Nurse Practitioner Pay

Louisville/Jefferson County vs Murray: Nurse Practitioner Salary (2026)

Compare nurse practitioner salaries between Louisville/Jefferson County, KY and Murray, KY. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Louisville/Jefferson County, KY
$127,140
$61.13/hr
Murray, KY
$118,996
$57.21/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricLouisville/Jefferson County, KYMurray, KY
Median Salary$127,140$118,996
Hourly Rate$61.13$57.21
Entry Level (P10)$107,681$101,480
25th Percentile$110,919$111,822
75th Percentile$142,585$138,316
Top Earner (P90)$165,375$149,338
Total Employed1,5804
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Louisville/Jefferson County ($127,140) and Murray ($118,996) nurse practitioner salaries.Louisville/Jefferson CountyMurrayMedian Salary$127,140$118,996Entry Level (P10)$107,681$101,480Top Earner (P90)$165,375$149,338US Median $136,864

Verdict

Louisville/Jefferson County, KY offers better overall compensation for nurse practitioners, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Murray.

The salary gap between Louisville/Jefferson County and Murray is $8,144 (6.84%). Louisville/Jefferson County's median is -7.10% compared to the US national median of $136,864.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Louisville/Jefferson County spans $57,694,Murray spans $47,858. Louisville/Jefferson County has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Louisville/Jefferson County
P10 (Entry)$107,681
P25$110,919
Median$127,140
P75$142,585
P90 (Top)$165,375
Murray
P10 (Entry)$101,480
P25$111,822
Median$118,996
P75$138,316
P90 (Top)$149,338

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Louisville/Jefferson County ($136,601 effective) pays 2.51% more than Murray ($133,254 effective).

Louisville/Jefferson County
Nominal: $127,140
CoL Index: 93.074
Adjusted: $136,601
Murray
Nominal: $118,996
CoL Index: 89.3
Adjusted: $133,254

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Louisville/Jefferson County if…

  • Higher median salary ($127,140/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($165,375)
  • Larger job market (1,580 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $136,601)
  • You prefer the Kentucky area and lifestyle

Choose Murray if…

  • You prefer the Kentucky area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, nurse practitioner salaries in Louisville/Jefferson County grew 23.3% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 19.8% growth in Murray over the same period.

Louisville/Jefferson County, KY

+23.3%

$99,700 (2019) → $122,900 (2025)

Murray, KY

+19.8%

$96,051 (2024) → $115,028 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays nurse practitioners more: Louisville/Jefferson County or Murray?

Louisville/Jefferson County has a higher median nurse practitioner salary at $127,140/year, compared to Murray at $118,996/year — a difference of $8,144 (6.84%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Louisville/Jefferson County and Murray?

Louisville/Jefferson County nurse practitioners earn $61.13/hr while Murray hygienists earn $57.21/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Louisville/Jefferson County to Murray as a nurse practitioner?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Louisville/Jefferson County and Murray. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Louisville/Jefferson County = $136,601, Murray = $133,254), job availability (1,580 vs 4 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level nurse practitioners earn in Louisville/Jefferson County vs Murray?

Entry-level (10th percentile) nurse practitioners earn $107,681 in Louisville/Jefferson County and $101,480 in Murray. The Louisville/Jefferson County area offers higher starting salaries.
MG

Written by Maria Gonzalez, MSN, NP-C

Career Analyst

Maria has 10 years of experience in adult healthcare. She works in a community health clinic. Her specialty is chronic disease management.

Clinically reviewed by James Patel, DNP, APRNData verified by Aisha Khan, MSN, FNP-BC

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 3.45% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Maria Gonzalez, MSN, NP-C, a licensed nurse practitioner with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov