How Much Does an NP Make in Lexington, KY in 2026?
Typical pay for NPs in Lexington, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Kentucky.
BLS OES May 2025 · Lexington · Fayette metro area
A typical NP in Lexington, Kentucky earns $59.17 per hour, or $123,070 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $10,256 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $102,040, and the top 10% of earners make over $175,600.
That pay is right at the Kentucky figure of $122,870 and 7% below the national figure of $132,300. Lexington ranks 4th of 7 metro areas in Kentucky for NP pay. About 540 NPs work in the Lexington · Fayette area. Lexington is part of the Lexington · Fayette metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Fayette share these figures.
NP pay in Lexington at a glance
- Typical pay is $59.17 an hour, or $123,070 a year.
- That is right at the Kentucky figure, ranking 4th of 7 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $102,040; the top 10% make over $175,600.
- Typical pay rose +28% from 2015 to 2025, against +35% for Kentucky as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an NP make in Lexington?
Pay in Lexington runs from entry-level positions at around $49.06 an hour to more than $84.42 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Kentucky and national figures.
NP pay by career stage in Lexington
| Career stage | Lexington | Kentucky | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $102,040$49.06 an hour | $95,710$46.01 an hour | $101,340$48.72 an hour |
| First years | $108,670$52.25 an hour | $106,240$51.08 an hour | $117,990$56.73 an hour |
| Typical NP | $123,070$59.17 an hour | $122,870$59.07 an hour | $132,300$63.61 an hour |
| Experienced | $131,320$63.14 an hour | $132,720$63.81 an hour | $156,700$75.34 an hour |
| Top 10% | $175,600$84.42 an hour | $162,960$78.35 an hour | $174,420$83.86 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Lexington · Fayette area as BLS defines it
NP pay growth in Lexington
Typical (median) annual wage for NPs in the Lexington · Fayette area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical NP pay in Lexington was $96,280 a year. By 2025 it had reached $123,070, a change of +28%, compared with +35% for Kentucky over the same years.
How Lexington compares with other Kentucky cities
Owensboro pays NPs the most in Kentucky at $128,780 a year, $5,710 more than Lexington. The lowest-paying area in the state is Bowling Green at $112,970.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Lexington | NPs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Owensboro | $128,780 | $61.91 | +5% | 150 |
| 2 | Ashland | $125,780 | $60.47 | +2% | 570 |
| 3 | Paducah | $124,200 | $59.71 | +1% | 110 |
| 4 | Lexington metro incl. Fayette | $123,070 | $59.17 | this city | 540 |
| 5 | Louisville metro incl. Jefferson County | $122,900 | $59.09 | 0% | 1,580 |
| 6 | Elizabethtown | $115,540 | $55.55 | -6% | 90 |
| 7 | Bowling Green | $112,970 | $54.31 | -8% | 150 |
Every metro area in Kentucky with NP wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Kentucky typical pay $122,870
Is Lexington a good place to work as an NP?
NPs in Lexington earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $123,070 a year, 7% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Lexington · Fayette area, about 1.9 are NP positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 2.1. NP jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an NP make in Lexington, KY?
- A typical NP in Lexington earns $123,070 a year, or $59.17 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $102,040 and the top 10% earn over $175,600.
- How much does an NP make an hour in Lexington?
- Typical hourly pay for NPs in Lexington is $59.17. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $49.06, and the top 10% earn over $84.42 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an NP in Lexington?
- Entry-level NP positions in Lexington typically offer around $49.06 an hour, or $102,040 a year.
- Is NP pay in Lexington higher than in the rest of Kentucky?
- Lexington pay is right at the Kentucky figure of $122,870 a year, ranking 4th of 7 metro areas in the state. Owensboro pays the most in Kentucky at $128,780.