Registered Nurse salary in Lexington-Fayette, KY
Registered Nurses in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area earn a median of $79,040 a year ($38.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 8,070 workers.
Pay ranges from $66,270 for the lowest-paid 10% to $107,880 for the top 10%. That is 19% lower than the national median of $97,550. Pay here is 2% lower than the Kentucky statewide median of $81,040. There are 28 registered nurses per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $86,050, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for registered nurses in Lexington-Fayette, KY
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $66,270 | $31.86 |
| 25th percentile | $75,860 | $36.47 |
| Median | $79,040 | $38.00 |
| 75th percentile | $97,250 | $46.76 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $107,880 | $51.87 |
| Average (mean) | $86,050 | $41.37 |
Half of registered nurses earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,586.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,293.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,040 |
| Weekly | $1,520 |
| Hourly | $38.00 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Registered Nurse salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $84,850 | 18,180 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $83,650 | 28,520 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $81,010 | 5,580 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $79,920 | 1,720 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $79,450 | 1,670 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $79,120 | 1,870 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $77,930 | 870 |
Highest-paying states for registered nurses
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $140,270 |
| Hawaii | $136,320 |
| Oregon | $129,010 |
| Washington | $124,200 |
| Alaska | $109,480 |
| New York | $109,440 |
| New Jersey | $106,500 |
| Massachusetts | $104,550 |
| Nevada | $103,670 |
| Connecticut | $102,740 |
See Registered Nurse pay in every state or the Kentucky statewide figures.
Related jobs in Lexington-Fayette, KY
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacist | $136,530 | $65.64 |
| Physicians, All Other | $283,730 | $136.41 |
| Physical Therapist | $94,710 | $45.54 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $123,070 | $59.17 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $180,790 | $86.92 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $80,040 | $38.48 |
| Dental Hygienist | $80,110 | $38.51 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $87,470 | $42.05 |
| Surgeons, All Other | $128,960 | $62.00 |
| Veterinarian | $109,050 | $52.43 |
| Occupational Therapist | $95,820 | $46.07 |
| Physician Assistant | $112,230 | $53.96 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $242,700 | $116.68 |
| Pediatricians, General | $165,300 | $79.47 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Lexington-Fayette, KY
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1141. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
The median salary for registered nurses in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area is $79,040 a year, or $38.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $66,270 for the lowest-paid 10% to $107,880 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid registered nurses make in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
The top 10% of registered nurses in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area earn at least $107,880 a year. The top 25% earn $97,250 or more.
What is the starting pay for registered nurses in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $66,270 a year, and a quarter of registered nurses earn $75,860 or less.
How many registered nurses work in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
About 8,070 registered nurses are employed in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area, not counting the self-employed.