How Much Does an NP Make in Kentucky in 2026?

A typical NP in Kentucky earns about $59.07 per hour ($122,870 per year), per the latest government wage data (May 2025). That works out to roughly $10,239 a month and $2,363 a week, figures calculated from the annual number. Pay varies by setting and city, but this figure represents the broad middle of the field in Kentucky. It reflects what a nurse practitioner working full-time in the state can expect to see on a paycheck.

Kentucky's typical NP pay sits about 7% below the national figure of $132,300 a year, according to the same May 2025 data. That gap places Kentucky 49th among the 51 states and territories ranked for NP pay. Around 4,770 nurse practitioners work in Kentucky, compared with 323,040 nationwide. Lower pay in Kentucky tends to track its lower cost of living relative to higher-paying states.

Entry-level positions in Kentucky typically offer around $46.01 an hour ($95,710 a year). Pay tends to move up from there within a few years, with many NPs reaching around $51.08 an hour ($106,240 a year) as they gain experience. From that point, pay continues climbing toward the state's typical figure of $59.07 an hour. Kentucky's entry-level pay sits well below what experienced NPs eventually earn.

Experienced NPs in Kentucky often earn upwards of $63.81 an hour ($132,720 a year), and the top 10% make over $78.35 an hour ($162,960 a year). The spread between entry-level and top pay comes to $67,250 a year. Setting, years of experience, and city all factor into where an individual NP lands within that range. Someone working in a specialty practice in a higher-paying city like Owensboro is more likely to reach the upper end.

Kentucky's NP pay has climbed steadily over the past decade, from $91,340 in 2015 to $122,870 in 2025. That's a gain of $31,530, or 35%, over ten years. The increase has been fairly steady year over year rather than a single jump.

That climb matches the national decade rise, also 35%, over the same period. Pay for NPs starting out in Kentucky now has moved up substantially compared with a decade ago. The gains show a general upward trend across the profession nationwide, not something unique to Kentucky. Past growth is no guarantee of future increases, but the trend line has moved in one direction for ten straight years.

Pay runs highest in Owensboro, where NPs typically earn $128,780 a year, about 5% above the state figure. Ashland and Paducah follow, with typical pay of $125,780 and $124,200 a year. Lexington and Fayette both post $123,070 a year, just ahead of Louisville's $122,900. These figures cover each city's full metro area.

Bowling Green pays the least among Kentucky's metro areas, with NPs typically earning $112,970 a year. That's a spread of $15,810 between the highest- and lowest-paying cities in the state. Louisville has the largest NP workforce of any Kentucky metro area, with 1,580 employed there. Cities with higher pay often carry a higher cost of living, so the gap doesn't always translate into more spending power.

Kentucky's NP pay lags most of its neighbors. Illinois and Missouri pay about 6% more, with typical annual pay of $130,680 and $129,930, and Indiana pays about 5% more at $128,830. Virginia and West Virginia both pay around 4% more, at $127,810 and $127,320, while Ohio is only 2% higher at $124,870. Tennessee is the exception, paying about 4% less at $117,590. Nurse practitioner licensure can often be transferred or endorsed between neighboring states, which makes comparing nearby markets worthwhile.

Nurse practitioners in Kentucky typically earn $122,870 a year ($59.07 an hour), a figure that has risen 35% over the past decade. Pay below the national figure tends to reflect Kentucky's lower cost of living. Readers weighing a move or a new license should check Kentucky's board of nursing for licensing requirements and review city-level pages for local pay figures before deciding where to practice.