Registered Nurse salary in Paducah, KY-IL
Registered Nurses in the Paducah, KY-IL metro area earn a median of $79,920 a year ($38.42 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,720 workers.
Pay ranges from $65,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $101,280 for the top 10%. That is 18% lower than the national median of $97,550. Pay here is 1% lower than the Kentucky statewide median of $81,040. There are 34 registered nurses per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $84,050, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for registered nurses in Paducah, KY-IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,200 | $31.35 |
| 25th percentile | $76,390 | $36.73 |
| Median | $79,920 | $38.42 |
| 75th percentile | $95,270 | $45.80 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $101,280 | $48.69 |
| Average (mean) | $84,050 | $40.41 |
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 | $6,660 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,330 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,073.85 |
| Weekly | $1,536.92 |
| Hourly | $38.42 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $100,490 | 100,240 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $90,230 | 3,520 |
| Decatur, IL | $87,170 | 790 |
| Kankakee, IL | $86,220 | 1,390 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $84,850 | 18,180 |
| Springfield, IL | $84,220 | 4,110 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $83,650 | 28,520 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $83,180 | 35,200 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $82,640 | 1,470 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $81,010 | 5,580 |
| Peoria, IL | $81,010 | 5,460 |
| Rockford, IL | $80,930 | 4,620 |
| Bloomington, IL | $79,970 | 1,990 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $79,450 | 1,670 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $79,120 | 1,870 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $79,040 | 8,070 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $77,930 | 870 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $77,150 | 3,520 |
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 Paducah, KY-IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacist | $134,810 | $64.81 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $124,200 | $59.71 |
| Dental Hygienist | $79,610 | $38.28 |
| Physical Therapist | $99,330 | $47.76 |
| Physicians, All Other | $378,880 | $182.16 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $76,100 | $36.59 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $73,900 | $35.53 |
| Physician Assistant | $124,990 | $60.09 |
| Occupational Therapist | $94,250 | $45.31 |
| Anesthesiologist | $350,260 | $168.39 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $234,140 | $112.57 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $62,060 | $29.84 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $37,750 | $18.15 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $59,730 | $28.71 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Paducah, KY-IL
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 Paducah, KY-IL?
The median salary for registered nurses in the Paducah, KY-IL metro area is $79,920 a year, or $38.42 an hour. Pay ranges from $65,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $101,280 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid registered nurses make in Paducah, KY-IL?
The top 10% of registered nurses in the Paducah, KY-IL metro area earn at least $101,280 a year. The top 25% earn $95,270 or more.
What is the starting pay for registered nurses in Paducah, KY-IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $65,200 a year, and a quarter of registered nurses earn $76,390 or less.
How many registered nurses work in Paducah, KY-IL?
About 1,720 registered nurses are employed in the Paducah, KY-IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.