Nurse Practitioner Salary in Louisville, KY: $138,709 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time nurse practitioner in Louisville, KY earns a median $138,709/year (≈ $66.68/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1171). Once you factor in Louisville's price level (11% below national, BEA RPP 89.3), that paycheck buys what $155,329 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 9.0% above the Kentucky state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Nurse practitioners in Louisville, Kentucky, are projected to earn a median annual salary of $138,709 in 2026, outpacing the national median of $136,864 by a slight margin of 1.35%. This competitive range showcases earnings from $98,256 at the 10th percentile to an impressive $189,041 at the 90th percentile, offering a wide salary spectrum for practitioners in various specialties. While mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNP) often command the highest salaries due to increasing demand in behavioral health, family nurse practitioners (FNP) and adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioners (AGACNP) typically see variations in pay reflective of their patient populations and service demands. These figures are informed by estimates derived from 2025 BLS data and local economic conditions in Louisville, which impact compensation strategies across different settings.
About the Louisville Market
Salary estimated from Kentucky average ($115,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $98,256 | $47.24 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $117,560 | $56.51 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $138,709 | $66.68 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $167,563 | $80.56 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $189,041 | $90.88 |
Median Salary Position
1.35% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Louisville
In Louisville, KY, the nurse practitioner salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $90,785 (2026 est.). At $138,709, the local median is 1.35% above the national median of $136,864.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Louisville: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Louisville Nurse Practitioner Pay Compares
Louisville median: $138,709/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Louisville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Average | $127,256 | +9.00% more |
| National Average | $136,864 | +1.35% more |
Nurse Practitioners in Louisville, KY earn a median of $138,709 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.35% higher than the national median of $136,864 and 9.00% above the Kentucky state average of $127,256.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Louisville has a cost of living 10.70% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Louisville, KY has a cost-of-living index of 89.3 (below the national average of 100). A nurse practitioner earning $138,709 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $155,329 in an average-cost city — an effective 11.98% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$111,300
2025 BLS Actual
$134,083
2026 Current Est.
$138,709
2019–2027 Growth
+28.9%
Salary Trajectory for Nurse Practitioners in Louisville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.45% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $111,300 | Actual |
| 2020 | $113,185 | Actual |
| 2021 | $122,306 | Actual |
| 2022 | $123,249 | Actual |
| 2023 | $127,962 | Actual |
| 2024 | $111,962 | Actual |
| 2025 | $134,083 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $138,709 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $143,494 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Louisville metropolitan area, the median nurse practitioner salary grew 20.5% from $111,300 (2019) to $134,083 (2025). At a 3.45% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $143,494 by 2027 — a total increase of $32,194 (28.93%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Louisville metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.45% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $98,256 – $117,560 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $117,560 – $138,709 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $138,709 – $167,563 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $167,563 – $189,041 |
NP salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual nurse practitioner compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Nurse Practitioner Job Market in Louisville
As of now, 132 nurse practitioners are actively working within Louisville, suggesting a healthy job market for this profession. The local cost of living index, sitting at 89.3, indicates that while salaries are relatively high, the purchasing power may be enhanced compared to many other regions. Popular employers in the area include hospital outpatient clinics and specialty practices, with some of the highest salary brackets seen in urgent care chains and telehealth platforms. Factors contributing to the breadth of income among nurse practitioners include specialty practices, the level of autonomy allowed by state regulations, and additional earnings through productivity bonuses or locum tenens work. Those in Louisville looking to optimize their nurse practitioner pay should consider pursuing advanced certifications, specializing in high-demand areas like psychiatry or urgent care, and exploring diverse practice settings to increase earning potential.
More salary data for Louisville, KY:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $134,083 for nurse practitionersin the Louisville metropolitan area. A 3.45% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Louisville is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.45%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for nurse practitioners (SOC 29-1171).
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