Registered Nurse Salary in Bowling Green, KY
Registered Nurses in the Bowling Green, KY metro area earn a median $79,120 a year — 19% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $61,839 take-home, or $5,153 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in Bowling Green, KY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,576
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,905
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,147
- Kentucky income tax$2,652
- Take-home pay$61,839
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.50% state
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Bowling Green, KY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,380 | $30.95 | $51,774 | $4,314 |
| 25th percentile | $76,250 | $36.66 | $59,921 | $4,993 |
| Median (50th) | $79,120 | $38.04 | $61,839 | $5,153 |
| 75th percentile | $94,080 | $45.23 | $71,840 | $5,987 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $104,380 | $50.18 | $78,726 | $6,560 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Kentucky resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $79,120 buys in Bowling Green, KY
Prices in Bowling Green, KY are 9.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 37% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median registered nurse's $61,839 take-home pay has the buying power of $68,574 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Registered Nurse jobs are about as common in Bowling Green, KY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.05).
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Bowling Green, KY ranks #291 of 370 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $216,740 | $142,511 | $129,059 |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $203,290 | $134,031 | $123,555 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $174,550 | $116,298 | $107,899 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $171,460 | $114,514 | $107,353 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $186,610 | $123,394 | $106,730 |
| 6 | Santa Cruz, CA | $170,960 | $114,225 | $103,939 |
| 7 | Yuba City, CA | $149,320 | $101,728 | $97,597 |
| 8 | Olympia, WA | $125,020 | $96,717 | $93,293 |
| 291 | Bowling Green, KY | $79,120 | $61,839 | $68,574 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 370 metros →
Registered Nurse salaries elsewhere in Kentucky
- Paducah, KY — $79,920
- Louisville, KY — $84,850
- Elizabethtown, KY — $77,930
- Lexington, KY — $79,040
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Bowling Green, KY?
The median registered nurse salary in the Bowling Green, KY metro area is $79,120 a year, or about $38.04 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $76,250 and $94,080.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Bowling Green, KY?
On the median $79,120 salary, a single filer living in Kentucky takes home about $61,839 a year ($5,153 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,652 in Kentucky taxes in 2026.
Is Bowling Green, KY a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 19% below the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 9.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $68,574 would in a typical U.S. city. Bowling Green, KY ranks #291 of 370 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Bowling Green, KY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Bowling Green, KY is $937 a month ($1,115 for two bedrooms) — 18% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.