Licensed Practical Nurse Hourly Pay in Bowling Green, KY: $30.92 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a licensed practical nurse working in Bowling Green, KY runs $30.92 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $64,297 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2061). Weighted against Bowling Green's regional price level (BEA RPP 90.2, 10% below national), each hour of work buys what $34.28 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $38,585 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, licensed practical nurses (LPNs) in Bowling Green, KY, can expect an hourly median rate of $30.92. This figure is slightly below the national median of $32.73, suggesting that local LPNs may experience a modest variance compared to their counterparts across the country. For those seeking part-time opportunities, such as working three days a week, this rate provides a pathway to secure stable income in typical settings like skilled nursing facilities and home health visits. Bowling Green’s hourly range for LPNs spans from $25.59 at the entry level to about $33.70 for the top 10% of earners, revealing a competitive landscape for nurse wages in the region. These figures are drawn from the official Bureau of Labor Statistics data issued for 2025, projected into 2026.
Licensed Practical Nurse Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $25.59 | $204.72 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $26.56 | $212.50 |
| Median (P50) | $30.92 | $247.34 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $32.89 | $263.15 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $33.70 | $269.58 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Bowling Green
Based on $30.92/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $30.92/hr, a licensed practical nurse working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Bowling Green, KY can expect to earn approximately $64,308 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $37,101. With a cost-of-living index of 90.18 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Bowling Green.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Bowling Green
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,236.69 | $5,359 | $64,308 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $742.01 | $3,215 | $38,585 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $494.68 | $2,144 | $25,723 |
Compare LPN Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Licensed Practical Nurse (Bowling Green) | $30.92 |
| Registered Nurse (National Avg) | $42.80 |
| Nursing Assistant (CNA) (National Avg) | $18.60 |
| Medical Assistant (National Avg) | $19.70 |
| Home Health / Personal Care Aide (National Avg) | $16.80 |
Licensed Practical Nurses in Bowling Green, KY earn a median of $64,297 per year (2026 est.), which is 5.54% lower than the national median of $68,071 and 1.50% below the Kentucky state average of $65,276.
Licensed Practical Nurse Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $30.92/hr = $38,585/year (purchasing power: $42,787).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $64,308/year (purchasing power: $71,311).
CoL index: 90.179 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$20.85/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$29.25/hr
2026 Current Est.
$30.92/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+56.7%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Licensed Practical Nurses in Bowling Green (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.70% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $20.85/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $20.77/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $22.42/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $22.86/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $26.26/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $28.97/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $29.25/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $30.92/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $32.68/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for licensed practical nurses in Bowling Green grew 40.3% from $20.85/hr (2019) to $29.25/hr (2025). At a 5.70% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $32.68/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem licensed practical nurses can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Bowling Green metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 5.70% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly Licensed Practical Nurse in Bowling Green
Considering the financial prospects for part-time licensed practical nurses in Bowling Green, a 24-hour workweek could yield approximately $38,956 annually before taxes, highlighting the differences in overall earning potential between part-time and full-time roles. Per diem licensed practical nurse pay in Bowling Green varies widely, with rates ranging from $28 to $42 per hour depending on agency affiliations, while some can find agency roles at understaffed facilities that pay between $45 and $60 per hour. This of course comes with the trade-off of a less stable schedule and lack of benefits compared to regular employment. Hourly pay can also fluctuate based on the work environment; hospitals, for instance, might pay differently compared to home health agencies or correctional facilities. As nurses negotiate their pay, they can weigh options like health insurance versus higher pay rates. Understanding the value of one's skillset and being aware of industry norms can empower licensed practical nurses in Bowling Green to secure favorable terms as they enter the workforce.
More salary data for Bowling Green, KY:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Aisha Malik, LPN
Career Analyst
Aisha has 10 years of experience as a licensed practical nurse. She specializes in pediatric nursing. Aisha has worked in various outpatient clinics.
Methodology & Data Source
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 5.70% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for licensed practical nurses in Bowling Green. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.70%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for licensed practical nurses (SOC 29-2061).
Compiled and verified by Aisha Malik, LPN, a licensed licensed practical nurse with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov