Kentucky Median
$60,460
per year
Hourly Rate
$29.07
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-6% vs US median
US median $64,400
State Rank
#42 of 51
8,570 employed here
How much do Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses make in Kentucky?
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in Kentucky take home a median of $60,460 annually — roughly $29.07 an hour — which runs 6% below the national median of $64,400.
Within Kentucky, entry-level pay starts around $48,420 while the top 10% make $73,220 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $54,290 and $65,090 a year.
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses salary range in Kentucky
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,420 | $23.28 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $54,290 | $26.10 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $60,460 | $29.07 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $65,090 | $31.29 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,220 | $35.20 |
|
How Kentucky compares
Kentucky ranks 42nd out of 51 states and territories for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses salary in other states
Washington $83,150Alaska $80,800Oregon $80,470Massachusetts $80,220Rhode Island $80,090California $79,750New Hampshire $77,110Arizona $77,070Nevada $76,160District of Columbia $75,740New Jersey $75,160Illinois $75,000Maryland $74,660Colorado $73,880Connecticut $73,690Maine $73,200Hawaii $71,140Vermont $69,930Delaware $68,710New York $67,180Indiana $65,720Michigan $65,460Virginia $64,920Pennsylvania $63,940Idaho $63,800Wisconsin $63,760Minnesota $63,750Wyoming $63,460North Carolina $63,270Utah $63,230Nebraska $62,660Iowa $62,630North Dakota $62,300Texas $62,240Montana $62,210Georgia $62,030Ohio $61,950South Carolina $61,820Florida $61,770Kansas $61,760Missouri $61,530New Mexico $59,330Tennessee $58,870Oklahoma $58,320Louisiana $57,470Alabama $57,030Arkansas $56,620West Virginia $55,360South Dakota $52,750Mississippi $50,220
Working as Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in Kentucky
Nationally, about 648,000 people work as Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare Kentucky pay ($60,460) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses make in Kentucky?
The median Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses salary in Kentucky is $60,460 per year, or about $29.07 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $48,420 at the entry level to $73,220 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Kentucky pay compare to the national average?
Kentucky pays Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses about 6% less than the national median of $64,400. Kentucky ranks 42nd out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Kentucky a good state for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $60,460 a year. About 8,570 Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses are employed in Kentucky. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Kentucky?
The highest-paying occupations in Kentucky include Cardiologist ($558,180), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($350,950), Anesthesiologist ($347,960), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.