Are these Kentucky figures exact?

Partly — one side is a reported wage and the other is an estimate. Public wage data doesn't break out every nursing role, so where it doesn't, we start from reported Kentucky pay for the closest reported role and adjust. Treat those as a ballpark.

Why are some figures verified and others estimates?

National pay for the main nursing roles — registered nurses, LPNs/LVNs, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, nurse midwives, and nursing assistants — comes from verified public wage data. State, city, and specialty figures that aren't reported on their own start from that national pay and are labeled "Estimated" or "Specialty estimate." We never show an estimate as a verified figure.

Kentucky · KY

ICU Nurse vs Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist salary in Kentucky

In Kentucky, certified registered nurse anesthetists earn more — an estimated $222,520 a year versus $90,760 for icu nurses, a gap of about $131,760 (roughly 145% more). Both are estimates based on national pay for each role adjusted for Kentucky.

ICU Nurse — Kentucky

Specialty estimate

Median annual pay

$90,760

-17% vs national

Hourly

$43.63/hr

Median $90,760

$71,870Middle 50%: $84,750–$108,860$125,160

Typical range: $84,750–$108,860; What most nurses earn
High end: $125,160; Top earners
Entry level: $71,870; Newer nurses

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist — Kentucky

Verified public wage data

Median annual pay

$222,520

-6% vs national

Hourly

$106.98/hr

Median $222,520

$189,630Middle 50%: $211,800–$242,700$289,230

Typical range: $211,800–$242,700; What most nurses earn
High end: $289,230; Top earners
Entry level: $189,630; Newer nurses

Why the gap in Kentucky

Many CRNAs begin as ICU nurses, and the pay jump is dramatic: nurse anesthetists earn far more than critical-care staff nurses in exchange for a doctoral anesthesia program and full anesthesia scope. ICU experience is a common prerequisite for CRNA school, making this a well-worn career path. The Kentucky figures apply the same local pay adjustment to both roles, so the gap here mirrors the national picture, shifted for Kentucky's cost of labor. Actual pay varies with experience, specialty, shift, and employer — compare the national ICU Nurse vs Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist comparison or personalize the calculator.

ICU Nurse vs Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist in Kentucky — FAQ

Do icu nurses or certified registered nurse anesthetists earn more in Kentucky?: In Kentucky, certified registered nurse anesthetists earn more — an estimated $222,520 a year versus $90,760 for icu nurses, a gap of about $131,760 (roughly 145% more). One figure is a median reported for Kentucky in official public wage data; the other is an estimate, because public data does not report that role separately.
How much is the icu nurse vs certified registered nurse anesthetist pay gap in Kentucky?: The estimated gap in Kentucky is about $131,760 a year, or roughly 145% more for certified registered nurse anesthetists. Your actual pay depends on experience, specialty, shift, and employer — use the calculator to compare both for your situation.
Are these Kentucky figures exact?: Partly — one side is a reported wage and the other is an estimate. Public wage data doesn't break out every nursing role, so where it doesn't, we start from reported Kentucky pay for the closest reported role and adjust. Treat those as a ballpark.
Why are some figures verified and others estimates?: National pay for the main nursing roles — registered nurses, LPNs/LVNs, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, nurse midwives, and nursing assistants — comes from verified public wage data. State, city, and specialty figures that aren't reported on their own start from that national pay and are labeled "Estimated" or "Specialty estimate." We never show an estimate as a verified figure.

Source & confidence— An estimate for a specialty that public pay data does not list on its own. A ballpark to start from, not an exact figure.

Modeled specialty estimate (BLS state wage × specialty adjustment)

Public wage data does not report ICU Nurse separately. This figure starts from the wage the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics published for Registered Nurse in Kentucky (May 2025) and applies a 1.12× specialty adjustment.

Source year 2025. Last reviewed July 17, 2026. Full methodology

Estimated figures for Kentucky. Last reviewed July 17, 2026.