How to Become a Registered Nurse (RN) in Kentucky: Salary & Requirements (2026)
Quick answer: The median registered nurse salary in Kentucky is $81,040 per year - 17% below the national median of $97,550 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The career requires a 4-year degree: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN); ADN accepted by some employers.
Registered Nurse (RN) Salary in Kentucky
| Wage level | Annual salary |
|---|---|
| Kentucky entry level (10th percentile) | $64,170 |
| Kentucky 25th-75th percentile | $75,670 - $97,200 |
| Kentucky median | $81,040 |
| Kentucky top earners (90th percentile) | $111,750 |
| U.S. median | $97,550 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 50,300.
The Kentucky Job Market: Registered Nurse (RN)
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Employed in Kentucky | 50,300 |
| Jobs per 1,000 in the state | 25.14 |
| Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient) | 1.16 |
| Mean annual wage in Kentucky | $86,140 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 1.16, Kentucky employs registered nurses at a noticeably higher concentration than the national average: a strong local market for the credential.
Requirements in Kentucky
The education path is national - Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN); ADN accepted by some employers - while licensing runs through Kentucky’s own boards: NCLEX-RN exam + state board of nursing license (required in every state). Verify current requirements with the Kentucky licensing authority before enrolling, as details change. The step-by-step path (degree, exams, first role, advancement) is covered in the national guide: How to Become a Registered Nurse (RN).
Salary Nationwide
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th | $68,940 |
| 25th | $80,330 |
| 50th (median) | $97,550 |
| 75th | $112,350 |
| 90th | $137,470 |
Job Outlook
| Year | Employment |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 3,391,000 |
| 2034 projected | 3,557,100 |
| Percent change | +4.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Kentucky?
The median annual wage for registered nurses in Kentucky is $81,040 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 17% below the national median of $97,550.
How do I become a registered nurse in Kentucky?
The core path is the same nationwide - Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN); ADN accepted by some employers - with licensing administered at the state level: NCLEX-RN exam + state board of nursing license (required in every state). See the steps below.
How many registered nurses work in Kentucky?
BLS counts about 50,300 registered nurses employed in Kentucky (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Registered Nurse (RN) in Nearby States
- Registered Nurse (RN) in Iowa
- Registered Nurse (RN) in Kansas
- Registered Nurse (RN) in Louisiana
- Registered Nurse (RN) in Maine
Related
- How to Become a Registered Nurse (RN) (national guide)
- All Trade Careers That Require a 4-Year Degree
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141), Kentucky and national
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |
| O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones) | U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.) | O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13) |