Registered Nurses pay range in Lexington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $66,270 a year or less, while the top 10% make $107,880 or more. The middle half of registered nurses in Lexington earn between $75,860 and $97,250.
- $66K10th
- $76K25th
- $79KMedian
- $97K75th
- $108K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $86,050 | $7,171 | $41.37 |
| Median | $79,040 | $6,587 | $38.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $75,860 | $6,322 | $36.47 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $97,250 | $8,104 | $46.75 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Registered Nurses pay in Lexington vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Registered nurses in Lexington earn about the same as the Kentucky average ($86,140) and 15% less than the U.S. average ($101,420). At the median the gap is -19% against the U.S. median of $97,550.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | $86,050 | $79,040 | $66,270 | $107,880 | 8,070 |
| Kentucky | $86,140 | $81,040 | $64,170 | $111,750 | 50,300 |
| United States | $101,420 | $97,550 | $68,940 | $137,470 | 3,379,720 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Registered Nurses salary after taxes in Lexington
On the average salary of $86,050, a single filer in Lexington takes home about $64,106 a year, or $5,342 a month and $2,466 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Is Lexington a good place for registered nurses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lexington area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.9), so the average $86,050 buys what about $92,637 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Lexington ($48,620). A typical home costs $327,671, or 3.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Registered Nurses salary in other Kentucky cities
Lexington ranks 2nd of 5 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Louisville pays the most ($90,190).
- Louisville$90,190
- Lexington$86,050
- Paducah$84,050
- Bowling Green$83,650
- Elizabethtown$83,380
Highest-paying cities for registered nurses
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($194,950).
- San Jose, CA$194,950
- Vallejo, CA$182,820
- San Francisco, CA$176,900
- Santa Rosa, CA$170,000
- Sacramento, CA$164,200
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Registered Nurses salary in Lexington: questions
How much do registered nurses make an hour in Lexington?
$41.37 an hour on average, and $38.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level registered nurses salary in Lexington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $66,270 a year and the 25th percentile is $75,860, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the registered nurses take-home pay in Lexington?
About $64,106 a year ($5,342 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $86,050. Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Do registered nurses earn more in Lexington than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% less than the U.S. average for this job ($101,420).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-1141; area Lexington-Fayette, KY (30460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.29, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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