Registered Nurse salary in Kentucky
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A registered nurse in Kentucky earns a median of $81,040 a year ($38.96/hour equivalent), 16.9% below the national median of $97,550. Kentucky ranks #42 of 51 states. About 50,300 people do this job in Kentucky.
Take-home pay in Kentucky
At the Kentucky median, a single filer keeps about $63,123 a year after federal, FICA and Kentucky taxes — $2,428 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Kentucky paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $3,116.92
- Federal income tax
- −$346.11
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$193.25
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$45.20
- Kentucky income tax
- −$104.57
- Take-home pay
- $2,427.80
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $81,040
- Federal
- $8,999
- FICA
- $6,200
- State + local
- $2,719
- Net
- $63,123
- Marginal federal rate
- 22.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 3.5%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
How Kentucky compares
| Rank | State | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | $140,270 |
| #2 | Hawaii | $136,320 |
| #3 | Oregon | $129,010 |
| #4 | Washington | $124,200 |
| #5 | Alaska | $109,480 |
| #42 | Kentucky | $81,040 |
| #49 | South Dakota | $78,060 |
| #50 | Mississippi | $77,090 |
| #51 | Alabama | $77,080 |
See the national registered nurse salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Kentucky?
The median salary is $81,040 a year and the average is $86,140 (BLS May 2025).
Is Kentucky a good state for registered nurses?
Kentucky ranks #42 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 17% below the national median of $97,550.
What is $81,040 after taxes in Kentucky?
About $63,123 a year ($2,428 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.