Nurse pay in Kentucky
Nurses in Kentucky are being offered a median $79,930 a year right now across 212 live job postings that state pay — ranking #50 of 51 states. Updated September 10, 2026.
Where does your pay sit in Kentucky?
Checked against 212 live postings that state pay. Your number stays in your browser.
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
- $67,345
- Median
- $79,930
- 75th percentile
- $106,396
- 90th percentile
- $120,496
- Median hourly (122 postings)
- $30/hr
- Sign-on bonus, median (44 postings)
- $10,000
- Sign-on bonus, highest posted
- $25,000
- Live postings stating pay
- 212
Annual figures are posted offers (midpoint of stated ranges) on live listings, updated September 10, 2026.
What each specialty is offered in Kentucky
| Specialty | Median | 90th percentile | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare Occupations | $83k | $124k | 38 |
| Nursing Occupations | $83k | $124k | 38 |
| Patient Care Nursing Occupations | $83k | $124k | 38 |
| Registered Nurses | $85k | $124k | 34 |
| Hospitals and Health Care | $84k | $88k | 15 |
| Pediatric | $71k | $102k | 13 |
| Home Health | $73k | $119k | 10 |
| ICU | $109k | $125k | 9 |
| Acute Care | $105k | $127k | 7 |
| Travel | $105k | $127k | 7 |
| Medical/Surgical | $111k | $128k | 5 |
| Private Duty | $73k | $73k | 5 |
Highest-offering employers in Kentucky right now
- #1$127k
HealthTrust Workforce Solutions
median across 7 priced postings
- #2$112k
Vibra Travels LLC
median across 5 priced postings
- #3$110k
Focus Staff
median across 3 priced postings
- #4$108k
American Traveler
median across 7 priced postings
- #5$107k
US Veterans Health Administration
median across 10 priced postings
What nurses say they’re paidreported by nurses
No nurse reports from Kentucky yet. Five reports unlock the state summary.
What are you being paid?
30 seconds. Your report joins the community-reported series (always labeled nurse-reported) so nurses can compare real experiences with what employers post.
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?Run it through the offer reality calculatorTurn 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 212 live job postings in Kentucky that state pay, the median posted offer is $79,930 a year (about $30/hr). The middle half of postings runs $67,345–$106,396, and the top 10% start at $120,496.
- How does Kentucky nurse pay compare nationally?
- Kentucky's posted median of $79,930 is 16% below the national median ($95,680), ranking #50 of 51 states on the Pay Index right now.
- Where does this data come from?
- Pay stated on live nursing job postings collected continuously by Nursing Mastery, last updated September 10, 2026. These are posted offers, not survey estimates or a promise of what any one nurse will earn. Implausible figures are excluded and small samples are suppressed.
- Do Kentucky nursing jobs offer sign-on bonuses?
- 44 live postings in Kentucky advertise a sign-on bonus right now, with a median of $10,000 and offers up to $25,000.