Registered Nurse salary in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
Registered Nurses in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area earn a median of $84,850 a year ($40.79 an hour), based on BLS data for 18,180 workers.
Pay ranges from $65,300 for the lowest-paid 10% to $118,200 for the top 10%. That is 13% lower than the national median of $97,550. Pay here is 5% higher than the Kentucky statewide median of $81,040. There are 27 registered nurses per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $90,190, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for registered nurses in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,300 | $31.39 |
| 25th percentile | $77,870 | $37.44 |
| Median | $84,850 | $40.79 |
| 75th percentile | $97,710 | $46.98 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $118,200 | $56.83 |
| Average (mean) | $90,190 | $43.36 |
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 | $7,070.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,535.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,263.46 |
| Weekly | $1,631.73 |
| Hourly | $40.79 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $84,850 salary, see how much house you can afford in Kentucky at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Registered Nurse salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $100,490 | 100,240 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $93,540 | 3,370 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $88,100 | 1,650 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $84,230 | 25,800 |
| Evansville, IN | $83,820 | 3,890 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $83,650 | 28,520 |
| Kokomo, IN | $83,370 | 740 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $82,300 | 790 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $81,550 | 1,600 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $81,010 | 5,580 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $80,790 | 2,080 |
| Bloomington, IN | $80,370 | 1,630 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $79,920 | 1,720 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $79,630 | 6,450 |
| Muncie, IN | $79,500 | 1,220 |
| 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 |
| Columbus, IN | $77,030 | 640 |
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 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacist | $143,920 | $69.19 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $122,900 | $59.09 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,260 | $49.17 |
| Physicians, All Other | $335,670 | $161.38 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $76,560 | $36.81 |
| Dental Hygienist | $81,390 | $39.13 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $222,520 | $106.98 |
| Occupational Therapist | $100,040 | $48.10 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $103,420 | $49.72 |
| Anesthesiologist | $491,640 | $236.37 |
| Physician Assistant | $130,830 | $62.90 |
| Veterinarian | $108,000 | $51.92 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $73,810 | $35.49 |
| Cardiologist | $239,200+ | $115.00+ |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
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 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
The median salary for registered nurses in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area is $84,850 a year, or $40.79 an hour. Pay ranges from $65,300 for the lowest-paid 10% to $118,200 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid registered nurses make in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
The top 10% of registered nurses in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area earn at least $118,200 a year. The top 25% earn $97,710 or more.
What is the starting pay for registered nurses in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $65,300 a year, and a quarter of registered nurses earn $77,870 or less.
How many registered nurses work in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
About 18,180 registered nurses are employed in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.