Registered Nurses in Kentucky. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Registered Nurses in Kentucky earned a median annual wage of $79,910 in 2024, about 15% below the US median of $94,511. That gap is real, but it is not the whole story.
Kentucky's cost of living sits at 90.6 on our index, where 100 is the national baseline. After adjusting for what the money actually buys, the effective median lands closer to $88,200 in national-baseline dollars. That narrows the gap to roughly 7%. Still a discount, but a much smaller one than the headline figures suggest.
The spread between lower and higher earners is meaningful. At the 10th percentile, nurses in Kentucky earned $63,180 in 2024. At the 90th, they earned $104,430. Top earners made about 1.65 times what entry-level peers made. That range reflects real differences in specialty, setting, and experience. A new graduate in a community hospital and a senior nurse in an acute care unit are both counted here.
BLS projects employment for Registered Nurses to grow 4.9% between 2024 and 2034, which it classifies as average. Kentucky had 48,170 registered nurses employed in 2024, one of the larger occupation headcounts in the state's healthcare workforce.
Salary distribution
Where Kentucky registered nurses fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $75,670 and $97,200, with a median of $81,040.
Registered Nurses in Kentucky: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 18 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $85,821. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 5 | $70,720 |
| Level II — qualified | 10 | $85,821 |
| Level III — experienced | 3 | $85,821 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Registered Nurses in Kentucky. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insight Global, LLC | RN Float Pool II | 13 | $85,821 |
| ISONURSE MEXICO LLC | Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses | 3 | $70,720 |
| University of Kentucky | Patient Care Quality Nurse | 2 | $65,551 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- RN Float Pool II at Insight Global, LLC$85,821CovingtonWage Level IIDecided Mar 2, 2026I-200-26054-658645
- Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses at ISONURSE MEXICO LLC$70,720RadcliffWage Level IDecided Feb 26, 2026I-201-26050-650665
- Patient Care Quality Nurse at University of Kentucky$64,584LexingtonWage Level IDecided Dec 31, 2024I-200-24355-564663
- Registered Nurse at ISONURSE MEXICO LLC$70,720KentuckyWage Level IDecided Feb 26, 2026I-201-26050-650660
- RN Float Pool II at Insight Global, LLC$85,821CovingtonWage Level IIDecided Jan 26, 2026I-200-26016-566965
- RN Float Pool II at Insight Global, LLC$85,821CovingtonWage Level IIDecided Jan 26, 2026I-200-26016-566967
- RN Float Pool II at Insight Global, LLC$85,821CovingtonWage Level IIDecided Jan 26, 2026I-200-26016-566966
- RN Float Pool II at Insight Global, LLC$85,821CovingtonWage Level IIDecided Jan 21, 2026I-200-26013-554930
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Registered Nurses pay by experience level in Kentucky
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Registered Nurses in Kentucky, by industry
Median offered wage across 18 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $85,821.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Insight Global, LLC | 16 | $85,821 |
| Education | University of Kentucky | 2 | $65,551 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Kentucky over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.6 / 5
Psychology
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge
- 4.2 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Deductive Reasoning
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Social Perceptiveness
Technical
- 4.1 / 5
Problem Sensitivity
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Speaking
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Record patients' medical information and vital signs.
- 02
Administer medications to patients and monitor patients for reactions or side effects.
- 03
Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records.
- 04
Monitor, record, and report symptoms or changes in patients' conditions.
- 05
Provide health care, first aid, immunizations, or assistance in convalescence or rehabilitation in locations such as schools, hospitals, or industry.
- 06
Consult and coordinate with healthcare team members to assess, plan, implement, or evaluate patient care plans.
- 07
Direct or supervise less-skilled nursing or healthcare personnel or supervise a particular unit.
- 08
Monitor all aspects of patient care, including diet and physical activity.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+4.9%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in Kentucky
Metro-level salary data for registered nurses in major Kentucky metropolitan areas.
- Louisville$84,850
Compare Registered Nurses pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Kentucky with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Registered Nurses in Kentucky?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Registered Nurses in Kentucky is $81,040.
- How does Kentucky compare to the national median for Registered Nurses?
- The Kentucky median is -17.6% versus the BLS national figure of $98,331.
- What is the salary range for Registered Nurses in Kentucky?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $64,170 and the 90th-percentile at $111,750, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Registered Nurses a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 4.9% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Registered Nurses?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.