Nurse Practitioners Salary
In Lexington-Fayette, KY, nurse practitioners earn $123,070 at the median, or about $59.17 an hour. The range runs from $102K at the entry level to $176K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.89), which stretches that salary to about $132,490 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,272/month, or 17% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $123K get you in Lexington-Fayette?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lexington-Fayette’s Regional Price Parity (92.89). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About nurse practitioners
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What this looks like in Lexington-Fayette
Nurse practitioners pay in Lexington-Fayette tracks closely to the national median, $123K locally vs. $132K nationwide, a 7% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,272/month, 17% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for nurse practitioners in metros near Lexington-Fayette, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $123K | $132K |
| Bowling Green | $113K | $125K |
| Owensboro | $129K | $145K |
| Paducah | $124K | $144K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lexington-Fayette, KY
Entry-level nurse practitioners (10th percentile) start around $102K. Mid-career wages sit at $123K. Top earners bring in $176K or more, a $74K spread from bottom to top.
Nurse Practitioners pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Nurse Practitioners salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $169K | +27% | 25,120 |
| New Jersey | $159K | +20% | 9,950 |
| Washington | $156K | +18% | 6,700 |
| Oregon | $156K | +18% | 2,820 |
| Alaska | $155K | +17% | 710 |
| New York | $154K | +16% | 22,890 |
| Massachusetts | $142K | +8% | 8,070 |
| Nevada | $141K | +6% | 1,930 |
| Connecticut | $138K | +5% | 3,750 |
| New Hampshire | $138K | +4% | 1,770 |
| New Mexico | $138K | +4% | 1,770 |
| Montana | $137K | +4% | 1,260 |
| Rhode Island | $136K | +3% | 1,180 |
| District of Columbia | $136K | +3% | 680 |
| Hawaii | $136K | +2% | 550 |
| Vermont | $135K | +2% | 700 |
| Arizona | $134K | +2% | 7,220 |
| Oklahoma | $133K | +1% | 3,620 |
| Minnesota | $133K | +1% | 7,780 |
| Colorado | $133K | +0% | 4,270 |
| Idaho | $133K | +0% | 1,750 |
| Wyoming | $132K | -0% | 440 |
| Nebraska | $132K | -0% | 2,340 |
| Wisconsin | $132K | -0% | 5,160 |
| Texas | $132K | -0% | 25,970 |
| Michigan | $131K | -1% | 8,290 |
| Maryland | $131K | -1% | 6,710 |
| Delaware | $131K | -1% | 1,430 |
| Utah | $131K | -1% | 2,740 |
| Illinois | $131K | -1% | 9,270 |
| Maine | $130K | -2% | 1,650 |
| Iowa | $130K | -2% | 3,240 |
| Pennsylvania | $130K | -2% | 10,670 |
| North Dakota | $130K | -2% | 1,290 |
| Missouri | $130K | -2% | 7,710 |
| Florida | $130K | -2% | 21,790 |
| Georgia | $129K | -2% | 10,460 |
| North Carolina | $129K | -3% | 9,800 |
| South Dakota | $129K | -3% | 1,020 |
| Indiana | $129K | -3% | 7,450 |
| Virginia | $128K | -3% | 7,110 |
| West Virginia | $127K | -4% | 2,550 |
| Kansas | $127K | -4% | 3,780 |
| Arkansas | $126K | -5% | 3,970 |
| Louisiana | $126K | -5% | 5,380 |
| Ohio | $125K | -6% | 15,400 |
| Mississippi | $125K | -6% | 4,690 |
| South Carolina | $123K | -7% | 5,670 |
| Kentucky | $123K | -7% | 4,770 |
| Tennessee | $118K | -11% | 12,150 |
| Alabama | $106K | -20% | 5,640 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track nurse practitioners salary changes
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Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a nurse practitioner afford a 2BR apartment alone in Lexington-Fayette?
Yes — at the median salary of $123K, rent takes 17% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,272/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for nurse practitioners in Lexington-Fayette?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new nurse practitioners typically earn — is $102K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,122/month. At HUD’s $1,272/month FMR, rent would take 21% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is nurse practitioner a high-paying job in Lexington-Fayette?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $123K locally vs. $132K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Lexington-Fayette compare to the national average for nurse practitioners?
Lexington-Fayette pays $123K median vs. the U.S. average of $132K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $132K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do nurse practitioners make in Lexington-Fayette, KY?
The median is $123,070 a year, that works out to about $59 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $102,040, and experienced nurse practitioners can clear $175,600. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $123K enough to live in Lexington-Fayette?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,496/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,272/month, which eats 17% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a nurse practitioners salary go in Lexington-Fayette?
Lexington-Fayette has a Regional Price Parity of 92.89 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median nurse practitioners salary is worth about $132,490 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do nurse practitioners get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.