How Much Does an RN Make in Owensboro, KY in 2026?
Typical pay for RNs in Owensboro, from federal wage data (May 2024), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Kentucky.
BLS OES May 2024 · Owensboro
A typical RN in Owensboro, Kentucky earns $38.23 per hour, or $79,510 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2024). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,626 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $64,150, and the top 10% of earners make over $100,450.
That pay is 2% below the Kentucky figure of $81,040 and 18% below the national figure of $97,550. About 1,660 RNs work in Owensboro.
RN pay in Owensboro at a glance
- Typical pay is $38.23 an hour, or $79,510 a year.
- That is 2% below the Kentucky figure.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $64,150; the top 10% make over $100,450.
- Typical pay rose +49% from 2015 to 2024, against +40% for Kentucky as a whole.
BLS OES May 2024
How much does an RN make in Owensboro?
Pay in Owensboro runs from entry-level positions at around $30.84 an hour to more than $48.29 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Kentucky and national figures.
RN pay by career stage in Owensboro
| Career stage | Owensboro | Kentucky | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $64,150$30.84 an hour | $64,170$30.85 an hour | $68,940$33.14 an hour |
| First years | $64,150$30.84 an hour | $75,670$36.38 an hour | $80,330$38.62 an hour |
| Typical RN | $79,510$38.23 an hour | $81,040$38.96 an hour | $97,550$46.90 an hour |
| Experienced | $100,450$48.29 an hour | $97,200$46.73 an hour | $112,350$54.02 an hour |
| Top 10% | $100,450$48.29 an hour | $111,750$53.73 an hour | $137,470$66.09 an hour |
BLS OES May 2024 (the latest vintage BLS published for this area; state and national columns are May 2025) · city figures cover Owensboro as BLS defines it
RN pay growth in Owensboro
Typical (median) annual wage for RNs in Owensboro · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2024 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical RN pay in Owensboro was $53,200 a year. By 2024 it had reached $79,510, a change of +49%, compared with +40% for Kentucky over the same years.
How Owensboro compares with other Kentucky cities
Louisville pays RNs the most in Kentucky at $84,850 a year, $5,340 more than Owensboro. The lowest-paying area in the state is Elizabethtown at $77,930.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Owensboro | RNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisville metro incl. Jefferson County | $84,850 | $40.79 | +7% | 18,180 |
| 2 | Ashland | $81,010 | $38.95 | +2% | 5,580 |
| 3 | Paducah | $79,920 | $38.42 | +1% | 1,720 |
| 4 | Bowling Green | $79,120 | $38.04 | 0% | 1,870 |
| 5 | Fayette metro incl. Lexington | $79,040 | $38.00 | -1% | 8,070 |
| 6 | Elizabethtown | $77,930 | $37.47 | -2% | 870 |
Every metro area in Kentucky with RN wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Kentucky typical pay $81,040
Is Owensboro a good place to work as an RN?
RNs in Owensboro earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $79,510 a year, 18% below the national rate.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an RN make in Owensboro, KY?
- A typical RN in Owensboro earns $79,510 a year, or $38.23 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2024. Entry-level pay runs about $64,150 and the top 10% earn over $100,450.
- How much does an RN make an hour in Owensboro?
- Typical hourly pay for RNs in Owensboro is $38.23. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $30.84, and the top 10% earn over $48.29 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an RN in Owensboro?
- Entry-level RN positions in Owensboro typically offer around $30.84 an hour, or $64,150 a year.
- Is RN pay in Owensboro higher than in the rest of Kentucky?
- Owensboro pay is 2% below the Kentucky figure of $81,040 a year. Louisville pays the most in Kentucky at $84,850.