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Nursing jobs in Kentucky 2026
Vacancies, salaries, EB-3 demand and licensing — verified against BLS OEWS 2025 + HRSA NCHWA 2026.
RN Shortage
5,200
High 8.5%
Median Annual Salary
$86,140
$41.41/hr
COL-Adjusted
$78,711
COL index: 90
Compact State?
Yes
NLC multistate eligible
Key insight
In Kentucky, there is a shortage of 5,200 registered nurses as of 2026 — 8.5% of the state's nursing workforce demand. Median RN salary is $86,140 per year. After cost of living adjustment, purchasing power equals $78,711 in national terms. This is a HIGH-priority EB-3 sponsorship state — international nurses are actively recruited here.
Federal nursing jobs in Kentucky
Registered Nurse
Veterans Health Administration · Anchorage, Alaska
$38871 - $228000 PA
Registered Nurse - ICU - Part-time - .9 FTE
Veterans Health Administration · Lexington, Kentucky
$69758 - $135750 PA
Registered Nurse - Med-Surg and Telemetry -5 Main
Veterans Health Administration · Lexington, Kentucky
$64825 - $127694 PA
Registered Nurse - Resources/Float Pool
Veterans Health Administration · Lexington, Kentucky
$69665 - $128994 PA
Nurse (Registered Nurse) Recruitment Incentive - Direct Hire
Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System · Aliceville, Alabama
$50241 - $122314 PA
Top hiring cities
- • Louisville
- • Lexington
- • Bowling Green
State nursing board
Kentucky Board of Nursing
Endorsement fee: $165 · NCLEX attempts allowed: 8/year
Licensing portal EB-3 sponsors placing nurses in Kentucky
Independently verified agencies with zero fee to nurses.
Health Carousel International (PassportUSA)
No fee to nurse
AMN Healthcare / Connetics USA
No fee to nurse
O'Grady Peyton International
No fee to nurse
Medliant International
No fee to nurse
Conexus MedStaff
No fee to nurse
Wayne Staffing USA (NYC Specialist)
No fee to nurse