Registered Nurse Salary in Louisville, KY
Registered Nurses in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area earn a median $84,850 a year — 13% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $65,670 take-home, or $5,472 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in Louisville, KY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,837
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,261
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,230
- Kentucky income tax$2,852
- Take-home pay$65,670
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.50% state
The Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro spans Kentucky, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Louisville, KY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,300 | $31.39 | $52,481 | $4,373 |
| 25th percentile | $77,870 | $37.44 | $61,004 | $5,084 |
| Median (50th) | $84,850 | $40.79 | $65,670 | $5,472 |
| 75th percentile | $97,710 | $46.98 | $74,267 | $6,189 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $118,200 | $56.83 | $87,964 | $7,330 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Kentucky resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $84,850 buys in Louisville, KY
Prices in Louisville, KY are 6.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median registered nurse's $65,670 take-home pay has the buying power of $70,557 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Louisville, KY has 1.2× the national concentration of registered nurse jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Louisville, KY ranks #232 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 |
| 232 | Louisville, KY | $84,850 | $65,670 | $70,557 |
*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
- Bowling Green, KY — $79,120
- Elizabethtown, KY — $77,930
- Lexington, KY — $79,040
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Louisville, KY?
The median registered nurse salary in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area is $84,850 a year, or about $40.79 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $77,870 and $97,710.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Louisville, KY?
On the median $84,850 salary, a single filer living in Kentucky takes home about $65,670 a year ($5,472 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,852 in Kentucky taxes in 2026.
Is Louisville, KY a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 13% below the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 6.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $70,557 would in a typical U.S. city. Louisville, KY ranks #232 of 370 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Louisville, KY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Louisville, KY is $1,026 a month ($1,248 for two bedrooms) — 19% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Louisville, KY
- Anesthesiologist — $239,200+
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Nurse Anesthetist — $222,520
- Pharmacist — $143,920
- Nurse Practitioner — $122,900
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $103,420
- Physical Therapist — $102,260
- Occupational Therapist — $100,040
- Dental Hygienist — $81,390
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $76,860
- Respiratory Therapist — $76,560
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $64,460