Data · Kentucky × Registered Nurses

Women Nurses in Kentucky: Pay, Gap, and Numbers

Nursing remains 88% female; smaller pay gap than most professions thanks to union density. This page applies Kentucky’s overall wage environment to the national BLS median earnings for nurses to estimate the state-level pay gap.

Earnings estimate — Registered Nurses in Kentucky

$87K
Estimated median annual — male nurses, Kentucky
BLS CPS 2024 × state ACS
$74K
Estimated median annual — female nurses, Kentucky
BLS × ACS S2001
14.8%
Estimated pay gap for nurses in Kentucky
Derived from BLS + ACS
$13K
Annual gap in dollars per worker
Computed at median

Methodology: The state pay gap is estimated by applying Kentucky’s overall female-to-male earnings ratio adjustment (-5.0% vs national) to the national BLS median for female nurses. See Pay Gap Lookup for interactive comparison.

National baseline

$87K
US median annual — male nurses
BLS CPS 2024 Table 39
$78K
US median annual — female nurses
BLS CPS 2024 Table 39
89.7%
Women’s share of men’s pay (national, nurses)
BLS CPS 2024
29-1141
BLS SOC code
Standard Occupational Classification

Kentucky context

Kentucky’s overall women-to-men earnings ratio is 79.6%, ranking #32 of 51 US jurisdictions on pay equity. 26.8% of the state legislature is women (CAWP 2024); 1 women from Kentucky serve in the 119th US Congress. First woman governor: 1983.

Other professions in Kentucky

Women nurses in neighboring & key states

Related pages

Frequently asked

What is the median salary for female nurses in Kentucky?

Estimated at $74,091 per year, derived from the BLS national median for female nurses ($78,000) adjusted by Kentucky’s overall wage environment (-5.0% vs national).

What is the pay gap for nurses in Kentucky?

Estimated at 14.8%, or about $12,905 per year per worker at the median. This applies the state-level wage environment to the national BLS profession gap.

How does Kentucky compare nationally on pay equity?

Kentucky ranks #32 of 51 US jurisdictions on the overall female-to-men earnings ratio (Census ACS S2001).

What BLS occupation code applies here?

29-1141 (SOC, Standard Occupational Classification, 2018 revision). See BLS CPS Table 39 for the current national median weekly earnings.

Are these numbers adjusted for experience?

No — these are state-level medians across all experience levels. Use the Pay Gap Lookup tool for experience-adjusted estimates.