How Much Does an RN Make in Paducah, KY in 2026?
Typical pay for RNs in Paducah, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Kentucky.
BLS OES May 2025 · Paducah metro area
A typical RN in Paducah, Kentucky earns $38.42 per hour, or $79,920 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,660 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $65,200, and the top 10% of earners make over $101,280.
That pay is 1% below the Kentucky figure of $81,040 and 18% below the national figure of $97,550. Paducah ranks 3rd of 6 metro areas in Kentucky for RN pay. About 1,720 RNs work in the Paducah area.
RN pay in Paducah at a glance
- Typical pay is $38.42 an hour, or $79,920 a year.
- That is 1% below the Kentucky figure, ranking 3rd of 6 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $65,200; the top 10% make over $101,280.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an RN make in Paducah?
Pay in Paducah runs from entry-level positions at around $31.35 an hour to more than $48.69 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Kentucky and national figures.
RN pay by career stage in Paducah
| Career stage | Paducah | Kentucky | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $65,200$31.35 an hour | $64,170$30.85 an hour | $68,940$33.14 an hour |
| First years | $76,390$36.73 an hour | $75,670$36.38 an hour | $80,330$38.62 an hour |
| Typical RN | $79,920$38.42 an hour | $81,040$38.96 an hour | $97,550$46.90 an hour |
| Experienced | $95,270$45.80 an hour | $97,200$46.73 an hour | $112,350$54.02 an hour |
| Top 10% | $101,280$48.69 an hour | $111,750$53.73 an hour | $137,470$66.09 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Paducah area as BLS defines it
How Paducah compares with other Kentucky cities
Louisville pays RNs the most in Kentucky at $84,850 a year, $4,930 more than Paducah. The lowest-paying area in the state is Elizabethtown at $77,930.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Paducah | RNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisville metro incl. Jefferson County | $84,850 | $40.79 | +6% | 18,180 |
| 2 | Ashland | $81,010 | $38.95 | +1% | 5,580 |
| 3 | Paducah | $79,920 | $38.42 | this city | 1,720 |
| 4 | Bowling Green | $79,120 | $38.04 | -1% | 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 Paducah a good place to work as an RN?
RNs in Paducah earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $79,920 a year, 18% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Paducah area, about 34 are RN positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 22. That makes the local economy more reliant on RNs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an RN make in Paducah, KY?
- A typical RN in Paducah earns $79,920 a year, or $38.42 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $65,200 and the top 10% earn over $101,280.
- How much does an RN make an hour in Paducah?
- Typical hourly pay for RNs in Paducah is $38.42. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $31.35, and the top 10% earn over $48.69 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an RN in Paducah?
- Entry-level RN positions in Paducah typically offer around $31.35 an hour, or $65,200 a year.
- Is RN pay in Paducah higher than in the rest of Kentucky?
- Paducah pay is 1% below the Kentucky figure of $81,040 a year, ranking 3rd of 6 metro areas in the state. Louisville pays the most in Kentucky at $84,850.