KY · Lexington · Updated October 15, 2026

Licensed Practical Nurse jobs in Lexington, KY

The median licensed practical nurse pay in the Lexington area is $28.34 per hour ($58,950 a year), with the typical range running from $25.43 to $30.25. That ranks 241st of 386 U.S. metro areas for licensed practical nurse pay, and 211th of 341 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 7 hospitals in Lexington. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Lexington.

Licensed Practical Nurse pay in Lexington, KY

The metro median is 1% above the Kentucky statewide median of $28.10 per hour. Nationally the median is $29.97 per hour. BLS counts about 1,090 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses employed in the Lexington-Fayette metro area, 3.8 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.94).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$23.96$49,84020% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$25.43$52,89015% below U.S. median
Median$28.34$58,9505% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$30.25$62,9201% above U.S. median
Top 10%$33.47$69,62012% above U.S. median

How Lexington ranks

  • 241st of 386 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 211th of 341 after adjusting for local prices
  • 6th of 6 Kentucky metro areas

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses (SOC 29-2061), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

What your pay buys in Lexington

  • Overall prices in Lexington-Fayette run 7% below the U.S. average (index 92.9, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 23% below the U.S. average (index 77.1).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $28.34 median hour buys what $30.51 buys at the national price level, 2% above the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

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Estimate your Lexington paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,020
  • Per year: $51,012
  • Per month: $4,251

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Lexington-Fayette metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Lexington

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$118
Meals and incidentals per day$80
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,386
13-week assignment$18,018

Travel licensed practical nurse assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.

Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).

Open Licensed Practical Nurse roles in Kentucky

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Lexington as they open.

PermanentPosted 15 days ago

LPN Home Health

CommonSpirit Health · Florence, KY

$25.55–$38.00/ hour
  • Full Time
  • Req 101351727328
View role

All Licensed Practical Nurse jobs in Kentucky

Hospitals in Lexington

CMS lists 7 hospitals in Lexington, 2 of the 5 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of licensed practical nurses.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Baptist Health Lexington
Lexington, KY
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
University Of Kentucky Hospital
Lexington, KY
Acute careGovernment and federal4 of 5Yes
Lexington Va Medical Center
Lexington, KY
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal3 of 5Yes
Saint Joseph Hospital
Lexington, KY
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Saint Joseph East
Lexington, KY
Acute careNonprofit2 of 5Yes
Eastern State Hospital
Lexington, KY
PsychiatricNonprofitNot ratedNo
The Ridge Behavioral Health System
Lexington, KY
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedNo

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Primary care shortage areas in Fayette County

HRSA lists 4 active primary care shortage designations that include Fayette County (4 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 22 on a 0 to 25 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.

Shortage areas are where demand for nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other clinicians is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.

Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.

Licensed Practical Nurse pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Louisville, KY65 mi$29.92/hr640,796
Jeffersonville, IN70 mi$29.92/hr52,912
Cincinnati, OH76 mi$30.06/hr314,915
Hamilton, OH94 mi$30.06/hr63,953
Middletown, OH101 mi$30.06/hr52,291
Columbus, IN113 mi$28.11/hr51,970

Licensed Practical Nurse jobs in Kentucky · Licensed Practical Nurse jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Kentucky

Kentucky is in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an RN or LPN/LVN with a multistate license from another compact state can work here without a new license. Nurses whose home state is not in the compact apply for a Kentucky license by endorsement.

Kentucky taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

Kentucky state guide · Nurse Licensure Compact guide

Other healthcare roles in Lexington

Lexington city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do licensed practical nurses make in Lexington, KY?

Licensed Practical Nurses in the Lexington-Fayette metro area have a median pay of $28.34 per hour, about $58,950 a year. The middle half earn between $25.43 and $30.25 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Lexington a good place for licensed practical nurses once cost of living is counted?

Lexington-Fayette ranks 211th of 341 metro areas for licensed practical nurse pay after adjusting for local prices, and 241st of 386 before adjusting. Overall prices run 7% below the U.S. average.

Where do licensed practical nurses work in Lexington?

CMS lists 7 hospitals in Lexington, led by Baptist Health Lexington. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Kentucky license to work in Lexington as a licensed practical nurse?

Kentucky is in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an RN or LPN/LVN with a multistate license from another compact state can work here without a new license. Nurses whose home state is not in the compact apply for a Kentucky license by endorsement. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

Is Lexington in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 4 active primary care shortage designations that include Fayette County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.

What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Lexington?

The federal per diem benchmark in Lexington is $118 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,386 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place licensed practical nurses in Lexington?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Lexington and across Kentucky. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Lexington.

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What do employers near Lexington pay licensed practical nurses? Get the report.

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  1. 1
    Pay for your role at other hospitals

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    What they are offering now

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Pay report · LPN / LVN near Lexington, KY
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your LPN / LVN pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Kentucky list by name comes with the full report

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • MaineGeneral HealthAugusta, ME · 4 postings$47.83/ hr$32–$63
  • CommonSpirit HealthWOODLAND, CA · 5 postings$41.23/ hr$31–$51
  • Boston Medical CenterMassachusetts · 3 postings$40.82/ hr$33–$48
  • Veterans Health AdministrationSan Francisco, CA · 8 postings$39.44/ hr$27–$57

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Kentucky list

2What they are offering now

Low$22Median$31.53High$42

855 LPN / LVN postings with published pay in the US, 720 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 1 LPN / LVN roles

  1. LPN Home HealthPermanent
    $25.55–$38.00/ hour
    CommonSpirit Health · Florence, KY · posted 15 days ago

Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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