Travel nursing contracts in Kentucky advertise a median of $2,320 a week, with the middle half between $2,220 and $2,470, across 54 open nursing contracts on CircleRN. These are advertised weekly totals before tax, usually including tax-free stipends; for almost all postings the figure is the top of an advertised range. Not take-home pay. Every open contract is on the Kentucky job board.
Travel nurses in Kentucky have access to 44 furnished rental listings, 13 reviewed hospitals, and ongoing pay data on CircleRN. All data is submitted by working travel nurses.
93 openings across 6 cities from $2,033–$3,134/week.
6 hospitals in Kentucky are hiring travel nurses, 78 openings in all. Each page lists the openings by specialty with advertised weekly pay, cost of living and housing nearby.
44 furnished rentals with a median rent of $1,600/month.
For the same specialties, Kentucky pays about 3% below the national median, across 53 open listings. Each opening is compared with the national median for its own specialty. Once Kentucky prices are counted, that is worth about +7%.
Statewide, prices run 10% lower overall. Individual metros vary, so check the city page for where you are going.
| Category | Index | vs national |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 90.2 | 10% lower |
| Housing | 64.3 | 36% lower |
| Utilities | 75.3 | 25% lower |
| Groceries and goods | 96.0 | 4% lower |
| Services | 97.3 | 3% lower |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024, where 100 is the national average.
A two-bedroom runs about $925/month, the median across 123 Kentucky cities (HUD Fair Market Rent, 2025, utilities included).
The federal ceiling on tax-free lodging reimbursement across Kentucky runs $113–$185 per night depending on the area, plus up to $86 a day for meals (GSA, FY2027). That is a maximum, not what agencies pay. Look up the exact rate for any ZIP code.
Kentucky is a Nurse Licensure Compact state, so an active multistate license covers you here. A single-state license from elsewhere does not. Check your license with the compact checker.
Hospitals in Kentucky reviewed by travel nurses
Of the 6 nursing specialties with open contracts in Kentucky, OR pays the most at $2,553 per week and Med-Surg the least at $2,167.
| Specialty | Open contracts | Median weekly |
|---|---|---|
| Med-Surg | 10 | $2,167 |
| OR | 9 | $2,553 |
| Telemetry | 8 | $2,366 |
| ICU | 8 | $2,282 |
| PCU | 6 | $2,373 |
| ER | 3 | $2,390 |