Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) salary in Kentucky
Kentucky nurse anesthetists earn a median of $222,520 a year ($106.98 an hour), according to BLS data for May 2025. That is 6% below the national median of $236,590, and ranks 34th of 44 states.
Median, Kentucky
$222,520
Mean $229,690
Middle half earns
$211,800 to $242,700
US: $206,730 to $294,350
Employed in Kentucky
1,640
2.46x the national concentration
Where Kentucky sits in the range
Kentucky
Statewide
United States
National
Louisville/Jefferson County
Metro area
Cincinnati
Metro area
Lexington
Metro area
Huntington
Metro area
Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) pay by percentile
Ten percent of Kentucky nurse anesthetists earned less than $189,630 and ten percent earned more than $289,230, a spread of $99,600. Where you land depends mostly on specialty, setting, experience and how the productivity pay is built, which is why two offers in the same city can be far apart.
| Percentile | Kentucky | United States | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $189,630 | $155,250 | +22.1% |
| 25th | $211,800 | $206,730 | +2.5% |
| Median | $222,520 | $236,590 | -5.9% |
| 75th | $242,700 | $294,350 | -17.5% |
| 90th | $289,230 | $339,500 | -14.8% |
Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) pay by metro area
BLS published CRNA pay for 4 metro areas that include part of Kentucky. Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH has the highest median at $264,420. Metro estimates rest on smaller samples than the statewide figure, so treat a low-precision row as a direction, not a number.
| Metro area | Employed | Median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-INlow precision | 710 | $222,520 | $211,800 to $222,530 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 670 | $221,170 | $191,360 to $234,640 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KYlow precision | 270 | $242,700 | $207,710 to $271,530 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OHmoderate precision | 190 | $264,420 | $199,330 to $278,050 |
How CRNA pay compares with other clinicians in Kentucky
| Occupation | Kentucky | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse anesthetist (CRNA) | $222,520 | $236,590 |
| Physician assistant | $120,760 | $135,880 |
| Nurse practitioner | $122,870 | $132,300 |
| Registered nurse | $81,040 | $97,550 |
The Kentucky CRNA workforce
BLS counts 1,640 nurse anesthetists on Kentucky payrolls, or 0.82 for every 1,000 jobs in the state, more concentrated than in the country as a whole.
Using these numbers when you negotiate
A state median is a reference point, not a target. If an offer comes in under $211,800, it sits in the bottom quarter of what Kentucky nurse anesthetists earn, and you should know why before you sign: a new-grad rate, a light schedule, or a base kept low because a productivity bonus is supposed to make up the difference. If it is above $242,700, ask what is expected in return, such as call, volume targets or a longer non-compete.
Compare the whole package, not the base: how the bonus is calculated, call pay, CME, PTO and who pays malpractice tail coverage. The negotiation guide and the contract checklist walk through each term.
Questions about CRNA pay in Kentucky
How much does a CRNA make in Kentucky?
The median annual wage for nurse anesthetists in Kentucky was $222,520 in May 2025, and the mean was $229,690, per the BLS. The middle half earned between $211,800 and $242,700.
What is the hourly rate for nurse anesthetists in Kentucky?
The median hourly wage was $106.98 and the mean was $110.43. BLS computes hourly figures from annual pay assuming a full-time year, so per-shift or per-diem rates can differ.
Where do CRNAs earn the most in Kentucky?
Among Kentucky metro areas with published data, Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH had the highest median at $264,420, and Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN the lowest at $221,170.
How does Kentucky rank for CRNA pay?
Kentucky ranks 34th of 44 states (including DC) by median CRNA pay, 6% below the national median of $236,590. Pay is only half the picture: compare it with what housing and taxes cost where you would live.
How many nurse anesthetists work in Kentucky?
BLS estimated 1,640 nurse anesthetists employed in Kentucky in May 2025.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (bls.gov/oes), SOC 29-1151, all industries and ownerships. NPI counts: NPPES monthly file, August 2026 (CMS, public domain). BLS wages are straight-time pay: they include production bonuses but leave out overtime, shift differentials, non-production bonuses and benefits, and they exclude the self-employed.
Have an offer on the table?
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