Nurse pay in Kentucky
Nurses in Kentucky are being offered a median $83,200 a year right now across 342 live job postings that state pay — ranking #46 of 51 states. Updated October 26, 2026.
- 10th percentile
- $59k
- 25th percentile
- $68k
- 75th percentile
- $107k
- 90th percentile
- $122k
Where does your pay sit in Kentucky?
Checked against 342 live postings that state pay. Your number stays in your browser.
- 10th percentile
- $59k
- 25th percentile
- $68k
- 75th percentile
- $107k
- 90th percentile
- $122k
Enter your pay to see your percentile.
Posted offers on live listings — not take-home pay or a promise of what any one nurse will earn.
Kentucky market overview
- 25th percentile
- $67,600
- Median
- $83,200
- 75th percentile
- $106,697
- 90th percentile
- $122,311
- Median hourly (184 postings)
- $30/hr
- Sign-on bonus, median (191 postings)
- $10,000
- Sign-on bonus, highest posted
- $30,000
- Live postings stating pay
- 342
Annual figures are posted offers (midpoint of stated ranges) on live listings, updated October 26, 2026.
What each specialty is offered in Kentucky
| Specialty | Median | 90th percentile | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Practical Nurse | $66k | $67k | 13 |
| Pediatric | $72k | $98k | 12 |
| Home Health | $73k | $119k | 10 |
| ICU | $107k | $124k | 10 |
| Acute Care | $105k | $127k | 7 |
| Nursing Assistant | $51k | $51k | 7 |
| Travel | $105k | $127k | 7 |
| Geriatric | $76k | $77k | 5 |
| Medical/Surgical | $111k | $128k | 5 |
| Private Duty | $73k | $73k | 5 |
Highest-offering employers in Kentucky right now
- #1$124k
HealthTrust Workforce Solutions
median across 14 priced postings
- #2$113k
Vibra Travels LLC
median across 7 priced postings
- #3$110k
Focus Staff
median across 3 priced postings
- #4$107k
American Traveler
median across 21 priced postings
- #5$107k
US Veterans Health Administration
median across 12 priced postings
What are you being paid?
30 seconds, no name. After a quick review, your report joins the nurse-reported pay, always shown apart from what employers post, so nurses can compare the two.
What to do with this
- See the rolesSee open nursing roles in KentuckyEvery posting behind these numbers is a live job you can open and apply to.
- Offer in hand?Review an offerTurn it into a full-year number, see what it's worth where you'd live, and compare offers side by side.
- 3-minute PULSEFind the work that brings out your bestPay is one axis. Your pace, decision style, connection, scope, and energy rhythm shape the rest.
- CommunityAsk nurses what they really take homeDifferentials, ratios, and the offer nobody posts. Bring your number and compare notes.
Want the craft behind the numbers — differentials, negotiating, travel packages? Read the pay & salary guides.
Questions nurses ask
- How much do nurses make in Kentucky?
- Across 342 live job postings in Kentucky that state pay, the median posted offer is $83,200 a year (about $30/hr). The middle half of postings runs $67,600–$106,697, and the top 10% start at $122,311.
- How does Kentucky nurse pay compare nationally?
- Kentucky's posted median of $83,200 is 13% below the national median ($95,680), ranking #46 of 51 states on the Pay Index right now.
- Do Kentucky nursing jobs offer sign-on bonuses?
- 191 live postings in Kentucky advertise a sign-on bonus right now, with a median of $10,000 and offers up to $30,000.