Registered Nurse Salary in Elizabethtown, KY
Registered Nurses in the Elizabethtown, KY metro area earn a median $77,930 a year — 20% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $61,044 take-home, or $5,087 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in Elizabethtown, KY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,315
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,832
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,130
- Kentucky income tax$2,610
- Take-home pay$61,044
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.50% state
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Elizabethtown, KY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,530 | $30.54 | $51,120 | $4,260 |
| 25th percentile | $77,240 | $37.13 | $60,583 | $5,049 |
| Median (50th) | $77,930 | $37.47 | $61,044 | $5,087 |
| 75th percentile | $92,280 | $44.37 | $70,637 | $5,886 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $105,250 | $50.60 | $79,307 | $6,609 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Kentucky resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $77,930 buys in Elizabethtown, KY
Prices in Elizabethtown, KY are 9.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 33% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median registered nurse's $61,044 take-home pay has the buying power of $67,398 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 less concentrated in Elizabethtown, KY than nationally (location quotient 0.78), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Elizabethtown, KY ranks #324 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 |
| 324 | Elizabethtown, KY | $77,930 | $61,044 | $67,398 |
*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
- Bowling Green, KY — $79,120
- Lexington, KY — $79,040
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Elizabethtown, KY?
The median registered nurse salary in the Elizabethtown, KY metro area is $77,930 a year, or about $37.47 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $77,240 and $92,280.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Elizabethtown, KY?
On the median $77,930 salary, a single filer living in Kentucky takes home about $61,044 a year ($5,087 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,610 in Kentucky taxes in 2026.
Is Elizabethtown, KY a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 20% below the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 9.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $67,398 would in a typical U.S. city. Elizabethtown, KY ranks #324 of 370 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Elizabethtown, KY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Elizabethtown, KY is $846 a month ($1,056 for two bedrooms) — 17% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.