The Kentucky Center for Statistics projects excellent job growth projections for a number of advanced nursing professions between 2016 and 2026:
- Nurse practitioners: 32.8%
- Nurse administrators and executives: 17.9%
- Nurse anesthetists: 14.2%
- Nurse midwives: 14.3%
- Nurse instructors: 21.6%
Sponsored School(s)
A 2017 article in the Courier-Journal reflects the demand for advanced practice nurses and others with advanced clinical training and education. The article reported that Kentucky employers are using a variety of incentives to attract nurses to work in the state’s hospitals. While many hospitals need newly graduated nurses, those with advanced levels of education and experience are also in demand, particularly in critical care settings.
Kentucky stakeholders advocate that nurses earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)—the highest level of clinical training available to these professionals.
Earning a DNP can provide significant economic benefits. The Advance Healthcare Network surveyed nurse practitioners throughout the country in 2018 and found that DNP-educated NPs earned an average of 7% more than those who had a master’s degree.
Statewide Salary Data for DNP-Educated APRNs and More in Kentucky
DNP-educated nurses in all their various roles are consistently recognized for earning top salaries (Kentucky Labor Market Information, 2018):
- Nurse Administrators – $105,400-$135,950
- Nurse Practitioners – $108,940-$128,960
- Nurse-Midwives – $115,320-$133,780
- Nurse Anesthetists – $192,380+
- Nurse Educators – $84,670-$105,050
Salaries for DNP Nurses in the Major Cities of Kentucky
Kentucky Labor Market Information provides salary information for DNP-educated advanced nursing professionals in the major cities of the Commonwealth (2018):
Nurse Administrators and Executives:
- Bowling Green: $102,750-$121,100
- Lexington: $124,480-$159,170
- Louisville: $104,030-$136,130
- Owensboro: $93,860-$103,210
Nurse Practitioners:
- Bowling Green: $102,670-$125,480
- Lexington: $104,250-$126,400
- Louisville: $120,630-$140,880
- Owensboro: $121,230-$130,810
Nurse Educators:
- Lexington: $79,880-$98,070
- Louisville: $80,400-$101,790
Nurse Anesthetists:
- Lexington: $170,000-$204,550
An Overview of Hourly Wages for Kentucky’s DNP-Educated Nurses
A 2019 Medscape Compensation Report revealed that 78% of APRNs enjoy overtime pay, which means these professionals earn an hourly wage.
The Kentucky Labor Market Information provides hourly wages for DPN-educated nursing professionals, as of 2018:
- Nurse Anesthetists: $92.49+
- Nurse Practitioners: $52.37-$62.00
- Nurse Midwives: $55.44-$64.32
- Nurse Administrators and Executives: $50.67-$65.36
Salary and employment data compiled by the Kentucky Labor Market Information in May of 2018 – (https://kystats.ky.gov/). Salary data represents state and MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) average and median earnings for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries. Employment conditions in your area may vary.
All salary and job growth data accessed in December 2019.
This page includes salaries that fall within the 75th and 90th percentiles for each nursing role to account for the fact that DNP-educated nurses are recognized as earning more than master’s-prepared nurses in the same roles.