked questions: Registered Nurses in Kentucky

How much do Registered Nurses earn in Kentucky?

The employment-weighted average of local median wages is $81,840, from $79,040 to $84,850 depending on the labor market.

Which Kentucky county is best for Registered Nurses?

Nelson County, KY leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes and the four basics ($48,828). Meade County, KY follows at $48,552.