Travel Nurse Pay in Kentucky
Discover average travel nurse pay rates, stipends, and take-home calculations for Kentucky. Use our free calculator below to estimate your earnings.
Data reviewed July 3, 2026 · 50 states, 221 cities, FY2026 GSA rates
Pay figures on this page are our own editorial estimates, reviewed July 31, 2026 — not survey or government wage data. How we produce these numbers.
Calculate Your Pay in Kentucky
Use our calculator to estimate your take-home pay in Kentucky, including cost of living analysis to see your true discretionary income.
Travel Nurse Pay Breakdown
Estimate your take-home pay, taxes, and blended rate in seconds.
Federal tax applies to wages after the $16,100 standard deduction; FICA applies to all wages. Tax-free stipends are excluded from both.
Same-state assignment — you file one resident return in your home state.
State income tax not included
We do not yet have a sourced bracket schedule for this state, so we are not estimating its income tax. A wrong state figure is worse than none. Federal and FICA figures above are complete and sourced; your true net pay will be lower than gross by more than the amounts shown, so we are not displaying a net figure for this state.
Overtime (Optional)
Blended Hourly Rate
$87.44
Based on 36 hours in KY.
Gross Weekly Pay
$3,148
Taxable Weekly Income
$1,440
Estimated Weekly Taxes
—
True Net Weekly Pay
—
Assignment Projections
13-Week Assignment
—
Net Pay
26-Week Assignment
—
Net Pay
Annual (52 weeks)
—
Net Pay
Take Home vs Taxes
Take Home
—
per week
Taxes
—
per week
Total Gross: $3,148 per week
🏠 Housing Stipend Analysis
Your Weekly Housing Stipend
$1,148
≈ $4,971/month
Est. 1BR Rent in Kentucky
$850
Monthly average
✅ Potential Tax-Free Pocket Money
+$4,121
Your stipend covers rent with $4,121 left over each month.
Find apartments under $850/month in Louisville:
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Average Travel Nurse Pay in Kentucky
These are average pay rates for travel nurses in Kentucky. Actual pay varies by specialty, experience, and facility. Use our pay calculator to estimate your specific take-home pay.
Hourly Rate
$40/hr
Weekly Gross
$1,600
Annual
$83,200
GSA Per Diem Rates for Kentucky
Lodging
$164/night
Meals
$80/day
Incidentals
$/day
These rates determine the maximum tax-free stipend amounts for travel nurses in Kentucky.
Tax Information for Kentucky
Cost of Living in Kentucky
Cost of Living Index
89.7
Below national average
Housing
Low
Utilities
Low
Travel Nurse Pay Data — KY
Data Source: This data is aggregated from anonymous submissions by travel nurses. Data is updated regularly as more submissions are received. Sample sizes are shown for each category.
Note: These are averages and should be used as general guidance. Actual pay varies by facility, experience, and contract terms.
Average Hourly Rate
$53/hr
↑ $2 from previous period
Average Weekly Pay
$2,120
Based on 36-hour contracts
Total Submissions
230+
Anonymous data points
Average Pay by Specialty
$55/hr
n=45 submissions
$54/hr
n=42 submissions
$56/hr
n=38 submissions
$48/hr
n=52 submissions
$52/hr
n=28 submissions
$53/hr
n=25 submissions
KY vs. Top States
$58/hr
n=78 submissions
$59/hr
n=65 submissions
$51/hr
n=82 submissions
$50/hr
n=71 submissions
$57/hr
n=48 submissions
$58/hr
n=42 submissions
More Visualizations Coming Soon
- Pay trends over time
- City-specific pay data
- Experience level comparisons
- Contract type analysis (13-week, 26-week, etc.)
- Interactive filters and comparisons
As we collect more anonymous salary data, we'll add more detailed visualizations and insights.Submit your pay data to help build this database.
Popular Cities for Travel Nurses in Kentucky
These are the most popular cities for travel nurse assignments in Kentucky. Click on any city to see detailed pay information, cost of living, and job opportunities. Use our state comparison tool to compare pay across different states.
Bowling Green
Avg Pay: $48/hr
1BR Rent: $900/mo
View city guide →
Lexington
Avg Pay: $49/hr
1BR Rent: $1000/mo
View city guide →
Louisville
Avg Pay: $48/hr
1BR Rent: $1100/mo
View city guide →
Owensboro
Avg Pay: $40/hr
1BR Rent: $1000/mo
View city guide →
View all state pay guides or search for specific cities using our calculator.
Kentucky Pay by Nursing Specialty
Pay varies significantly by specialty. Select a specialty to see detailed salary data for Kentucky:
ICU
$44/hr
~$1,584/wk
Very High DemandER
$43/hr
~$1,548/wk
Very High DemandOR
$45/hr
~$1,620/wk
High DemandLabor & Delivery
$42/hr
~$1,512/wk
High DemandMed-Surg
$40/hr
~$1,440/wk
Very High DemandPACU
$43/hr
~$1,548/wk
High DemandNICU
$43/hr
~$1,548/wk
High DemandPICU
$44/hr
~$1,584/wk
High DemandPsychiatric
$41/hr
~$1,476/wk
Moderate DemandOncology
$42/hr
~$1,512/wk
High DemandCardiac
$43/hr
~$1,548/wk
High DemandTelemetry
$42/hr
~$1,512/wk
High DemandCRNA
$94/hr
~$3,384/wk
Very High DemandCath Lab
$45/hr
~$1,620/wk
High DemandTop Hospitals in Kentucky
- Norton Healthcare
- Baptist Health
- University of Kentucky Hospital
Nursing License Requirements for Kentucky
Cost of Living in Kentucky
Average 1BR Rent
$850/mo
Cost of Living Index
89.7
National avg = 100
Housing Cost
Low
Tip: Use our pay calculator to see how your take-home pay compares to the cost of living in Kentucky. Consider that rent in Kentucky is lower than the national average.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do travel nurses make in Kentucky?
Travel nurses in Kentucky typically earn between $35 and $50 per hour in taxable wages, with an average of $40/hr. When including tax-free stipends, the blended hourly rate ranges from $47-62 per hour.
What are the GSA rates for Kentucky?
The GSA per diem rates for Kentucky are: Lodging: $164/night, Meals: $80/day, and Incidentals: $undefined/day. These rates determine the maximum tax-free stipend amounts travel nurses can receive. For official rates, visit [GSA.gov](https://www.gsa.gov/travel/plan-book/per-diem-rates).
Is Kentucky tax-friendly for travel nurses?
Kentucky has a state income tax rate of 5%, making it relatively tax-friendly for travel nurses. However, you'll still pay federal taxes on your taxable wages.
What is the cost of living in Kentucky?
The cost of living index in Kentucky is 89.7, which is below the national average. Housing costs are low, and utilities are low.
Do I need a separate license to work in Kentucky?
Kentucky is part of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), so if you have a compact license, you can work here without additional licensing. The license costs $200 and typically takes 2-4 weeks to process.