Salary Report for Kentucky Nursing Instructors

  • The number of Nursing Instructors currently employed in Kentucky is 680.
  • Nursing Instructors in Kentucky earn an average of $72,650 per year or $34.93 per hour.
  • The percentage of U.S. Nursing Instructors who work in Kentucky is 1%.
  • Kentucky will need 780 new Nursing Instructors by 2030 or 80 new nurses per year.

Kentucky Rankings

  • Kentucky ranks #39 in the U.S. for Nursing Instructors salary and #47 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Kentucky ranks #26 in the U.S. for the total number of Nursing Instructors employed.
  • Kentucky ranks #30 in U.S. for the number of new Nursing Instructors needed by 2030.
  • Kentucky ranks #35 in U.S. for the percentage of new Nursing Instructors needed by 2030.

Compare Kentucky to U.S.

Kentucky Nursing Instructors earn an average of $72,650 which is 11% less than the national average salary of $82,040.

TypeKentuckyU.S.% Difference
Average Hourly Wage$34.93$39.44-11.45%
Average Annual Salary$72,650$82,040-11.45%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In Kentucky, 50% of Nursing Instructors earn between $48,740 and $90,510 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of Nursing Instructors earn more than $110,250, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Nursing Instructors .

Approximately 10% of Nursing Instructors earn under $35,350, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Nursing Instructors .

PercentExperienceEmployedAnnual Salary
10%Less than a Year68Under $35,350
15%2 – 4 years102$35,350 – $48,740
25%5 – 9 years170$48,740 – $68,870
25%10 – 14 years170$68,870 – $90,510
15%15 – 20 years102$68,870 – $110,250
10%20+ years68Above $110,250
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Nursing Instructors in Kentucky nurses earn about $80,920 per year which is less than the average U.S. nurse of $82,040.

Cost-of-living in Kentucky is 10% less than the national average, which means Kentucky residents have an overall less cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to other states.

  • National average salary for Nursing Instructors is $82,040.
  • Average Kentucky Nursing Instructors salary is $72,650.
  • Adjusted for cost-of-living, Kentucky Nursing Instructors earn an average salary of $80,920.

More cost-of-living reports for U.S. States.

Salary Compared to Related Professions

With an average annual salary of $72,650, Kentucky Nursing Instructors tend to earn less than Nurse Anesthetists ($180,330), Nurse Midwives ($109,560), and Nurse Practitioners ($106,080).

However, Nursing Instructors tend to earn more than Nursing Assistants ($29,290), LPNs ($47,140), and Registered Nurses ($67,260).

TitleAnnual Salary
Nurse Anesthetists$180,330
Nurse Midwives$109,560
Nurse Practitioners$106,080
Nursing Instructors $72,650
Registered Nurses$67,260
LPNs$47,140
Nursing Assistants$29,290
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Projected Demand for Nurses in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in Kentucky the three professions needing the most new nurses by 2030 are Registered Nurses (47,140), Nursing Assistants (23,610) and LPNs (10,270).

The three professions in Kentucky needing highest percentage new nurses by 2030 are Nurse Practitioners (54.5%), Nursing Instructors (20%) and Nurse Anesthetists (13%).

Title20202030ChangeYearly Openings
Registered Nurses43,32047,1408.8%2,730
Nursing Assistants21,73023,6108.7%2,920
LPNs9,42010,2709%830
Nurse Practitioners4,4806,92054.5%540
Nursing Instructors 65078020%80
Nurse Anesthetists23026013%20
Nurse Midwives40400%0
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, 2022*

Salaries Ranked by Kentucky Cities

The average salary for Nursing Instructors in Kentucky is $72,650. The top cities that pay Nursing Instructors the most are Central Kentucky Nonmetropolitan Area ($75,300), Bowling Green ($74,550) and Louisville/Jefferson County ($74,310).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Nursing Instructors the highest average annual salary are Central Kentucky Nonmetropolitan Area ($87,538), East Kentucky Nonmetropolitan Area ($86,131) and Bowling Green ($83,529).

The following table shows the average yearly salary range for Nursing Instructors in each city, and the average yearly salary after being adjusted for cost-of-living in that state.

The difference column shows how much more or less purchasing power a Nursing Instructors salary will have in that area.

AreaAverage SalaryCOL AdjustedDifference
Central Kentucky Nonmetropolitan Area$75,300$87,538$12,238
Bowling Green$74,550$83,529$8,979
Louisville/Jefferson County$74,310$80,851$6,541
East Kentucky Nonmetropolitan Area$74,090$86,131$12,041
West Kentucky Nonmetropolitan Area$70,180$81,586$11,406
Lexington-Fayette$65,540$70,360$4,820
South Central Kentucky Nonmetropolitan Area$64,880$75,424$10,544
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary FAQ for Kentucky Nursing Instructors

Kentucky Nursing Instructors earn between $35,350 and $110,250 a year depending on their level of education, experience and skill.

There are currently 680 Nursing Instructors employed in Kentucky which is about 1% of the U.S. total.

Nurse Anesthetists are the highest paid nurses in Kentucky with an average annual wage of $180,330.

An entry level nurse makes as much as $35,350 a year in Kentucky

The most Nursing Instructors work in the Louisville/Jefferson County area where 260 Nursing Instructors are employed.

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Nursing Instructors in Kentucky earn 80,920 per year, while the average across the United States earns $82,040.

By 2030, Kentucky will need 780 Nursing Instructors . A total of 80 Nursing Instructors will need to enter into the Kentucky work forces each year.

City and Rural Summaries

Bowling Green

Average Nursing Instructors Salary: $74,550
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $83,529
Hourly Wage: $35.84
Currently Employed: 70
Cost-of-Living Index: 89.25
Bowling Green Salary Report

Central Kentucky Nonmetropolitan Area

Average Nursing Instructors Salary: $75,300
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $87,538
Hourly Wage: $36
Currently Employed: 130
Cost-of-Living Index: 86.02
Central Kentucky Nonmetropolitan Area Salary Report

East Kentucky Nonmetropolitan Area

Average Nursing Instructors Salary: $74,090
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $86,131
Hourly Wage: $35.62
Currently Employed: 50
Cost-of-Living Index: 86.02
East Kentucky Nonmetropolitan Area Salary Report

Lexington-Fayette

Average Nursing Instructors Salary: $65,540
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $70,360
Hourly Wage: $32
Currently Employed: 60
Cost-of-Living Index: 93.15
Lexington-Fayette Salary Report

Louisville/Jefferson County

Average Nursing Instructors Salary: $74,310
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $80,851
Hourly Wage: $35.73
Currently Employed: 260
Cost-of-Living Index: 91.91
Louisville/Jefferson County Salary Report

South Central Kentucky Nonmetropolitan Area

Average Nursing Instructors Salary: $64,880
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $75,424
Hourly Wage: $31
Currently Employed: 50
Cost-of-Living Index: 86.02
South Central Kentucky Nonmetropolitan Area Salary Report

West Kentucky Nonmetropolitan Area

Average Nursing Instructors Salary: $70,180
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $81,586
Hourly Wage: $33.74
Currently Employed: 40
Cost-of-Living Index: 86.02
West Kentucky Nonmetropolitan Area Salary Report

Official Data Sources for Nursing Instructors : Salary Data | Projected Employment | Cost of Living Data