Salaries › Registered Nurse › Kentucky
Registered Nurse Salary in Kentucky (2026)
$38.96 per hour · take-home ≈ $63,005/year ($5,250/month) for a single filer
Registered Nurse pay range in Kentucky
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $64,170 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $75,670 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $81,040 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $97,200 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $111,750 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 50,300 Registered Nurse jobs in Kentucky (occupation code 29-1141, “Registered Nurses”).
Gross vs. take-home in Kentucky
A median Registered Nurse salary of $81,040 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Kentucky state income tax, a single filer keeps about $63,005 — an effective tax rate of 22.3%.
| Gross (median) | $81,040 |
| Federal income tax | −$8,999 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$6,200 |
| Kentucky state income tax | −$2,836 |
| Take-home (annual) | $63,005 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $5,250 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Kentucky paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Registered Nurse make in Kentucky?
- The median Registered Nurse salary in Kentucky is $81,040 per year ($38.96 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $75,670 and $97,200.
- What is the take-home pay for a Registered Nurse in Kentucky?
- On the median salary of $81,040, a single filer in Kentucky takes home about $63,005 per year ($5,250 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 22.3%.
- How many Registered Nurse jobs are there in Kentucky?
- BLS counts 50,300 Registered Nurse jobs in Kentucky in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Registered Nurses
Other salaries in Kentucky
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Kentucky state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Kentucky.