Kentucky Median
$122,870
per year
Hourly Rate
$59.07
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-7% vs US median
US median $132,300
State Rank
#49 of 51
4,770 employed here
How much does a Nurse Practitioner make in Kentucky?
A Nurse Practitioner working in Kentucky earns a median salary of $122,870 per year, or about $59.07 per hour. That is 7% below the national median of $132,300 for this occupation.
Within Kentucky, entry-level pay starts around $95,710 while the top 10% make $162,960 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $106,240 and $132,720 a year.
Nurse Practitioner salary range in Kentucky
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $95,710 | $46.01 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $106,240 | $51.08 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $122,870 | $59.07 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $132,720 | $63.81 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $162,960 | $78.35 |
|
How Kentucky compares
Kentucky ranks 49th out of 51 states and territories for Nurse Practitioner pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Nurse Practitioner salary in other states
California $168,520New Jersey $159,310Washington $156,100Oregon $155,680Alaska $155,170New York $153,510Massachusetts $142,440Nevada $140,670Connecticut $138,470New Hampshire $137,550New Mexico $137,520Montana $137,210Rhode Island $135,970District of Columbia $135,880Hawaii $135,570Vermont $134,740Arizona $134,420Oklahoma $133,390Minnesota $133,260Colorado $132,930Idaho $132,540Wyoming $132,200Nebraska $132,130Wisconsin $131,980Texas $131,670Michigan $131,450Maryland $131,110Delaware $131,040Utah $130,920Illinois $130,680Maine $130,260Iowa $130,160Pennsylvania $130,140North Dakota $130,070Missouri $129,930Florida $129,510Georgia $129,430North Carolina $128,990South Dakota $128,840Indiana $128,830Virginia $127,810West Virginia $127,320Kansas $126,650Arkansas $125,660Louisiana $125,600Ohio $124,870Mississippi $124,730South Carolina $123,290Tennessee $117,590Alabama $105,750
Working as a Nurse Practitioner in Kentucky
Nationally, about 323,000 people work as Nurse Practitioners in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare Kentucky pay ($122,870) 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 does a Nurse Practitioner make in Kentucky?
The median Nurse Practitioner salary in Kentucky is $122,870 per year, or about $59.07 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $95,710 at the entry level to $162,960 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Kentucky pay compare to the national average?
Kentucky pays Nurse Practitioners about 7% less than the national median of $132,300. Kentucky ranks 49th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Kentucky a good state for Nurse Practitioners?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $122,870 a year. About 4,770 Nurse Practitioners 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 Nurse Practitioner 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.